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Show I MAJ. GEN. JAMES FRANKLIN BELL j f "There never would be a pick oi shovel in my regiment, if I had my way," declares Major General Bell, and fVom this speech one may read the character of the man. "A soldier's weapons should be rifles, not intrenching intrench-ing tools. The minute an army stands still and begins to dig intrenchments the enemy takes courage and begins to attack. The only way to fight them is to keep them on the run." General Bell was recently assigned to the command of the Second division divi-sion at Texas City, Tex. James Franklin Bell was born In Shelbyville, Ky., January 9, 1856. He graduated in 1S78 from West Point, but didn't reach the rank of first lieutenant lieu-tenant until 1890. In 1881 he married Miss Sarah Buford of Rock Island, 111.,' who had attended finishing school in Chicago. Bell served on the plains with the "Fighting Seventh" cavalry during tne inaian wars or is is to 1S94, and took part in the battle of Wounded Knee, the last great fight of the red men. He became a captain in the regular army in March, 1S99, and seven years later reached the position of chief of the staff of the army. On January 3, 1907, he was appointed a major general He rose with exceptional rapidity, being jumped over the heads of 1,036 officers at the time he was appointed brigadier general. |