1922 Encyclopædia Britannica/March, Francis Andrew

MARCH, FRANCIS ANDREW (1825-1911), American philologist (see 17.688), died at Easton, Pa., Sept. 9 1911.

His son, Peyton Conway March (1864- ), American soldier, was born at Easton, Pa., Dec. 27 1864. He graduated from Lafayette College in 1884 and four years later from the U.S. Military Academy, being commissioned second lieutenant. In 1894 he was appointed first lieutenant. He graduated from the Artillery school in 1898, and on the outbreak of the Spanish-American War went to the Philippines as captain of volunteers, in charge of the Astor battery. He remained there three years, being promoted major of volunteers in 1899 and lieutenant-colonel in 1900. After honourable discharge from volunteer service in 1901 he was appointed captain of artillery in the regular army. From 1903 to 1907 he was a member of the General Staff and in 1904 during the Russo-Japanese War was with the Japanese army in Russia as observer. He was promoted major in 1907, lieutenant-colonel in 1912, and colonel in 1916. Soon after America's entrance into the World War in 1917 he was made a brigadier-general, regular army, and later major-general of the national army, and in Sept. 1917 major-general of the regular army. In 1917 he was with General Pershing in France in charge of the American artillery forces. In March 1918 he was appointed acting chief-of-staff, and the following May chief-of-staff with the rank of general, U.S. army. The same year he was awarded the D.S.M. He also received honours from many foreign powers. In July 1920 his rank reverted to that of major-general and at his own request he was retired from active service Oct. 31 1921.