American Leader In 1917-18 War Dead

Northern Advocate, 16 July 1948, Page 3

American Leader In 1917-18 War Dead

WASHINGTON, Thu. (11.45 a.m.).— General John Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Forces in the First World War, who died early today, aged 87, will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, next Monday, in the section in which the First World War dead rest.

General Pershing was the last of the commanders of armies in the Frst World War to die. President Truman, and Generals Eisenhower and Marshall, who served under him in the First World War, today paid tributes to General Pershing. AWARDED RARE RANK General Pershing’s 42 years with the American forces included service against the Apaches in Arizona, in the the Spanish-American War, in Cuba, against the Moros in the Philippines, as observer with the Japanese during the Russo-Japanese War, and against General Vila, in Mexico. For his services during the First World War he was promoted to the permanent rank of General a distinction which had been held until then only by Washington, Grant. Sherman and Sheridan. He retired in 1924. His life was despaired of during a grave illness in 1938, and he was reported to be sinking. However, he made a remarkable recovery and at the age of 81 offered his services in the Second World War.