Evening star., 1924-09-13
PERSH|NG RET|RES,
PRESIDENT EXT0LS
42 YEARS. SERVICE
Coolidge Voices Tribute OF
Nation in Extraordinary
Executive Order.
RECORD IN WORLD WAR
DRAWS HIGHEST PRAISE
Weeks Regrets Passing of Army
Head-Hopes for Change
in Law.

With the complimentary words OF
an extraordinary executive order re-
yolying in his mind. Gen. John Joseph
Pershing, the Nations foremost soldier
and World War veteran, watched
clock in his room at the War De-
partment click to the noon hour to-
day and signal him that his AZ years
in the active service of the Army
had ended.
Without need for regret, but over
come withal by feeling of genuine
sadness, Jack Pershing, retired gen
eral of the armies, stirred himself
from his momentary lethargy and
prepared to turn the duties of his
office as chief of staff over to his
successor, Maj. Gen. John L. Hines.
1t was his birthday, and as that
clock reached the zero" hour the
retiring Army chieftain, sole holder
of the rare rank of full general
turned past the sixty-fourth mile
stone of career marked by soldierly
honors won on varied fields of battle
from the days of the early Indian
uprisings along the western frontier
to the dawn of a November day in
1918, when democracy gave chase
to German autocracy and aggression.
Spends Morning in Onice.
Gen. Pershing spent the morning in
his office on the second floor OF the
State, War and Navy Building, receiv-
ing from time to time groups of ofh-
GERS or civilians intent on bidding him
godspeed At $50 he shook hands
with a large number of officers in
charge of various bureaus ana
branches of the War Department.
Many women, most of them young
employees of the department, visited
the office of their hero
Shortly before noon the general re
ceived the newspaper men asslgheu
tc cover" the War Department. ana
after thanking them for their feilcl-
tations. expressed his appreciation OF
the "splendid cooperation" which the
press had given him and the War De-
partment during his tenure of serv-
ice. On his shining mahogany desk
was an enormous basket OF mowers,
the gift of "a friend.
Pershing told the newspaRAe~-Haeh
that he would continue to occupy his
p-esent rooms for the purpose OF per-
forming his duties as president or the
Battle Monuments Commission and to
keep himself in touch with things
He will be ready at any time, he
said, to assist the War Department in
indicated that he will pay particu-
lar attention to the developments
ensuing from Defense.day.
Gen Pershing performed no last
official act'' today, and as the hands
of the clock on his desk swung
around to the noon hour he techni-
ally passed as quietly from public
life as he had entered 1t AZ years
ago at West Point.
Humaness Revealed.
If the kindly eyes of this fearless
warrior of world renown became
moist as he passed to the Inactive
duty list today. if the voice that had
sternly intoned the military orders that
helped spell defeat to dangerous
foe seemed choked with emotion as
high noon approached, there was
ample reason. Jack Pershing would
have belied his reputation as ''hu-
man" war leader had he not been
touched by the signal expression OF
the Nations indebtedness to him that
came from the White House today.
With only a few rare instances in
American history to follow, President
. Coolidge, as commander-in-c chief of
the Army and Navy, formally an
bounced to the Nation that Gen.
Tershing had passed automa ticaIly,
by compulsion of law, to the retired
list of the Army, and on behalf of
. the country extended anew the
thanks of the nation for his eminent
services"
The President added that he felt
certain that i voice the sentiment of
the entire citizenry of the republic
in wishing him long life. happiness
and prosperity in the retirement he
has so richly earned"
Long Career Reviewed.
Citing Gen. Pershing's arrival today
at the retirement age Of "a
years. the executive order, after re-
minding the country of it's "obliga-
tion to one whose accomplishments
contributed SO largely to the defense
of the worlds liberties" reviewed his
long career of military service.
The text of the order, which will be
read to the Army today as a general
order, follows:
Gen. John j. Pershing, General of
the Armies. having this day reached
the age of 6.4 years, is retired from
active service in conformity with a
requirement of an act of Congress
approved June 80. 1882.
I'm announcing the termination of
this distinguished soldiers active
military career. it is deemed appro-
pirate to remind the country of his
eminent services and of the nation S
obligation to one whose accomplish
ments contributed so largely to the
defense of the worlds liberties.
Fought in Indian Wars.
Entering the Army as a commits
stoned officer, after graduation at the
United States Military Academy in
1886, he endured The hardships of the
Indian campaigns then necessary for
the pacification of the Western from
tier. In the War with Spain he par
ticipated in the Santiago campaign in
Cuba. In the Philippine Islands. after
their acquisition by the United States,
it fell to his lot to assist in the sup
preston of the native insurrection,
and his remarkable success in bring
ing under control some of the most
turbulent tribes is matter of his
tory. Becoming general officer in
1906, he was intrusted with many i'm
portant commands, and when the un-
settled conditions on the border of
Mexico. in 1916. made it necessary to
send a military expedition into that
country he was selected for its COM
mand In exercising this command,
as well as in the others that had fall
(Contiuued on Page 4. Column A.