Pueblo chieftain., 1922-03-19
BY Frederic ]. Haskin.


their way home will feel personal IN
teres, IN news concerning Brig. Cen
Smedley D. Butler of tho Marine corps
Since cleaning up Brest and coming
home. Gen. Butler has been an cntha-
sias;ic worker in tho campaign to orins
the Marine Corps to high stale OIL
efficiency and economy OF administra-
tion. As q result of his arduous laoors,
signs OF illness appeared and about
month ago Gen. Butler went 10 the
hospital for observation and treatmeht.
1t was feared at first that he was sur
fering from appendicitis. but thorough
examination disclosed that he had no
specific ailnent. his ill-health being
due entirely to overwork. 1t is expect
ed that in short time he VIII be IN
good condition again.
There are few men in tho 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 so many thousands OF
men and of winning their unsunted
praise and friendship came when he
was in command of the great embark
alton camp at Brest- In less than SIX
months he changed tho camp from a
sink-hole of disease. dirt. and discom-
fort, into comfortable, well paved.
well lighted city of tents, with munich
pal water and sewage systems that
would have been a credit to any per-
nlanent city OF similar size. Thus no
saved thousands of lives and endeared
himself for life to thousands OF
doughboys.
In the slang of the soldier. he was
the commanding general at the Battle
nf RreSf-anh that real hattie
He performed prodigies OF labor. HIS
working day was often q 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 a man in
n Will to show exactly how certain
jobs should be done.
His spare. erect figure. his uniform
decorated with two congressional
medals of honor and four rows of
cleaning campaign bars. his weather.
beaten face and ferocious energy.
stamped themselves indclihly on tho
thru tho camp. Ask any veteran who
took ship at Brcst what Impressed him
most there. and he Will reply unhcsi-
,atinsly ''Smedley Butler!"
RED TAPE ORDER IGNORED
Many will recall how he determined
shortly after his arrival at Brest that
his men should not sleep in the mud.
/ He marched at the head OF column
OF all of tho mon in tho camp to n pile
of lumber which official red tape had
ldecrccd should not be touched. He and
| each OF his men took from the pile a
! blackboard. six feet long and four feet
wide. to serve as beds. on the way
hack no was arrested by n military po-
a. =. .4.sRf -
planning TO do afterward. but In tho
meantime his men slept on tho boards
instead OF in tho mud. Hc was nick
named ''Duckboard Butler" for this in
cldent, and later t,ss likeness OF =
blackboard. worn on tho shoulder OF
tho Uniform. became the camp In
sigma.
he supcrintcndod tho lawinE OF sc
miles OF railroad track within tho camp
and the erection OF n dozen iIigc kitch-
len-cafetcrias. each capable Of tccd!ng
5000 men In an hour II was often nee
es-ary to work In an icy downpour OF
rain. and at such times. Gen. Butler
had bands playing constantly to cheer
the men.
This was n mans size Job. but Gen.
Butler has been engaged in mans size
Jobs since he entered the Marine Corps
a lad OF Il. That was ~ years ago. In
that period hc has engaged in II cx-
pcdit!onr or campaigns. has fought In
battles and skirmishes without num-
bcr. has won two congressional medals
lof honor. has been advanced In num-
her FOR gaiiantry IN action and pro-
rnotcd by brcvct from FRS. Lieutenant
to Captain for extraordinary herolsul
on tho field or battle. lie has won hon.
or In tho campaigns of tho Marine
Corps from China and the Philippines
4.
rehellious republics OF tho tropics and
south OF ;hc American border, his name
stands for tho last word in American
law and ordcf. II IL better known
There than that OF any other American
with tho possible exception OF George
Washington.
SOME or HIS EXPLOITS
Back in 1912. aitho warned that thu
natives would Kill him. he went nion'
into tho camp or tho Nlcaraguan in
surrcctos and by argument and per
suasion induced their commander i'
Surrender and tho rest TO go homo. II
Haiti. he crawlcd thru a culvcrt int
tho heart OF a fort held by 200 well
armed Haitian cacos. in the facc %
fire with only two companions a
first. tho General so alarmed and over
awed tho natives that they quit th'
fight one Of the men with Genera
Butler on this exploit was SO affccic'
by Il that he went insane. Il Is truly
; said Of Buiicr that ne has spread re
, spect for American law and order ans
the square dear over territory
larger than the United states.
Con. rutier was born in Nest Ches
ter. IA. IN 1851 Tho scn ot Congress
man THOMAS Butler. FOR years chair
imam Of the House Committee on Nava
T, Affairs. he Is member OF an aucien
Quaker family and the descendant o
members ~ William Penn's orisins
party Of Friends who were the frs
: colonists Of Pennsylvania
Brought w a Quaker. tho boy carl
in life showed a disposition towsr'
:, things military. and aliho still in HI
!, teens when the Spanish War brok
, out. he enlisted in the Marine Corps
A. Iur.ur ~ 1T. rn,Y,,,t "a