Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-06-08
PERSH|NG WOULD
retire FROM ARMY
Writes Secretary Baker He
pesires to Engage in
Something More Active"

Gen. John ]. Pershing. former COM
mAnder OF the American expeditionary
FORCES. and now the ranking officer of
the ARMY, by special act of Congress.
has expressed desire to relinquish
ALI military duty at the convenience
Of: the War Department and return
toSc3vil life." SO that he may be free
tosengage in something more active"
He 50 expressed himself in a letter
addressed to the Secretary of War
Yesterday, written soon after his re-
turn to this city from u visit to
Maine.
Text of Letter.
The letter follows:
WASHINGTON. d. c., June Z. 1920.
Dear Mr.. Secretary: Referring to
our conversation of a few days ago. 1
wish to say that II has long been my
desire to return to civil life. Through
out my military career 1 have been
very much occupied. and the assign
ments that have fallen to my lot dur
ing recent years have been more or
less important.
1T now appears that my duties are
not likely to be of character that
will require more than a portion of
my time. Under the circumstances. 1
feel that after the completion of the
work contemplated by the Army reor-
ganization act l could relinquish
military duty without detriment to
the service, and thus be free to en-
gage in something more active. There
fore. unless a situation should develop
to justify my remaining. | contem
plate taking the step indicated within
the next few months.
SHOULD the necessity arise in a
n nj
You, Mr.. Secretary. that / shall stand
ready to serve my country in the fu-
ture as have in the past.
With great respect and high es-
TEEN. / remain. very sincerely.
isigned) JOHN j. PERsHING.
ITO the Hon. Newton d. Baker.
secretary of War. Washington, d. c."
Present Status Not Pleasing.
Though Gen. Pershing's action may
surprise the public generally. it has
been known in military circles that
he was far from satisfied with his
present somewhat indefinite status in
the military establishment. being
perfunctory duties to perform.
Gen. Pershfng is chairman Of the
committee provided for in the Army
reorganization bill for the classical
ton of the officers of the Army and
for filling the ranks of the officers
under the reorganization.
The other work referred to by Gen.
Pershing relates to the preparation
of the records of the war in Europe
so far as the American expeditionary
force in concerned.
Mentioned for Presidency.
The name of Gen. Pershing as a can
didate for the republican presidential
nomination had been put forward in
the Nebraska and Michigan prefer
entail primaries. but delegates from
Those states pledged to other candi-
dates were elected. Political OBJ
servers at Chicago within the past
few days, however, have mentioned
Gen. Pershing among the dark horses.
The expeditionary commander will
retire with the rank of full general,
that title for life having been con-
fereed on him by Congress after his
return from France. Gen. .Pershing
will be sixty years old next September
and would not reach regular retirement
age until 1924.
Although considered as one Of the
most resourceful and efficient officers
in the Army, Gen. Pershing was not
nationally known until 1915, when he
was selected to head the expedition
which followed Villa and his band
into the heart of northern Mexico. At
thaf time he was a brigadier and
after returning from the Mexican ex-
petition was promoted to major gen.