Show GENERAL PERSHING WIL RETIRE SOON I Chief of A. A E. E F. F Declares Intention in Letter to Baker Washington Juno June 7 Por- Por will retire from active o service within a n few months He announced his intention today in a a. letter to Secretary Secretary Sec Sec- rotary Baker The A. A E. E J. J F. F commander declared he hc felt he could give g up his military duties without Impairment of ot the time service service Iter ice an and 1 thus be free to engage in something more mor active Ho lIe did not indicate his hla future futuro activities The Time generals general's letter to Secretary Baker follows t I Dear Doar D nr lr Ir Secretary I Referring to our conversation of ot a afew afew few Cow da ilas fI s ago ngo 1 I wish to fla say ay that it ithna I has hns long been my 01 desire to return to civil lIfo life Throughout my military career I havo have been ver very ery much occupied occupied pied and ami the assignments that have ha fallen tallen to my lot hot during recent recant years have laive been more noro or less Important It now nl appears m my duties arc not Dot lIl likely to be of or a character r that t wilt will require more than a n. portion of ot m my m time lime Under th thy the circumstances cIrcumstance I 1 II feel eel that after the completion of oC the I I Continued on page paGa 3 GENERAL PERSHING TO QUIT SERVICE Continued from Page Pago 1 work work- contemplated by tho army reorganization reorganization act I could relinquish military mill mili tar tary duty ut without detriment to the service and thus bo be free to engage In something more active Th Therefore unless n. n situation should develop to Justify my remaining I contemplate taking the tho step indicated within the next few months Should the thc necessity arise In m. m time of or crisis or 01 otherwise I assure you Mr Secretary I shall stand ready to serve m my countr country in the future as 08 I haveS have In the pas past With great respect and high cs esteem esteem es- es teem I II I remain very cry sincerely JOHN JOH J. J PERSHING G. G Decision of or General Pershing to retire retire retiro re- re tire tiro camo came aa as a surprise to Washing Washing- i ton His prospective O future detail had never nc been announced but several times he ho had been mentioned In connection connection con con- n with the office of ot chief of ot sta staff tt General Pershing as t a n. Republican presidential candidate ate had been put forward in the tho Nebraska and Michigan Michigan Michigan Michi Michi- gan primaries but delegates pledged to toI I other candidates were elected Political j cal observers at Chicago however hOT I have mentioned him among dark horses The A A. A E. E F F. F commander will retire as a full fun general that title for life having been conferred on him by Con- Con gresSi gress He will be bo GO CO years ol old next September and would woul not reach tb the re retirement retirement re- re ante age until 19 1924 4 The Tho selection of ot Pershing to lead and organize tho the A A. A E. E F. F was made soon Boon after this country entered the thear war var In June 1017 1117 he went to France Ho He returned last September after completion completion com corn of or the work of winding up the affairs of or the thc A A. E E. F. F he left on an Inspection trip Just lust finished |