From my reading the pig thing is a myth, no evidence of it actually occurring. But I will give the author a pass on it because the gist of his article on Pershing is correct. Pershing, like many other officers of his generation, understood the basics of counter insurgency warfare. The American and European militaries of the time had vast experience with successful COIN operations.
Many of the commanders back then had alot experience fighting irregular forces, Indian Wars, Moro,etc. Lawton, MacArthur, Jr.