Evening star., 1955-05-15

guished 40-year military career,
Gen. Summerall went on to carve
out an equally meritorious career
as educator.
Dozens of Decorations
The general was "a in 1881
when he left the Army after a
four-year term as its chief of
staff. Behind him were the
glories of the Chinese Boxer Re-
bellion campaign. leadership OF
the famed Rainbow Division in
World War / and dozens of deco
rations for soldering in the
grandest tradition.
During the next % years, until
the age of 86, he was president
of The Citadel, South Caro-
lina's State military academy at
Charleston.
When he retired in June. 1858,
Gen. Summerall left behind a
record of high achievement.
From a depression enrolment of
900, he built up the West Point
of the South" to more than 1900
cadets.
Tough But Loved
II have loved the Citadel as
have loved no other. institution, ="
he said. Despite his blistering
lectures and strict demands, the
cadets loved him, too. They
showed it once when the gen.
eral. peeved because his budget
was questioned. threatened to
resign. The entire corps signed
a petition persuading him to
stay.
| Always the vigilant soldier.
Gen. Summerall tried to rouse
the people to preparedness 16
months before the Japanese at
tack at Pearl Harbor. The sum-
mer before the blow fell he said
in speech: Because of our
weakness and Indifference. we
must wait like fat oxen for the
butcher with the carving knife. -
Gen. Summerall's term as
Chief Of Staff began in 1926 by
appointment of President Calvin
Coolidge. He spent the next four
years improving the general staff
and building up housing facilities
in posts throughout the country
Gen. Summerall began winning
citations for bravery as a first
lieutenant of artillery in the
Philippines in 1899 and 1900. He
was mentioned for gallantry six
times during the campaigns
against the insurrectionists.
In August. 1900. he took a
prominent part in battle upon
which the eyes of the civilized
world were focused 1t was the
storming Of Peking by the China
Relief Expedition during the
Boxer Rebellion.
Commands Fighting First"
Summerall sent his platoon of
field guns with the forces attack
ing the Imperial City. His guns
blew open the gates of the four
outer walls surrounding the So
called Forbidden City. and then
blasted open the gates Of the
Forbidden City itself. He was
twice again cited for gallantry
in action.
After America entered World
War I, Gen. Summerall was as.
signed to command the artillery
brigade of the 42d (Rainbow>
Division and went to France
with that division but later was
transferred to the 1st Division
as commanding general of ar
tillery.
His brigade went through the
Cantigny fighting in May, 1918,
the first important battle for the
American forces, and it was
credited with producing artillery
results without precedent in
United States history. -
The next month he was pro-
NOTED to major general and
given commander the division.
later known throughout the
Army as the Fighting First"
He led it in the Aisne-Marne,
Second Marine and Meuse- Ar
gonne offensives.
Many Decorations
A month before the Armistice.
Gen. Summerall took command
OF the 5th Corps, which as usual
with his commands, reached all
objectives." After the Armistice
he commanded the 9th Corps
and later the 4th Corps.
His leadership and ability in
France won for him the Dis
tinguished Service Medal, the
Legion of Honor Of France, Bel
gums Grand Oficer of the
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