The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-05

Gen. Robert l.. Bullard is coming to Auburn to attend the golden jubi- lee of the institution on February p. Information to that effect was contained in telegram to Charles k. DeBardeleben, general chairman, yesterday.
 General Bullard had tentatively ac- cepted the invitation to visit his alma mater and to lend his encouragement to the campaign being waged by the Auburn alumni for s1,OOo.oO but only yesterday did he positively assure the committee he would be present.
 Governor Kilby. former Governor Conner and numerous other distin- guished men will be in attendance at the celebration February 22, among the number being probably 50 of the leaders in business and industrial af- fairs of Birmingham and an equal number from other cities of the state. Other distinguished alumni are ex- pected to join General Bullard at Au- burn on that occasion.
 A native of opelika. General Bull lard was a student at Auburn 40 years ago as a member of the class of 1882. He was appointed to the United States Military academy at West Point and graduated in the class of 1885. He served in the Tenth infan- try and other organizations until the time of the Spanish American war, when he was appointed colonel of the Third Alabama volunteers, a consid- ersble part of which was made up ot Birmingham men. He served with distinction in both Cuba and the Phil ippines and was made lieutenant colonel in the regular army in 1906.
 Commended for Bravery
 General Bullard was twice com mended for bravery in the Philippines and served for a time as governor of one of the Moro provinces. He be- came colonel in the regular army In 1911 and was one of the first officers selected by General Pershing to go to France. Promoted to the rank of major general in 1917. General Bull lard assumed command of the train ing schools in France in 1917. As commanding general of the First di- vision, he was in command of the American troops which captured and held Cantigny, the first demonstra- ton of the power of the American army. It was General Bullard who declined to retreat at Chateau Thierry, and 1t was this act that was credited with turning the tide in favor of the allies and forcing the Germans to retreat.
 General Bullard was corps com mander at St. Mihiel, and in the Meuse-Argonne offensives in the fall of 1918 which caused the final down. fall of the Germans, and was pro- noted to lieutenant general, ranking next to General Pershing in the A. E. F. In october, 1918, General Bull lard was appointed to command the Second American army and was ad vancng with his forces on Metz for an offensive to begin November 15, when he was halted by the armistice on November II.
 Ranks Next to Pershing
 With the single exception of Gem eral Pershing, General Bu1lard is probably the Outstanding figure of the American army in France. He was decorated by the American, French and other governments for his distinguished services during the war. and is now in command of the Second corps with headquarters at Cover nor's Island, New York.
 Having received his early military training at Auburn, General Bullard has always manifested great inter est in the welfare of the institution. It will be recalled that~-he planned to come to Auburn in 1920. but the critical illness of his wife, whose death occurred several months ago, prevented the trip.
 General Bullard is expected to visit Birmingham, and possibly other Ala bama cities, on the occasion of his Auburn trip. He has many relatives and friends throughout the state. Judge Dan A. Greene of Birmingham is his nephew.
 "The acceptance of General Bullard is highly gratifying to us.' said Charles F. DeBardeleben, general chairman of the campaign for s1,000,- 00o being conducted by the Auburn alumni. General Bullard assured us of his interest in the welfare of Au- burn, but it was only this week that he returned from a tour of inspec- ton in Porto Rico and Panama and found that he would be able to at- tend. We are arranging for great gathering of distinguished men, and we believe that no man making the trip to Auburn February 22 will ever regret it."
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