The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-11-30
Gen. Wood Says There is No General
Discomfort.
Has Advised Withdraw
al of Some Troops.
Rumor That Gen. Wood is To Be
Made Surgeon General.

Washington, Novemb Der e9.-deneral
Leonard Wood who has reached Washing
ton, has had an hours conference with
tn Secretary of War today. After the oon-
ference Secretary Root announced that
General Woods recommendations as to
the removal OF troops from Cuba bad
been approved and that orders would DO
Issued putting them into eject
Geneia wocd said that In his opinion
all the rumors OF impending trouble In
Cuba were groundisss. that there was no
real prospect Of revolt and that what
ever friction and discontsnt did exist
among the Cubsns was due to the recent
,a,k Of a civil governor for the island.
az can speak OF my own department" ]"
he said. "and there 10 no indication OF
trouble there, on the contrary, We have
mad turned in over 5000 rifles. Adding to
these arms that have been retained for
the rural guard aud the guns that some
OF the natives have kept for the protection
of their own homes In the outlying dis
trioss, think you will account for NIL
the arms In the province.
Concerning his mission to Washington,
he said that it was merely for consulta-
t,on about tt o reduction Of the American
foroe In the island.
.fI have recon meDdsd q reduction of
about twenty per cent Of the force Ia my
department. SAID General Wood. "Ihat
is to say, the recall of the 10Th infantry
and the removal of squadron from each
of the cavalry regiments think that
this Is perfectly feasible. When say that
santiago Is quiet, 10 IL q pretty indica-
ton Of the condition throughout the
island"
Regarding the general conditions in his
department.. Gen. Wood said that they
were favorable, that the courts were be-
ing administered under AZ mild an
American supervision as was consistent
with keeping them diligently at work
and preventing delays In the administrn-
tlon of justice. The people were being
kept reminded that in care OF palpabie
Observation-Disclosures through rsversion to
the old Spanish methods, they had always
the rig hit to appeal and have any matter
thoroughly Investigated. 1t is stated that
the President has decided upon ths re-
ward to be allotted to Gen. Wood, when
hts term Of service in Cuba Is over. 1t Is
said on good authority that General Wood
is slated to succeed Gen. George NJ.
Sternherg as surgeon general OF the army,
when the latter retires by law in June Of
the coming year. The President has been
inclined to bestow some substantial
recognition on him, but Is we'll under
stood that the gif. OF q generals COM
mission In the line, would cause good
deal Of feeling among the officers of the
regular establishment, many Of whom are
General Woods senior by many years.
The same objection may hold to Lesser
extent In the medical staff. but IT Is
urged by the friends Of Gen Wood that
he has proved himself eminently capable
In administrative work.
The surgeon generalship would place
General Wood at the head Of the medical
staff OF this army at but little over thirty
1--we years of age, making him the young
est officer ever holding this responsible
position. 1t would leave him twenty five
years Of active service, II he SO desired.
General Wood has taken a house In
Washington at No. 1918 Rhade Island
avenue, where he has moved with his
family, and 1t is thought that this is an
other Indication that he will make bis
permanent home here at no very distant