Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-07-15

Day ceremonies in Arlington c.
AS vigorous commander OF an
American expeditionary force and
as q beloved "old soldier who stood
his ground for years against age
and illness, Gen. Pershing lived to
hear twice the news OF United
States victory in world wars.
In a quiet apartment at Walter
Reed Hospital, where he stayed
most of the time following his
defensive triumph" over sickness
that almost caused death in 1888,
he continued until his death today
to receive the homage of his fellow
countrymen.
He lived also to hear a President
and others say that if the victors
of 1918 had taken Gen. PerShing's
advice about going on to Berlin,
there might not have been a need
to do it III 1915.
As we'll remembered is the fact
that Gen. Pershing stood adamant
against the insistence of our allies
in World War l that he pour into
the French and British Armies the
steadily growing stream Of Ameri-
can soldiers arriving in France.
Withstood Pressure.
Gen. PerShing held out for an
American Army. The pressure
against him by the military and
political leaders of France and
Britain at 2 moment of Allied re-
verses was terrific. But. with the
backing CT President Wilson and
Secretary of War Newton D. Baker,
the American commander stood
firm.
When the hour struck, he hurled
into the final assault against the
Germans an Army which fought
under the American flag and Amer
lean commanders.
He was among the last OF the top
commanders of that war. OF other
leading figures then, Marshal Henri
Philippe Petain, the savior Of Yer
dun, now 90, is a prisoner on the
Island of Yeu in the Bay OF Blscay.
Another is Gen. Peyton c. March,
who was Gen. Pershing's artillery
commander but who became Chief
of Staff in the critical days OF
March. 1918. Between Gen. Pershing
and Gen. March there were dis
agreements both during and after
the war. Gen. March, now 83, and
for many years retired, lives IN
Washington.
OF the leading political figures
only Vittorio Orlando. Italy's World
War I premier, survives.
60 Years in Army.
Gen. Pershing's career OF more
than so years in the Army led him
to appreciate the necessity OF pre-
paredness. That career extended
from the fighting against Geronimo
and his Apache braves, through
service in the Spanish-Amerlcan
War, campaigns against the Moros
in the Philippines, the Mexican Dor
der campaign and finally World
War I.
On his seth birthday anniversary,
September Is, 1886 he looked back
ward and forward Preparedness,
he said, lis the guardian OF peace
and particularly is this so IN the
age of the atomic bomb and guided
missiles upon which we are enter
ing
Despite his years and the inroads
the 1898 illness had made on his
condition, he was enlisted early In
the move to defeat Germany the
second time. On August ), 1910, he
went on the air and spoke to the
American people.
Grave danger for us turks in
the present world situation" he
warned prophetically. 1T is not
historical to insist that democracy
and liberty are threatened
Only the British were left to de-
fend them, he said, and he SIG
gested 1T was the first time any
such plan had been mentioned pub
licly) that we give the British so
of our destroyers to help them
guard their lifeline against sub
marines.
ASSalIe0 Dy 1SOiAtIUNIStS.
He was assailed by Col. Charles
A. Lindbergh and other isolation
lists for the suggestion. Fifteen
days later Prime Minister Churchill
announced to the Commons the ia
NOUS deal of the exchange OF the
SO American destroyers for island
bases in the Western Atlantic.
A few weeks later Gen. Pershing
received more of the many honors
that the twilight of his life brought
to him. On his Both birthday he
received the Distinguished Service
Gross and also a message OF greet
ing from Marshal Petain.
In 1922 Gen Pershing had de-
clined the D. S. c. for his part in
World War I. He said the hazards
he encountered were not up to the
standards for the award of the cross
set by A. E. F. But on his SOth
birthday, President Roosevelt
awarded him the decoration for a
dangerous charge he had led against
the Moros in the Philippines gen.
Grafton before.
The message from Marshal Petain.
then head of the conquered French
state, was an affectionate greeting
from one comrade in arms to an
other.
In November, 1910. President
Roosevelt wanted Gen. PerSmng TO
go to Vichy as American Ambas-
Sador to the marshal's government.