Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1922-06-16
Tue Notable SOutherners
GEN. ROBERT LEE BULLARD.

General Robert Lee Bullard. Hero
of Cantigny," says the New York
Correspondent of the Philadelphia
Ledger, sails for Europe on the trans
port Cantigny, his first trip abroad
since his return home with our VIC
torious army in May, 1919. His ship
ping on the nsme-ship of his W vic
tory, wheR he was commander of the
First Division, is one of those re-
markable condolences which makes
life worth its salt.
Record Page at Cantigny
Cantigny is the greatest event in
the life of General Billiard and a re-
cord page in the annals of our fight
ing in the World War. 1t IA a most
needed victory, for it came at a time
when the Germans were attacking on
the west front, breaking through at
Rheims. 1t was most heartening to
the Allies and it stood out for its
brilliant conception and execution.
The sunrise of May %, 1918, with
the Americans on the Montdidier sec
tor will never be forgotten to those
privileged to have been there; our
new lire beyond the village of Can
tigny withstanding German counter
attacks, six altogether, and holding
firm, and patches of enemy prisoners
being escorted to the rear areas, 1t
was in an old chateau, his headquar-
tiers, that l heard General Billiard re-
ceive the warm congratulations OF
General Pershing, for the victory
flashed electrically along the allied
front was the long-hoped-for presage
of the Kaiser's doom.
General Billiards promotion after
Cantigny was rapid. He commanded
the Third Corps in the Meuse-Argonne
offensive, and when the armistict
came he was commanding the new
second army which General Pershinl
had massed back of Toul for an all
American drive to outflank and isolate
the great fortress of Metz. Had tn,
end of the war not interviewed Sher
mans march to the sea" would hav'
found a European replica in Billiard!
march across Alsace," for the long
lean, smiling Albanian has a RECORD
in the army of never having failed O
accomplishment in a task assigned t.
him.
Suffers Great Bereavement
During the last winter General Bull
lard suffered a personal bereavement
the death of his wife. Their two chill
dren, Rose, eighteen years old, an,
Keith, seventeen, will accompany thu
} army officer to Europe, also Captain
, Walter Yuill, aide to the general ant
who in the Cantigny fight commando,
: a m%achine-gun battalion of the Six
l teenth Infantry.
: Rode Horse to College
The Alabama town that gave Gen
|, eral Billiard to his country bears tn
!, strange name of Opelika. His parent
J We're ambitious for him to become
plantation. owner and registered hin
!, at the Alabama Polytechnic Institut
at Auburn, a State college organize,
: in 1872 for the benefit of agricultur
and mechanic arts. He rode six mile
: to college each day from his home cpoi
his own horse, which he quarteredNI
: the stables belonging to the wife of tn
surgeon of the college.
A few weeks ago, General Bullar,
: revisited Lee County, to give his per
sonal yea to an attempt being made t,
: raise $4,000 0 endowment fund 70
his old college at Auburn. One of tn,
ladies of the college, white haired an,
$ quite aged came forward with a gar
ment which she was carrying on he
: arm. 1T is your linen buster whicl
T you left hanging in my stable forty
.. two years ago when you used to rid,
. over from Opelika," she said adding
Il have had it washed and ironed fo
/ you"
There were tears in the general
eyes as ne told Of the old linen buster
so symbolicsl of a peaceful rural ex
! istence. Its preservation all thes
! years is typical of the sweet sentimen
t of the old South. INSTEAD I chos,
:. a inform he said today, "went t
west Point and became a soldier"
Billiard Served in Cuba
t General Billiard SERVED in Cub;
Il. during the Spanish-American Wa
and IN the Philippine Islands durin,
the period of the insurrection. II
t built the lligan-Lanao military roa,
I IN the Philippines and was militar,
governor of Mindanao. Later b.
n became special aid and investigate
for the United States provisions
Government of Cuba and acted as mill
tary secretary of education and fin
: arts in Cuba, for he is a scholarly sor
= of a soldier, and an author of man
articles and pamphlets.