Evening star., 1938-02-27
PERSH|NG SINKING
CLOSER TO DEATH;
TALKS OF ILLNESS
Stricken General Indicates
to Friend He Knows End
Is Approaching.
ALL EFFORTS FUTILE,
PHYSICIANS REPORT
Patient Still Is Unable to Take
Nourishment-Speaks to Wis.
itor and Nurse.
BY the Associated Press,

TUCSON, AriZ, Feb. 26.-Medlcal
efforts failed tonight to bring re-
Sponse from Gen. John j. Pershing,
lying in coma and apparently gradu-
ally losing the dim spark of life
fickering in his courageous heart
DR.. Roland Dawson and 1t. Col.
S. U. Marietta worked valiantly over
the silent form of the aged COM
mander, but their bulletin at GAS PM.
Q1:45 PM. Eastern Standard time)
gave dismal picture.
Although Gen. Pershing appar-
emily has lost no ground, neither has
he gained" the statement read.
There has been no response to our
attempts to re-establish his kidney
functions which apparently have been
greatly impaired He continues in a
coma most of the time with brief
intervals of return to consciousness.
1T is now three days since the
general has taken any appreciable
amount of food or fluid through the
mouth. during which time all food
and vitrament has been introduced
artifically."
Bulletins Tell of Sinking.
Throughout the day the bulletins
told of the 77-year-old soldiers failing
efforts to overcome an illness from
which even he believed there would be
no recovery.
At midday he failed to rally as he
did yesterday, and physicians saw in
that lack of response grave sign
Sgt. c. c. Shaeffer. for II years the
generals orderly, nevertheless ex-
pressed the opinion Gen Pershing
would survive the night.
Heart stimulants brought favor
able reaction shortly after midnight,
but at dawn. as dark clouds rolled up
over the desert the general loved SO
well, he again wavered. Throughout
most of the night he had been under
an oxygen tent.
DR.. Dawson and 1t. Col. S. U.
Marietta said slight change, other
than q general weakening, was OBJ
served since the early morning attack.
Brings General "Some Things"
Maj. Lester j. Maitland, commander
Of the 9th Attack Squadron. Barksdale
Field, Shreveport, La, flew into Tucson
tonight, bringing what he tersely de-
scribed as some things for the gen.
eral."
Maj. Maitland declined to discuss
contents of the packages he carried,
but reliable source disclosed the
flyer brought the uniform worn by
Gen. Pershing on the day of the World
War armistice. The general had ex-
pressed wish to be buried in the uni
form he wore on that historic occasion.
Their faces drawn with anxiety,
Gen. Pershing's only sister. Miss May
Pershing; his son, Warren, and nephew,
Frank, moved in and out of the sick
room, never venturing far from the
hospital cottage in which the famous
patient lay.
Realizes Condition.
"1'm not recovering" the COM
mander was quoted as telling his two
old friends, Gen. Charles G. Dawes
and Gen. James G. Harbord, when
they visited him more than a week
ago
I'm not fooling myself" he ex-
planned. MY heart is growing tired"
Gen. Pershing cautioned Gen.
Dawes and Gen. Harbord to continue
to let his sister believe that his ailment
was rheumatism. 1t was only last
night that she realized there was vir-
tually no possibility of his recovery.
Even during the few periods of con-
sciousness, Gen. Pershing today was
aware of the seriousness of his con-
dition, it was disclosed by a close
friend, G. A. c. Christiancy of New
York, who spent much time at the
bedside.
Gives Advice to Nurse.
At one time, while he was supposedly
sleeping. a nurse remarked she be-
lieved his throat was a bit husky
and wondered what should be done.
Use a swab," the general whis-
pered.
On a prior occasion, after Gen.
Pershing complained of pains in his
legs, he said softly to Mr.. Christiancy:
"AA~o AA0vS bNCAA VCllA1k yOu aOOuL
pain in my legs is for May (his sis
teri. The real pain is right here"
placing his hand over his heart.
Maj. Gen. Herbert j. Brees. San
Antonio, Tex, commander of the 9th
Corps Area. kept close the Pershing
cottage throughout the day. In the
belief the end was approaching, Gen.
Brees. on behalf of the War Depart
ment, made arrangements to run a
special train to Washington.
Gen. Pershing's illness reached its
22d day today. He was stricken
February and that night complained
he did not feel well enough to ac-
company his sister to a charity bali.
His presence would have been one
Of the few public appearances the
World War chief permitted himself
to make during his annual winter
visits here.