Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-30
FOLI OW GEN. WOODS ADVICE
War Department Will Reduce American
Force in Santiago Province
NO DANGER OF OUTBREAK ON ISLAND
General wood Says He Has Not Rccn
offered the Position of civil Gov
ernOr Nor Asked for SugRcs-
tiOns on Subject.

| WASHINGTON, Nov 29.--General Leonard
Wood, who reached Washington last night,
! had two hours conference with the secre-
! tary OF war today. After the conference
| Secretary Root announced that his recon-
mendations as TO the removal of troops
from Cuba had been approved and that
orders would be issued putting them into
effect.
General Wood said that in his ooinion all
the rumors of impending trouble in Cuba
were groundless. that there was no real pros
pect of revolt and that whatever friction
and discomfort did exist among the Cubans
were due to the recent talk of civil governor
for the island. When asked about the re-
port of his selection for this position. Gen
eral Wood said:
II do not know a thing about it, l have
heard nothing of the plan for civil cover
nor except what have seen in the papers.
1t has not been offered to me and l have
not been asked for any suggestions on the
subject. Whatever discomfort NAV have
arisen among the Cubans on this subject
grows, | think. from their MISUNDERSTANDING
OF the term civil governor l rather take
1t that they understand it to mean Derman-
ent American government for the island.
This is only speculation, however. for heard
nothing Of these rumors in Cuba before l
left
No Danger of nm Outbreaks.
81 can speak of my own department There
is no indication of trouble there. On the
contrary we have had turned in over 9'OOo
rifles. Adding to these arms that have been
retained for the rural guard and the guns
that some of the natives have kept for the
protection of their own homes in the out
lying districts, ] think you will account for
all the arms in the province
When asked If there was anv possibility
OF an outbreak among the rural guard. Gen
eral Wood said: mo more than there is of
an insurrection among the police force in
Washington"
Concerning his mission to Washington. he
said it was merely for consultation about
the reduction of the American force in the
island. II have recommended reduction
of about 20 per cent of the force in nv de-
partment," said General Wood THAT is to
say, the recall of the Fifteenth infantry and
a squadron from each of the cavalry regi-
ments. | think this is perfectly feasible.
When l say that Santiago is quiet it is a
pretty fair indication of the condition
throughout the island. Every revolution that
has started there has started in Santiago
province and in the last war 20 per cent of
the troops were drawn from that province"
Regarding the general conditions in
his department. General Wood said that
they were favorable, that the courts were
being administered under as mild an Amer
lean supervision as was consistent with
keeping them diligently at work and pre-
venting delays in the administration of
justice. The people were being kept re-
minded that IN case of palpable maadminis-
tration, through reversion of the old Spanish
methods, they always had the right to
appeal and have any matter thoroughly in
vestigated. People were being employed
and the detailed reforms Of the petty courts
and the lower school system were things
that would come eventually through pa
tient work and local education
Slated to Succeed Stcrnbere
1t is stated that the president has de-
clded on the reward to be allotted to General
Wood when his term of service in Cuba is
over. 1t is said on good authority that
General Wood is slated to succeed George
N. Sternberg as surgeon general OF the
army when the latter retires by law in
June of the coming year 1t has been re.
ported several times that General Wood
would receive brigadier generalshlp, as
he Is urged for this by some of his friends
In recognition of his services in the Santiago
campaign and afterward as governor of that
province. The president has been inclined
TO bestow some substantial recognition upon
MIN, but 1t is well understood that gen
erals commission of the line would cause a
great deal OF feeling among the officers of
lne establishment, a great many OF whom
are General Woods seniors by many years.
The same objection may hold to lesser
extent in the medical staff, but it is urged
by the friends of General Wood that he has
proved himself eminently capable in adj
ministrative work. II is said that when he
was last In Washington the matter was
talked over between him and the PRECEDENT
and that General Wood was offered the place
and accepted it, although his preference was
for place in the line. This was at the
time he refused very fattering offer from
the street railway syndicate here. a refusal
hardly likely from a staff captain unless
with a very definite prospect OF future
Dreferment in view.
The surgeon generalshp would place Cen
eral Wood at the head of the medical staff
OF the American army at but little ever 35 {
years of age, making him the youngest Off
Ger ever holding this responsible position.
1t would leave him twenty years OF
active service, II he so desired, in a pcsi-
tion carrying with 1t great prestige in the
both at home and abroad.
General Wood has taken a house in Wash
lngton No 1913 Rhode Island avenue.
where he has moved with his family. and
1t Is thought that this is another indica-
ton that he will make his permanent res
ldence here at no very distant date.