Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-22
Marine HERO LAUDS
story OF PERSHING
Mai. Gen. U. G. McAIexander
Praises Clear Account of
War by Commander.

NEW YORK, March II (N.A.N.A).-
Mai. Gen U. O. McAlexander. retired
called 1.-THE Rock Of the Marns" after
commanding the 3sth Infantry in its
spectacular defense Of a Marine River
sector in July, 1918. and who has ar
rived here after a 15.00o-rnile motoI
trip through the American and Cana
dian Rockies, praises the war story Of
Gen. Pershing at the same time he de-
rides the flctional writings of other
returned soldiers who experiences in
the war led them to believe that COM
plete disarmament would lead TO ever
lasting peace.
In a recent instalIment of his memoirs
Gen. Pershing described Gen. McAlex-
ander as the writer "of one of the
most brilliant pages in the annals of
military history" because Of his sue
cess in commanding the regiment that
repulsed the Germans in a 12-hour
battle at the Marine on July Is, 1918.
complete confusion. Referring to the
battle, Gen. McAlexander praised his
men-Enostly Texans-and added with
q wry smile:
IAN / did was transfer the knocks
IN the knees of our boys to the German
boys across the river"
Praises Pershing Style.
Gen. Pershing is writing an excellent
history of the war" said Gen. McAlex-
ander He is writing it in the cryptic
style of soldier, and there was never
q soldier who could write better dis
patch than Gen. Pershing. As a soldier,
he was known as man who used no
unnecessary words in giving or writing
orders. He has used this style IN writ
ing of his experiences and every point
ne wishes to make is clear and accurate
n q. soldierly way, he followed the
Who called for accuracy terseneSs, ac-
Curacy.'
"Of course he has the facts right and
every article have read dovetails with
my own experiences. People who are
not soldiers do not understand what
happens TO q man when he becomes
& soldier through active service. A
change takes place in a mans heart
when he realizes that he Is part of the
backbone of his country. When every
hing else goes haywire, q soldier steps
n and Strengthens out the mud6le. It
mas always been this way; without the
soldier to impress the soldiers laws in
time of trouble, don't know where the
world would be today. Soldiers embody
he qualities of the strong father in
the household, who Is the rock OF
strength at periods Of trouble and disas-
Ter. Gen. Pershing has always been a
good soldier
When you bring up the stories writ
zen BY the boys who were Just out Of
schcol when they were plunged into
me maslstrom Of modern war, you are
mentioning idealistS who had many of
tns1r ideals shattered at a plastic age,
tut all Of them would fight again, /
INK, II humanity called OF course,
"a- is terrible, and it often appears
% be futile means of settling dis
2utes between nations, but It looks
Mighty like the most successful means
= cI--'-ng oppression. 7 wish there
'rs-e a better way, but nations are made
G. human beings, and human beings
emotional. go insane and are
q en Sired 70 frenzy.
Took "Shake" Out.
"T en- not in favor Of soldiers com
ng hack from the battlefield and writ
~ cry Of the terrors and futiIity of
/ have been in the heat Of battle
= s7-en major campaigns, and I never
~ the same about war in times Of a
ate and after the battle was over.
here are awful sights, but by the
11lraculous change of something inside
man when he becomes a soldier It
doesnt seem near as bad as It sounds
after. War is living experience, and
young men Of courage have never been
afraid to live.
1t Is quite useless to attempt to
describe the courage which a man can
sum up Just before a battle. have
teen knees shaking. figuratively and
literally, and as general could SYM
nathize With my soldiers In what they
we're going through. It was my duty
q take the shake out Of my mems knees
nd put 1t IN the knees Of the enemy
hat Is q generals biggest job and John
Pershing Cid It well"
Copyright, 1881. By North American News.
paper Alliance)