The sun., 1919-09-14
PERSHING ENDS
HIS DUTIES AS
CHIEF OF A. E. F.
Informs Secretary Baker
Work Is Done as Head
of Armies.
REMAINS IN WASHINGTON
Will Visit Larger Cities-Ob-
serves 59th Birthday An
niyersary.
IN WASHINGTON
specsal pesbetch to THr sus.

WASHINGTON, sept. IL. - Gen. FER
shing ended his direction of the Ameri-
can Expeditionary Forces in France
to-day when he reported to Secretary
Baker Of the War Department that his
mission as the leader of Americas
armies had been completed.
In the same room from which he
lett for France more than two years
ago Cen Pershing conferred with Mr..
Baker for half an hour. Most OF the
conversation was personal.
Two other events marked the day
for Gen. Pershing. He was SO years
old and he saw the first professional
baseball game he has attended since
the punitive expedition into Mexico.
Gen. Pershing opened his birthday
anniversary by receiving visitors -
members Of Congress. army friends
and Secretary of the Interior Lane,
who intimated afterward that Gen.
Pershing had approved the soldiers
land bill.
The climax of the day was when he
went to see Mr.. Baker. Hundreds OF
clerks in the State. War and Navy
Building had been advised Of his COM
ing and Of the way he would come. They
were all waiting for him when he
reached the building In time to use the
strokes of the War Department. clock as
drum beats as he entered Mr.. Bakers
ONCE. He reckoned without the crowd
When the General walked into the
building he met a shrill of cheers. almost
exclusively feminine. that made hin
pause for a moment II was too late &c
retreat. even II he had thought of it, sc
he 'bucked" the crowd. The price oi
his passage through the crowd wa;
hand shakes and smiles. He gave both
freely. but his rate of progress for the
last five yards to the. Secretary's off1ce
was only a yard a minute. and he wa;
late.
Military etiquette would have pre-.
scribed his greeting to Mr.. Baker as:
''sir. Gen. Pershing reports to the
Secretary OF War"
Urged to Visit Cities.
Mr.. Baker assured callers that the
visit was informal He urged Gen
Pershing to accept at least some of the
invitations to visit cities so that Amer
lea generally may look at him and tel
what they think of him. He would moi
name any of the cities, as he said tbs
question Of acceptance was entirely with
Gen. Pershing and the other demand
on him. Tonight Gen. Pershing had no
made a choice. Following the confer
ence Mr.. Baker made this statement:
Gen. Pershing will remain in Wash
ington, with his headquarters In the
Land Onfice Building. as at present
arranged, maintaining in effect the
headquarters of the American Ex-
pedit.onary Force, so the records OF
the expedition can be kept together
and administered under Gen. Per-
shing's orders, thus making all of
the information and experience OF
the Expeditionary Force available
from a centralized place to the De-
partment and to the Congress.
How long this will continue is not
determined. and not possible TO be
determined until we discover how
long II will be useful. In the mean
time the General will accept sev-
sral invitations which have been
extended to him from cities and
members OF his STAN who do not
accompany him will be at work here
upon the records and papers Of the
Expeditionary Force and upon the
fnal report of the expedition. which
the General is preparing.
AS Gen. Pershing and Secretar.
Baker left Bakers private office the!
met reporters.
Can you endure an interview Sec
rotary Baker asked Gen. Pershing.
They endured me yesterday" tn,
General replied.
Trapped by Crowd.
The interview opened with a question
a. to how the General was going b
get out Of the building. Pershing locke,
his surprise and pointed to a door. Blu
when the door was opened the inter
view ended In a welcoming shrek from
the oristna cheerers and from voiun
teers who had been attracted by tn
opening reception.
Gen. Pershing looked briefly at tn
crowd and at the policeman holdinl
them back. Then he became unmili
tsry and shuffled his feet. Secretar
Baker was stirred to action.
| Poiow NO." he said. ana d.sappeare
Into The crowd. IIls mould was ssvera
sizes smaller than the Generals and h
was lost among the war workers. Ger
Pershing got started when a muscular
II small. brunette grabbed his hand
pulled him q couple of feet forward an
asked him to smile for her.
After brief visit to the new 20. r
IQ"-The General Headquarters in tn
Land Once Building opened for him
Gen. Psrshins returned TO his hotel an
CoHtsSHed on Fourth Paos