Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-03-19
The HQski1a Letter or
A GREAT SOLDIERS RECORD.

Washington, D. c., March 18.-Near-
" all of the 100000 members of the
A. E. F. who passed through Brest
on their way home will feel personal
interest in news concerning Brigadier
General Smedley ID. Butler Of the ma
rine corps.
Since cleaning up Brest and coming
here, Gen. Butler has been an enthusl-
astic worker in the campaign to bring
the marine corps to high state CT
efficiency and economy Of admin1stra-
ton. As a result of his arduous labors,
signs. of illness appeared and about
month ago Gen. Butler went to the
hospital for observation and treatment.
It was feared at first that he was suf-
fering from appendicitis, but thorough
examination disclosed that he had no
specific ailment, his ill health being due
entirely to overwork. 1t is expected that
in a short time he will be in good
condition again.
There are few men in the United
States or in the world who are known
by sight to so many of their country
men as Gen. Butler. His history and
exploits are common topic to multi
tudes Of men who regard him as an
admired personal friend. General But
lers opportunity of making the ac-
quaintance of 90 many thousands Of
men and of winning their unstinted
praise and friendship came when he
was in command Of the great embark
alton camp at Brest. In less than six
months he changed the camp from
sink-hole of disease, dirt, and discom-
fort, into a comfortable, well paved,
well lighted city of tents, with NUM-
cipal water and sewage systems that
would have been a credit to any per-
manent city of similar size. Thus he
saved thousands of lives and endeared
himself for life to thousands Of dough-
boys.
In the slang Of the soldier. he was
the commanding general at the battle
of Brest-and that was real battle.
He performed prodigies of labor. His
working day was often "A hours long.
He was in rain and mud, on the job
all the time, making speeches, cheering
men up, directing work, often taking
shovel or a crowbar from man in the
labor gangs and turning to with will
to show exactly how certain jobs should
be done
His spare, erect figure, his uniform
decorated with two congressional med
ais Of honor and four rows of gleam-
ing campaign bars, his weather beaten
IHCo anu leFOClOuS cAGI6SI st0aPGA
themselves indelibly on the minds of al
most every man who went through
the camp. Ask any veteran who took
ship at Brest what impressed him most
there. and he viii reply unhesitatingly,
"Smedley Butler" ......
Red Tape Order Ignored
Many will recaii how he determined
shortly after his arrival at Brest that
his men should not sleep in the mud.
He marched at the head Of a column
Of all of the men in the camp. to
pile of lumber which official red tape
had decreed should not be touched. he
and each of his men took from the pie
blackboard, six feet long ana tour
feet wide, to serve as beds. On the way
hack he was arrested by a military
policeman and had a great deal OF ex-
blaming to do afterward, but in the
meantime his men slept on the boards
instead Of in the mud. He was NICK
named blackboard Butler for this IN
cident. and later the Likeness Of q duck
hoard. worn on the shoulder OF the
uniform. became the camp insignia.
Within the space of single month
he superintended the laying of ~ miles
Of railroad track within the camp and
the erection Of a dozen huge kitcheh-
cafeterias, each capable OF feedlns
5000 men in an hour. 1t was often
necessary to work in an icy downpour
of rain, and at such times, Gen. Butler
had bands playing constantly to cheer
~ This was mans size job, but Cen
aral Butler has been engaged in mans
size Jobs since he entered the Marine
Corps, a lad of II. That was - years
ago. In that period he has engaged
in II expeditions or campaigns mas
fought in battles and sklrmishes WIN
nut ennmher. has won two congressional
medals of honor, has been advanced IN
number for gallantry in action and pro-