Evening star., 1924-09-12
PERSH|NG, LEAVING
ARMY, IS HONORED
Friends Greet General, Who
Is Rounding Out AZ Years.
Service Today.

Envisioning memories Of the gray
days OF 1917 and 1918, when he led
Americas fighting forces against a
menacing foe, Gen. John Joseph Per-
shing today spent his last full day of
active service in the Army he loved
by witnessing with mingled emotions
a satisfying peace time reiteration of
the patriotic spirit of civic America
that enabled him to emerge from the
conflict overseas world hero. 1t
seemed that the National Defense day
demonstration was an appropriate
farewell to the man whose personal
qualities had elevated him from the
ranks of the "shavetails" to the high
est military Office of the Nation.
Will Retire Tomorrow.
Tomorrow at noon the United
States Army's only full-rank general
OF the armies and chief of staff, will
become plain Jack Pershing, his title
handicapped. but nevertheless hon
ored, by that little parenthical word,
retired that an appreciative Gov
eminent gives to her soldiers for
long and worthy service.
AS Gen. Pershing tomorrow steps
into retirement he will have attained
the age of "a years, ~ of them
passed in the vigorous service Of
the military. Except for the gray
hairs and burrows that bespeak the
burdens he has shouldered during
TINS long career, this remarkable mar
VIII end his formal activities at the
war Department in excellent physical
trim. despite the rigors of a war that
rocked nations. killed and manned
millions of men and broke down the
health OF many national figures.
He will re-enter the civilian life
with as little ostentation as he left
II to enter West Point back in 1885,
25-year-old normal school gradu-
ate uncertain of his future.
No Plans for Future.
1t was said at the War Department
today that he is as devoid of definite
plans for the future as he was the
day his eyes were attracted to an
announcement of an examination for
entrance to the United States Mill
tary Academy and was impelled to
slight career as a teacher for that
of a soldier.
For the time being Gen. Pershing
will continue to be a resident of the
National Capital. He is known to
like Washington as a residential CEN
ter and it is not unlikely that he will
make his permanent home here.
His closing hours in the service
have become a round of Fluctuations
from old and new friends, most OF
them former comrades overseas.
Yesterday officers of the General Staff
rendered Gen. Pershing a farewell
luncheon in regret at his retirement.
With Maj. Gen. John L. Hines. dep
uty chief of staff and choice of Presi-
dent Coolidge as the new chief OF
staff, presiding, the retiring officers
.'family circle" of high ranking off,
GERS reminisced of their associations
and heard many tales of Pershing's
l.1s career recited by the guests
And in his typicaily modest way
the guest Of honor asked his retire.
ment be made no occasion for fiow-
ers or regret.
This morning some 500 Reserve Off
GERS who are participating in the de-
fense test passed through the gen.
stone portico opposite the White
House to shake his hand and give him
a word of greeting. Standing bare
headed and smiling broadly, Pershing
gave a firm grip to every outstretched
hand, and as he recognized in the long
line some familiar face he chatted
briefly.
Greeted by Hays.
Prominent among the uniformed
guests WIS Col. Will Hays, erstwhile
Postmaster General, and now car Of
the motion picture industry, who,
with moist eyes, renewed an old
friendship and expressed a wish that
the generals future might be as sue
cessful ~ his past. Hes q great
man." Hay8 remarked, with choking
voice, 20 q newspaper man after he
had passed from the portico. II am
glad he considers me friend"
Another member ofsthe group whom
Pershing greeted cordially was Bish-
op Chaflts Henry Brent, chief chap
lain of the American Expeditionary
Force. With him was Rt Rev. James
E. Freeman. Bishop of Washington.
Both were in the uniform of the
Army chaplain.
Gen. Pershing appeared to be
breaking away already from his Gus
tomary Army discipline, for he failed
to arrive on time for the reception
this morning with his usual preci-
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