The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-10-12
PERSHINC
WILL NOT
PLACE MEDAL
Plans to Pay Tribute
to Unknown English
Soldier Miscarry

OOIkICl 441ONSt4
Paris, Oct. 9 (By the Associated
Press ss).-General Pershing will not
20 to London to lay the congress
sional medal on the tomb OF the
British unknown soldier in West
minister abbey, and if the cere-
mony is held another American Of
fcer will be designated to repre-
sent the United States
This announcement came tonight
from most authoritative source.
Lack of time available for the
trip between now and October 70
when General Pershing sails for
home is the official explanation for
his decision to abandon his visit to
England. 1t is learned, however,
that the failure Of the British war
Office either to fix date for the
ceremony or until late yesterday to
give any explanation for not reply
ing to repeated inquiries from the
American embassy officials is the
chief reason for General Pershing's
decision. @
General Pershing came to Eu-
rope for the purpose Of laying the
congressional medals on the tombs
Of the French and British unknown
soldiers. The Washington govern
ment so informed the British gov
ernment early in August and again
when he sailed. So far as can be
learned no answer was received
to either communication which
asked that date be fixed for the
ceremony and that the general be
informed
Since his arrival in Paris furth-
er inquiries have been made at the
British foreign Office through the.
medium Of the American embassies
in London and Paris. One Of these
inquiries developed the explanation
that such ceremonies usually took
a long time to arrange.
The especially trained battalion
from the american forces of the
Rhine, which acted as a guard Of
honor at the Paris ceremony and
was to have proceeded to London,
returned to Coblenz this afternoon
by special train a,,er having been
held week in Paris awaiting
word from the British foreign Of
flee.
1t is known that American off,
cials in Paris, as we'll as General
Pershing and his party, have been
mystifled by the silence Of the Brit
ish government and the matter has
caused much embarrassment to
the general. He has : zen besieg-
ed with invitations to dinners and
official functions, and the uncer-
tainty Of the London arrangement
made it difficult to reply to many
Of these. Some Of the military
men have adval I'd the expiana-
ton that the rule not permitting
British officers and men IS accept
foreign decorations might be the
cause of the situation; they further
suggested that the British might
want to arrange to confer a decora-
ton similar in Importance on
Americas unknown soldier before
accepting the congressional medal.
On the other hand, it is pointed
out that the fact that the medal
was conferred by an act Of congress
on behalf Of the American people
should place the decoration in
special category, where ordinary
rules and precedents would not ap-
ply.
American officials in Paris are
much concerned over the matter,
and fears are expressed that an
unfriendly Interpretation might be
placed on the incident unless full
explanation is made of the delay
and the ceremony held as soon as
it can be arranged.
General Pershing would not COM
ment on this subject today.
Washington. Oct 9-No COM
ment was forthcoming from the ad-
rninistration tonight on the an
nouncement from Paris that Gener-
t>A 81 o1l1ll6 HOClO lSluI IL " lIlc
United States without stopping in
London to place the congressional
medal on the tomb CT the unknown
British soldier in Westminster Alb
bey. It was generally accepted
that the generals decision was the
result Of his failure to receive re-
plies to inquiries regarding the
date Of this ceremony. coupled
with the necessity for his return
to Washington by November / in
order that he might serve on the
official reception committee which
will greet Marshal Foch and other
military notables arriving for the
disarmament conference
In his announcement OF General
Pershing's visit to France, Secre-
tary Weeks stated that if the pro-
gram could be arranged to permit
his return by November / the
itinerary would include participa-
ton in the Westminster Abbey GER
emony. but, otherwise, another Of
ficer would be designated for that
function. There was no indication
tonight as to the probable selection.
Harding Will Va