Evening star., 1940-09-13
80 Today,
Receives D. sc.
From President
Birthday Greetings
From Marshal Petoin
Among Messages

Gen. John J. Pershing. 80 years
| old today, will be rewarded this aft
ernoon with yet another honor to
attest to bravery beyond the call
of duty" in his long years of service.
At 3 80 O'Clock he was to go from
his hotel to the White House, where,
in simple ceremonies, President
Roosevelt planned to confer him the
Distinguished Service Cross.
Awarded to general and private
alike, but only for the most excep-
| tional acts of courage, the medal is
second only to the Congressional
Medal of Honor. Aside from these
two coveted American awards, Gen.
Pershing has been decorated with
! almost AL the other seEgieA~ donors
of this country and others
Special Birthday Greetings.
The A. E. F. commander was to
receive special birthday greetings at
pm. from former associate Off
| Ger. Marshal Petain. now head of the
French government at Vichy The
French Ambassador. CASTOR Henry
Haye, was to deliver the message
personally to Gen. Pershing at his
Carlton Hotel suite.
Meanwhile. more than 300 con-
gratulatory messages from hosts of
friends already have been received,
more than is usually tabulated on
his birthdays. They were piled up
in his ornate. old-fashioned Office
in the State Department building.
which is labeled with the title that
he alone among American military
men bears, General of the Armies" 4"
Luncheon With Son.
After quiet family luncheon
with his son Warren, a New York
broker, and his daughter in-law, he
was to go to the White House. At
430 he was to speak over the radio
after brief press interview.
In his infrequent and temperate
public statements of recent months,
Gen. Pershing has urged compul-
sorry military training. He told a
Senate committee this might well
be the determining factor in keep
| lllS uS OuG VI wal. nc CdliCd 1oA
defense appropriation large enough
for "a state of thorough prepared
ness in both men and arms"
The venerable chiefJain indorsed,
early in August the proposal to
| send so destroyers to Great Brit
ain, asserting that IF there is
failing in our duty to America if we
do not do it,"
In the guarded quiet of his three
room suite at the Carlton Hotel, or
on his drives through the city in
his black limousine, the warrior can
reflect that his counsel has been
followed. He can observe conscrip-
tion taking effect, tremendous ap-
preparations rolling out for arma-
ments, so over-age destroyers on
their way to desperate Britain.
Member of War Council.
Although the general has re-
Trained from what he calls med
ding" in politics or the Army dur
ing his 16 years in retirement, he
has not hesitated to speak his mind
on vital concerns of the national
safety. Furthermore, as general OF
the Armies, he still is a member of
the war council and always avail
able for consultation with the Presi-
dsnt. the chief of staff and the Sec
retary of War, and his advice often
is sought.
Two and a half years ago Gen
Pershing was so gravely i'll that nc
one, not even his physicians, ex-
pected him to recover. But he did
Rallying from liver and heart all
ments usually fatal, he fought his
way slowly, patiently, back to suf-
flcient activity to make him still
factor in public life. But he nur-
lures carefully the health that has
returned so gradually: hence the