Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-09-15
THE home coming of Gen. Johr

/" HE home coming of Gen. John
]. Pershing centers all eyes
upon the man whose figure and
personality typify the makeup and
the spirit of the American Expedi-
tionary Force-the greatest Ameri-
can Army that was ever mustered
under the supreme command of one
man-which played its part so su-
perbly and effectively in the world
war. He is Americas representative
military man. In his fine upStand-
ing. statuesque perfection of figure
is reflected the physical perfection
of the American soldiers which
aroused the admiration of Europe.
In the record that he has made, fall
ing short of a great opportunity to
display his reserve forces of military
genius, he has achieved at least, an
outstanding position among the lead
ers of the European armies - SOL
dier of vigor, courage, power of
leadership and organization, prompt
ness to assume responsibility and
nerve to act at the moment of crisis.
Comparisons are futile. 1t is idle
to speculate upon whether he is a
Grant or a Mcclellan, or whether in
a supreme test he would have passed
or failed. So far as he was able to
go, he measured up to the expecta-
tions of his people-the honor of
American arms proved safe in his
hands. When the Senate of the
United States a few weeks ago in
vested him with the title of General
and paid him the remarkable tribute
of comforting this honor by rising
and unanimous vote, 1t voiced Amer
ica's verdict of appreciation for the
services that he rendered. He, re-
turns to his home land, if not spec
tacular hero, good and faithful
servant with whose work the Ma
ton is well pleased. There will be
no hesitant note in the chorus sof
welcomes that will greet him
throughout the country and the bur-
den of that chorus will be well
done
"Didn't tumble the job
Thoroughness, steadiness of pur-
pose, firmness, decision, determine
ton to push ahead and the nerve to
accept risks, all bottomed upon q
broad foundation of personal cour-
age - these have been the keynotes
OF BLACK Jack" Pershings charac-
ter from his West Point days to the
armistice. Whether fighting the
Spaniard in Cuba or the bush tribes
of Mindanao, whether trailing the
Indians across the alkali plains of
the West or chasing Mexican bandits
to their mountain lairs, 1t is the same
figure we see the same peculiar
qualities of leadership that give him
an outstanding relief. A forward
pushing figure always-grim, silent,
unspectacular, a soldier every inch
of him, inspiring confidence in the
soldiers that followed him. A re-
turning doughboy. asked as to the
opinion held by the American SOL
diers of their commander, said: "I
never saw General Pershing but
once, in a review, but that one look
did more to- stiffen the morale of
the boys in my company than all the
discipline we had undergone - he
looked the part and we felt we were
in safe hands that wouldn't tumble
the job"
1t was big job that was placed
in his hands, the biggest that was
ever confided to a single American s
control and guidance. Looking back
now one can visualize how tremen-
dous the responsibility was that he
assumed in the organization of two
million men, unfamiliar with the
| fighting game as played on Euro
pean fields. and the frightful diff
culties that were to be overcome be-
fore the glories of Cantigny, Chateau
Thierry and the Argonne were pos
sible. No commander in the field
was ever left with so free hand
his was to be the work and his the
, responsibility. On no single occa-
sion, 1t is said, was there any inter-
ference with his plans of organiza-
! ton or his plans of campaign. The