The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-09-18
PERS,HING QUITS
AS ARMY HEAD
General Of u. S. Forces is
Mustered to Retired
List Today.
THANKS OF NATION
President Coolidge Issues Spe-
ciaI Order Expressing Deep
Appreciation of Service.

Washington.-John J. Pershing ends
his AZ years of active service in the
army at noon today with last signal
honor paid him in the issuance Of an
executive announcement by President
Coolidge expressing the nations in
debtedness for the service which won
him leadership of the American forces
in the World War.
Only in the rare instances of history
in which retiring officer has reached
the highest rank has there been pre-
cedent for the honor conferred upon
General Pershing in the executive or
der in which the president today 'ex
tended to him "anew the thanks of the
nation for his eminent services" The
president added that he felt certain
that 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"
Citing General Pershing's arrival to-
day at the automatic retirement age of
"a years, the executive order, after re-
minding the country Of its obligation
to one whose accomplishments contrib
uted so largely to the defense of the
worlds liberties" reviewed his long
career of military service.
Order Read to Army.
The text of the order, which will be
read to the army today as a general
order, follows in part:
General John J. Pershing, general
Of the armies, having this day reached
the age of Sd years, is retired from ac-
tie service in conformity with re-
quirement of an act of congress ap-
proved June 80, 1882.
ain announcing the termination Of
this distinguished soldiers active mill
tary career, it is deemed appropriate,
to remind the country of his eminent
services and of the nations obligation
to one whose accomplishments contrib
uted so largely to the defense of the
worlds liberties.
Entering the army as commits
stoned officer, after graduation at the
nited States Military Academy IN 1885,
he endured the hardships of the Indian
campaigns, then necessary for the pa
cification of the western frontier. In
the war with Spain he participated in
the Santiago campaign in Cuba. In the
Philippine Islands, after their acquisi-
tion by the United States, it fell to his
lot to assist in the suppression of the
native insurrectibn, and his remark
able success in bringing under control
some of the most turbulent tribes is a
matter of history.
Became General in 1906
Is -,
he was intrusted with many important
commands, and when the unsettled
| conditions on the border of Mexico, in
/ 1916, made it necessary to send mill
! tary expedition into that country, he
/ was selected for its command. Ir exer-
/ cising this command, as we'll rs in the
] others that had fallen to him, he dem
4 onstrated his capacity for the highest
/ military functions and his selection as
/ the commander Of the American Expe-
| dictionary Forces in the World War was
4 a natural consequence.
I "His conduct OF that high command
fully justified the selection as well as
| his elevation to the highest rank in our
I military service, which was conferred
j upon him permanently under the au-
/ spices of a special act of congress in
recognition of his fulfllment of his
| countrys expectation.
Gle is one of the very few officers
1 who have held the rank of general in
i the permanent military establishment
and the one who has exercised supreme
command over much the largest body
of troops ever called into action by the
United States government. HIS servi-
! ces to the world in the greatest conflict
in which military forces have ever
been engaged have been recognized
through the award of the highest dec
orations by the governing authorities
of Belgium, Great Britain, China,
/ CzechoSlovakia, France, Greece, Italy,
Japan, Montenegro.
Gets Thanks of Nation.
General Pershing has already re-
ceived from the congress the thanks of
that BODY and Of the American people,
and now extend to him anew the
thanks of the nation for his eminent
services and feeling that l voice the
sentiment of the entire citiEenry of the
republic in wishing him long life, hap
piness and prosperity in the retirement
he has so richly earned.
sThe retiring general of the armies
laws down his burden of active military
duty wit hthe satisfaction of having
witnessed as a elimination of the task
to which he has contributed devotedly
in the period since the war test Of
the new national defense program
i which he and his associates regard as
| eminently successful. His heart and
thoughts were wrapped up in this one
thing to the very last hour of his ac-
tive service"