Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-23
PERSH|NG TO WRITE
STORY OF HIS LIFE
Generals New Book Would
Cover Experiences on Fir
ina Line Since Indian Wars.
BY REX COLLIER.

Gen. Pershing has decided to write
the story of his life from the days
CT his boyhood in the little town OF
Laclede. Mo, to the period covered in
his war memoirs.
IN reaching this decision he has weld
ed TO the earnest solicitation Of his
friends-the same advisers who pre-
vailed upon him to write of his expert
enccs in the war with Germany.
The general disclosed his intention in
an interview just before sailing for Eu-
rope the other day. Asked If he plan
ned any further literary undertakings
now that his war story is completed,
Gen. Pershing said:
For some time I have had vaguely
in mind the suggestion that l write
my life story MY friends have urged
me repeatedly to record my experiences
before the war, and quite recently ]
decided to do so. plan to begin soon.
Story to Cover Entire Career.
what phases of your career will you
embrace in the story?"
IT expect to cover the whole period
up to the war" the general replied.
INV boyhood, my experiences at West
Point. on the frontier, in the SDaniEh-
American War. in the Philippine In
surrection. in the Moro country, on the
Mexican border and so on"
The life story of John J. Pershing
should have wide appeal, for its back
ground would be most colorful. The
war was a climactic chapter in the
career of this great soldier. There are
other gripping episodes replete with
enough adventure, action and history TO
fill several volumes.
Gen. Pershing's "reminiscences OF the
Indian campaigns in the West are still
vivid AS a second lieutenant, just out
of West Point, he served with the 9th
Cavalry in Indian campaigns from 1887
to 1891, and again, in the Summer OF
1895, he took part in the roundup OF
the Cree Indians in the Northwest as
a first lieutenant of the 10th Cavalry.
Pershing at San Juan Hill.
After the Indians had been quieted
Lieut.. Pershing returned to less exactirg
duties as tactical instructor, both at the
University of Nebraska and at West
Point, but not for long.
War with Spain was declared and
Lieut. Pershing; then training cadets
at the Military Academy in the science
of tactics, requested assignment to his
Cavalry regiment. He went to Cuba
with the first troops and participated in
the celebrated charge of San Juan Hill.
I1o COllAuNb VII IAAoN OS1cSASAA
meritorious that his colonel said OF
him:
Il have been in many fights and was
through the Civil War, but Pershing is
the bravest and coolest man under fire
] ever saw IN my life"
That is a tribute for Regular Army
colonel to pay first lieutenant. And
added to the colonels statement was
this one from the commanding general:
He displayed marked gallantry and
efficiency during the entire campaign In
Cuba"
IN recognition Of his distinguished
service in Cuba the young officer was
brevetted captain and upon his return
To the United S ates he was promoted
t. ma 'or Of volunteers and assigned as
TT1iiitary aide to the Assistant Secretary
Of War His appointment as head of
the newly organized divisions of customs
and 5rsular affairs followed.
Leads Columns Against BIoros.
Els interest in insular affairs led
him to request active duty in the Philip
pines, and in 1899 he became adjutant
general for the Department Of Mindanao
ard Jolo. The MoTos went on the war
path in 1901, and Capt. Pershing Che
had resumed mis- Regular Army rank
commanded three expeditions against
the insurrectionists.
Capt. Perslling was ordered to Toxic
es military attache in 1905, and was