Family Gathers at Famous Soldier's Bedside Tucson, Feb. 26.
General John J. Pershing, Commander of the American Expeditionary Forces in France during the Great War, was nearer death here to-day as physicians abandoned hope of his recovery from a heart ailment.
"The General is gradually fading, but is comfortable," the latest report issued by his physicians stated.
General Pershing's family gathered at his bedside to-day after hope for his recovery was abandoned. He continued to receive oxygen and intro-venous medication, but was unconscious most of the time, He is no longer able to talk, drink water or take any kind of nourishment, In addition to his heart ailment, Dr, Roland Davison, General Pershing's personal physician, announced earlier to-day. that the General's kidneys had ceased to function and that he was "gradually becoming weaker." He has shown amazing vitality during his illness, however, surviving several crises which physicians did not expect to see him live through.
The War Department in Washington yesterday ordered Gen. Pershing's uniform to be sent here—United Press, The incident by now had lasted for about fifteen minutes, and finally three or four other Chinese policemen rushed up, accompanied by a civilian, believed to have been a Japanese. The Japanese soldier lurched across the road still gesticulating, and the two Chinese policemen who had first appeared on the scene advised the Germans to make off as fast as they could. The two men mounted their ponies, and galloped away the soldier shouting after them to stop.
Arriving back in safety once more, Dr. Birt went straight home and had his eye injuries treated. He was resting at home yesterday, and will not be able to leave his house for several days. Dr. Birt's eyelid was damaged, and the eye itself was injured, Dr. Birt will be without the sight of his eye for a week or so.
The spot where the incident took place was only one mile from where the Paper Hunt started the previous week. It was well within "bounds," and several parties were out walking in the vicinity at the time. Anyone may visit the Hungjao region without a permit during the daytime, and many foreigners were taking advantage of a sunny holiday to visit this area.
A protest has been lodged by Mr. Tiefenbacher, on behalf of himself end Dr. Birt, with the German Consulate-General in connection with the incident.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.