Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-29
LETTERS COMMEND
PERSHING'S STORY
Thousands of Messages Pour
In to General on His
Account of War.
BY REX COLLIER.


bed-ridden veterans or ageing war
mothers barrage of commendatory
messages from places near and far
has come to Gen. Pershing with the
publication of his war memoirs.
Ex-doughboys want to know If the
AE.F. commander in chief recalls this
or that incident in France, former Army
officers write of their pleasure at the
generals frankness, public officials give
unstinted praise of Pershing's "eentri-
button to history" old comrades of
Moro, Indian, Spanish War or Mexican
border campaigns send their congratu-
Iations and then "reminiscences of other
days.
Although it is a tremendous task, the
magnitude of which is increasing daily,
Gen. Pershing finds time to read every
one of the letters piled on his desk
at the War Department every morning
by his aides.
General Reads Them All.
"Read them ALP OF course" the gen.
efal said. Reading them is pleasant
duty for 7 find In these letters many
things to interest me. l am answer
ing them personally as fast as can.
Some I would like to answer at length.
but this is impossible, for there are so
many"
1nC kC1lGAdl PAChSN AS - ANpbSA 80
apart from the others and said:
Listen to this one, for instance"
The letter, in a shaky hand, was
somewhat difficult to read
'Mr John Pershing," it began. you
will pardon me for addressing YOU in
this way, for when I knew you, you
we're not Gen. Pershing. ] am reading
your account of the World War, and as
think Of the author 1t carries me back
In memory to the early 70s, to little
old school house in Laelede, Mo.
''I was young lady teaching my nrst
school, and in that school was o little
rosy-eheeked lad named John Pershing.
Now am an old lady past 80, but /
have not forgotten those days, for was
so happy and proud to be teacher.
I attended Sunday school in Lacleoe
when your father was superintendent"
Gen. PeTshing laid the letter down,
with PARKWAY look in his eyes:
81 remember her very well" he re-
marked after a pause.
The general turned to the pile Of let
tiers and picked out another, written in
wholly different vein.
Other Useless Supplies.
Remember the chapter in which
told of queer supplies shipped to France
for our troops?" he queried. We'll,
here's an amusing letter from a former
officer in the quartermaster inspection
service:
ommending no further shipment OF
bath bricks, bookcases, cuspidors, floor
wax. lawn mowers, sickles, ETC., you
might well have added infants night
shirts" for during an inspection I
found that when the quartermaster
opened up a box marked underclothing,
he discovered IL dozen infants night
shirts, while elsewhere In a consign-
ment Of rubber boots were found lot
of ladies' and misses stzes-ano small
ones at thatl'"
Gen. Pershing gave the writer per-
mission to quote from other letters,
providing names Of the correspondents
were not used.
A man in Pasadena, Calf, wrote: II
am enjoying your story Of the war, ana
when It is in book form sure will have
COPY in my library. If you can see Mt
to grant me the favor Of your signature
on a card to place in a book Of sigma
lures of the great men Of war time, it
would be greatly appreciated. had
two sons In the World War, one OF
whom made the supreme sacrifice, and
desire to hand down this book Of sig
natures to my grandson"
japanese Impatient.
A Japanese admirer In New York
City wrate: your serial has been made
me with a habit Of early riser every
morning, because am anxious to read
giving me great thrill. I am awaiting
the next days article with feeling of
one day seems to last thousands OF
days"
Prom retired Army colonel In New
York City: 1T is very gratifying to
hear almost daily from my friends and
acquaintance expressions Of much in
terest and appreciation of your ar
ticles on the war. It seems to me they
came just at the right time. My eX-
perience in civil life has led me TO be-
lieve that men who have to make liv-
ing can give but little thought to ma
tional defense, but that they are really
concerned about 1t. think publication
of your experiences is the finest and
most impressive sermon on prepared
ness"
From a World War veteran: Il want
you to know how much am enjoying
your work / am anxiously looking for
ward to the complete story in book
form Many pleasant memories are re-
vived of the brief time I was in the
Army. here and in the A. E. F."
From a physician in Tazewen, Va:
81 hope may have the pleasure Of say
ing hello 10 you some time and person.
ally thank you for your outstanding con-
tribution TO war literature, which have
so much enjoyed"
From an advertising executive in ILL
nois: Il wish to congratulate you upon
your articles which are appearing IN the
newspapers. They are by far the best
account / have read so far OF the war,
and they certainly make me proud am
an American and proud of my small
part in the World War"
Reads to Grandchildren.
From a Spanish-American War vet
eran: II fully appreciate your clear,
concise story Of the World War 1t is
colorful, thrilling, and ! must say very
well told. I read 1t TO my grandchildren
and they actually eat it up. You see, I
had two boys in France under your
command with the 149th Artillery, so
am a deeply interested reader"
From a business man IN Buffalo:
''Your memoirs have done a wonderful
thing. They are written in such can
did. honest, straightforward, modest and
human way. / read them carefully and
with intense interest. SO do my fr tends.
We now realize your enormous problems
and the mastery way you handed our
Army"
From a Syracuse veteran. Il had
the pleasure of service under you, being
attached 10 the Royal Air Force during
my service ON TIE other side, and while
knew you had many difficiilt problems
] never realized quite 50 fully as dc
now the dificdlt task you had to put
over the American Army You should
have the unstinted gratitude of the
American people for the fact that you
successfully combated the efforts OF the
allies to absorb the American soldiers In
their armies"
From a Frenchman in Paris: MAY
I add a word TO the many others who
are ENJOYING so much your book. Every