Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 February 1917 — GENERAL FUNSTON PAID MILITIA TRIBUTE [ARTICLE]

GENERAL FUNSTON PAID MILITIA TRIBUTE

Reviewed National Guard at Llano Grande and Said They Were. Equal to Regulars. Major-General Frederick Funston, whose death occurred suddenly at San Antonio, Texas, Monday, reviewed the troops that were encamped at Llano Grande and Mercedes, Texas, during the time Company M, of Rensselaer, and the other third Indiana companies were stationed there. At the end of the review a hasty shelter tent camp was made and the equipment of the soldiers was displayed and the performance so pleased the general that he had all the officers of the division assembled and his chief of- staff informed them that they were in every respect a splendid body of soldiers, approximating regulars of the United States army and that he wished to have the officers communicate to the enlisted men his gratification at the rapid transition from the recruit stage. He said that he felt that these soldiers from civil life would respond to any call and prove their metal under any circumstance.

On that occasion the general reviewed the troops from an automobile. In passing a reviewing station all troops glance toward the reviewing officer when within six naces of his station and continue to look that way until six paces beyond. They were probably 25 yards from him, but it was impressed upon all that his keen eyes were taking in everything that passed and this was later proven when he said that “aside from a few pairs of white breeches” there was no criticism of the review. This remark calls for a bit of explanation. Clothing was difficult to procure and was indifferent in kind when it was secured and the absence of foreign dies had brought forth a number of very poor substitutes that faded with the first washings. The breechesf through no fault of the Soldier, had faded to a very light color and mixed in with soldiers with the khaki colored breeches they could be seen a mile away. Just before the order for marching in review and while the troops were standing at ease in mass formation an order came to have all men with faded breeches placed in the rear ranks. This effort to conceal the light colors, however, was not altogether successful, hence the remark of the famous little general From Llano Grande General Funston went to McAllen to review the New York troops and word reached the Llano Grande troops that he was not pleased with the showing of the New York soldiers, although this may have been gossip, as it was presumed there was some feeling between some regular officers and the officers of the New York guard. From this brief sight of the general it was impossible to form much of an opinion of him, but it may be said that he was much admired by all because of the successful exploits during his adventurous career. Little of stature, he was full of nerve and although he had failed to pass an entrance examination at West Point he had passed in rank all members of the West Point class he sought to enter. He had the dash and initiative that was necessary to secure the confidence .and determination of those who served with him and although some of his exploits required those with him to almost place themselves in the very jaws of death, he never found difficulty id getting the help because he andover again that he would succeed in any undertaking. As a soldier of fortune with the Cubans against Spain and later with the United States in the Spanish-American war he proposed and carried-into execution many remarkable expeditions, probably the most daring of which was the capture of Aguinaldo, who served much the same relation to the Philippines that Villa now does to Mexico. In that expedition he allowed himself to be captured ninety miles from the nearest United States troops except the few under hw own command and after his capture he had his own troops suddenly appear and overpower Aguinaldo and his army.

General Funston was only 5 feet 5 inches tall and usually weighed only about 120 pounds, but he was all vigor and what he did was based upon the power of his own reasoning. Last year during the time that the soldiers were serving along the border a Baptist evangelist desired to hold a revival meeting in the post at Fort Sam Houston near San Antonio,Jßut General Funston would not permit it. The minister was insistent and made remarks criticising the action of the general, but “Fighting Fred” came back with all the vigor and vitrol he possessed and said that he had a program of training that he didn’t want upset by any religious excitement, that revivals were all right in their place but that a training camp was not the place. Some of the good Baptists of Texas were much put out at his remarks but General Funston stood pat and there was no revival. His death at the age of fifty-one removes from the army one of its most capable and forceful leaders at a time when his personality would have had much to do in bringing into training any who may be called into service and whose leadership could have been looked to with confidence and security. The nation has cause to be proud of him and every heart should keenly feel that his death has removed from the country a man whose life was devoted to the improvement of humanity- He done much to aid in banishing Spain from Ouba and in restoring peace in the Philippines and thet better living now possible in those places, where education and a knowledge of Chris-

tianity has followed military occupation might bring the conclusion that General Funston and his fighting zeal hski accomplished as much in the world’s progress as the Baptist evangelist who was peeved because he could not conduct a revival at the army post and there does not need to be any conflict in their respective fields either. Some times the world needs the sabre to augment the praiyer, just as crops need cultivation to assist the rains and the sun for their development. This chain of thought could readily lead me into a discussion of the needs of distracted Mexico but that is an old issue and I will conclude with the observation that had General Funston been given a free hand in the affairs along the Mexican border there would have been no Villa today and there would have been no raids on American soil in future years. Accomplishing things like this constituted Fred Funston’s religion and an American public should praise him and God will bless and care for his departed spirit MAJ. GEO. H. HEALEY.