The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-02-03

Macarthur = Americas
general" = is decorated in +
Gen. Pershino.
CONTINUED From Page One)
Tall, lean, handsome. the erst-
while "D'Artagnan OF the A. 4. F."
looks is years younger. His dark
hair In thinning. but he combs 1t
proudly over the bald spots. His
features and bearing are military,
intense: high forehead; narrow
face; thin, sensitive nose and
mouth; dark, flashing eyes.
RULES ARE
"A REFUGE
According to all the rules. Gen.
MacArthur's military history
should have ended on December
81, 1887, when he retired from
active duty in the u. S. army. But
rules, which he once called the
refuge of weaklings," have seldom
governed Douglas Macarthur
life.
When the Far Eastern crisis
began to reach a head last
summer, President Roosevelt
called Macarthur back from
his retirement - which he
had been spending helping the
Philippines build a native de-
Tense. II MacArthur's present,
post-retirement exploits are
but p. $. 10 his story. they
are q tail likely to wag the
dog.
Douglas MacArthur's military
life properly begins in the Civil
War-20 years before he was born.
1t begins with his father. Arthur
Macarthur. who, colonel at 20,
made history by leading his troops
In the charge at Missionary Ridge.
Father Macarthur later distin-
gished himself against the Span
ish in the Philippines. and 1t was
to Gen. Arthur Macarthur that
Manuel Quezon surrendered his
sword at hostilities' end. Nearly
40 years later this same Manuel
Quezon was to give Gen. Arthur
MacArthur's son. Douglas. an IL
ounce gold baton signifying field
msrshalship of the Philippine
army.
Douglas MaeArthur's heri-
tage was 10 be further tied TO
the Philippines. As military
governor Of the islands after
the Spanish war, Father Mac
Arthur helped the Filipinos
draw up n civil code that was
both intelligent and demo-
cratic.
The browning drama of Gen.
Arthur MacArthur's life came
when, disregarding strict orders
from his doctor. he delivered at
the 50th reunion Of the C. A. r.
what he said would be his last ad-
dress TO his troops. As he ended
his passionate Grafton, he stag
gered. dropped dead. Up rushed
his old adjutant and. covering
Macarthur with the regimental
colors. fell dead himself across his
beloved generals body.
BORN IN
THE ARMY"
Such was the inheritance. rich
in skill. courage and drama. that
was born with Douglas Macarthur
on Jan. &c. 1850 Literally born
into the army tat the Little Rock
Ark. barracksl Douglas Mac
Arthur grew up in H. His first
childhood recollection was the
martial sound Of bugles. His first
childhood trip was with the army
to his fathers new post in New
Mexico. There. when he was four
he was baptized in battle by tbs
zing Of arrows during an Indiar
attack on the post.
Schooled in army post schools
young Doug Macarthur was sp
pointed to West Point with tn,
class of 1903. A brilliant military
student. he blasted scholastic rec
ords that had stood for IS years
But his career al the academy wa,
not only ACCIDENTALLY distinguish
ed. Legend has II that the hand
some soldier-to-bs broke cadet rec
ords on another field BY becoming
engaged TO eight girls at once.
Legend also has II that as Z
cadet, absent without leave, h.
once had 10 sneak back through
. coal chute. II is probably IN.
only time IN his life that he has
looked really messy. Fer Douglas
Macarthur flair for the drsmstis
extends to his dress. Even in IN.
kenches in France he managed q
retain his sartorial splomb. Wash
ington VIII never forget the plum
eolored tie that grsced his uni
form when he was chief Of staff