Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-03-19
BIZ FREDERICK
J. HASlkzN

to captain for extraordinary nerOlSm
on the field Of battle. He has won
honor in the campaigns Of the Ma
rine Corps from China and the Phil
calcitrant, rebellious republics of the
tropics and south of the American
border, his name stands for the last
word in American law and order. 1t is
better known there than that Of any
other American, with the possible ex-
ception of George Washington.
Some of His Exploits
Back in 1912, although warned that
the natives would kill him. he went
alone into the camp of the Nicaraguan
insurrectos and by argument and per-
suasion induced their commander to
In Haiti, he crawled through culvert
into the heart Of a fort held by 200
well-armed Haitian cacos, in the face
of fire With only two companions at
first, the general so alarmed and over
awed the natives that they. quit the
fight. One of the men with General
Butler on this exploit was SO affected
by it that he went insane. 1t is truly
said of Butler that he has spread re-
spect for American law and order and
the square deal' over a territory
larger than the United States.
General Butler was born in West
Chester, Pa, in 1881. The son OF
Congressman Thomas Butler, for years
chairman of the house committee on
naval affairs, he is q member of an an
cient Quaker family and the descendant
of members Of William PENIS original
party of Friends who were the first
colonists Of Pennsylvania.
Brought up Quaker, the boy early
in life showed a disposition towards
things military, and although still IN
his teens when the Spanish war broke
out, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. to
the horror of his family. Commissioned
second lieutenant soon afterward, he
first served at the Marine barracks
here, after which he was sent for duty
to Guantanamo, Cuba. with the Marine
landing force. where he served through
the war He served with credit in
the Philippine campaign afterward.
His first great opportunity came IN
1900 when first lieutenant he took
part in the battles Of Tientsin, Yang
Tsun. and the relief of Picking in the
Boxer campaign. AT Tientsin his con-
duct electrified the whole allied force
when he left the firing lines and dashed
far out toward the Chinese lines to
bring in a wounded soldier. He was
himself seriously wounded For this
he was breveted captain and was
commended by the British commander
Of the allied forces, Brig. Gen. Dur
ward. who declared that such action
BY British soldier would win the Vic
toria cross.
Had Varied Experience
Returning to the United States,
Captain Butler commanded detach-
ments ashore while recovering from
his wounds. later being assigned to sea
duty. In 1908 he joined the Panama
expedition. afterward going again to
the Philippines. He became major
in 1908. He saw service in Cuba. Mic
aragua and Honduras in short space
of time, and in 1909 returned to Pan
ANA to take charge of Camp Elliott.
In 1910 and again in 1912 he accom-
panied expeditions to Nicaragua, seeing
action in the latter campaign at the
battles of Granada and Leon, and the
famous fight at Coyotepe hill In 1914
he went to Vera Cruz with the fighting
forces of occupation and took a SEN
sational part in the street fighting, for
which he was awarded one of his med
ais of honor.
In 1916. General Butler went to
Haiti and took prominent part in the
pacification Of the island. He later
became chief of the newly organized
Gendarmerie d'Haiti which he recruited
and trained. In 1918 he returned to
the United States. was made colonel
and placed in charge of the 18th regi
ment of Marines. which he took to
France. Since his return from France
he has been a leader in the Marine
Corps campaign of education. economy
and efficiency. His work i'll command
Of the Marine camp at Quantico. Va.
has commanded the attention of the
nation