The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-25
Wartime Leader Is Conscious After Coma
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at 10:45 last night saying:
 "The state of coma is continuing and he is failing rapidly. His heart is irregular and his blood pressure is approaching a critically low level"
 After that the doctors silently awaited the end, their resources ex- hausted.
 When Pershing slipped into the first coma the doctors held 15- minute consultation. Although he had eaten three meals during the day, including strawberries at din- ner, the doctors decided to give him intravenous injections of glucose to provide nourishment, while at the same time sparing his heart from the work Of providing energy for his digestive organs.
 Looks Bad"
 During the first crisis, Frank Pershing once stepped from the cot. tage. shaking his head sadly.
 Tt looks bad" he said. He ex- plained that Pershing was becoming apathetic, that his strong will was failing.
 It was the eclipse of one of the most distinguished army careers, and a memorable event and date for American history that was tak- ing place here in quiet cottage, not far from where General Black jack" Pershing saw his first service under fire, in the campaign against Apache Indians in New Mexico af- ter graduating from West Point in 1886.
 At that time he was second lieutenant in the 9th Cavalry and he remained with the regiment until 1891 when, peace being restored, he was assigned as military instructor at the University of Nebraska.
 Served Army 40 Years
 General Pershing served the army more than 40 years, and the inter- vals of peace in that time were never of long duration. He was in Cuba for service against the Spanish army; in Philippines for the battles against Moro tribesmen; in Mexico chasing the Bandit Pancho Villa with a punitive force. and finally in France for his crowning triumph as commander of the greatest United States army ever mobilized, in the World War.
 Before Pershing, the nation had only four full-ranking generals, two of them, Washington and Grant became presidents. The others were Sherman and Sheridan of Civil War fame. Sheridan was raised to the rank in 1888, and there were no more generals until October 6, 1917 when the World War was in prog ress, and Pershing and General Tasker H. Bliss were given the rank ing at the same time. The follow ing year, before the war had ended Peyton c. Marsh was made a full ranking general, but Pershing was the highest authority, as com mander- in chief, and was the first Ol IlAo AhAlh CtSA W 1SnA 1AA &AAAA~AA can army into war on Foreign soil
 Stern Disiplinarian
 As 8 soldier, General Pershine was a stern diSciplinarian and a master at military strategy. whc kept in reserve whatever human sympathieS he had for his men and thereby deprived his life's story of many little anecdotes such as are told in the stories of Washington Lee, Jackson, Sherman and other great generals.
 As a man, he was tall, rugged and erect, devoted to his duties and con- tent with quiet amusements. He was always tanned 8 saddle-leath brown. It was typical of him that with his active military career end ed, he had been spending his last active years working for memorials to his men who were killed in France. He was president of the American Battle Monuments Com- mission, which looks after the graves of war dead.