Evening star., 1945-07-26

gress for ill-considered statements
Gen. Craig said:
I'm going out to California and
practice keeping my mouth shut"
Taciturnity and a gift for inno-
vation in emergencies were primary
qualities which the late generals
colleagues noted in him. The latter
quality was shown during his West
Point days when some quick think
ing was responsible for salvaging his
Army career.
According to q story told by his
colleagues, Gen. Craig was not do
Ing well in some of his studies and
a faculty committee had decided to
ask him to withdraw after he had
played in a football game with Trim
ity College in 1897. Advancing down
the field with the ball, the future
general lost his interference and was
hopelessly blocked by Trinity men
about 40 feet from their goal. Hardly
missing stride, he suddenly Drop
kicked field goal and won the
game.
Given Special Coaching.
The professors could hardly af-
ford to retire the West Point hero
'of the moment. Coaching was ar
ranged in the subjects In which
Gen. Craig was weak, and he ended
his West Point career as captain of
the cadet corps.
Georgetown University recalled to-
day that Gen. Craig had entered the
college and remained there until a
year before his appointment to West
Point in 1894. He did not graduate.
The son of an Army major, Gen
Craig was born in st. Joseph, Mo.
on August S. 1875. He was reared
around Army posts, and graduated
from the Military Academy in 1898
Mrs. Craig, the former Genivieve
Woodruff. also came from an Army
family. her father being the late
Brig. Gen. Charles A. Woodruff ot
st. Johnsbury. VT. Their only chile
is Malin, jr.. now colonial on duty
with the l06th Infantry in Ger.
many. Gen. Craig also leaves &
brother. Maj. Gen. Craig, who Il
commanding general of the 20tt
Corps in Germany.
Mrs. Craig died in 194l at Walter
Reed Hospital and was buried IL
Arlington National Cemetery wher,
her husbands body will lie.
Sent to Santiago.
After receiving his commission
from West Point. Gen. Craig imme.
diately was assigned to the Santiago
campaign in Cuba as a second lieu.
tenant of cavalry. In June, 1900, HI
found further adventure in China
where he joined the allied forces ir
putting down the Boxer rebellion
and relieving the beseiged embassies
In Peking.
After tour In the Philippines and
various routine assignments in this
country, Gen. Craig, then lieuten-
ant colonel, sailed for France in 1917
as chief Of staff of the 4lst Division
later becoming chief Of staff of the
lst Army Corps. He took part in
the Aisne and Champagne -Marne
defensives and in the Aisne-St
Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne often.
sives
His heroism in France won fol-
Gen. Craig the Distinguished Serv-
ice Medal to which he added in later
years one Oak Leaf Cluster fol
his brilliant work as chief of staff
and another for his services a!
chairman of the War Department
Personnel Board.
Army College Director.
Returning to the United State.
In 1919 with the rank OF brigadiel
general, he served as director o.
the Army General Staff Collegs
here, later commanded the cavalr,
school at Fort Riley, Kans., anC
then went to the Philippines agair
to command the Manila and Subit
Bay coast defenses.
During this last assignment, ar
incident happened which illustrated
Gen. Craig's pattern of trying tc