The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-01
INSTRUMENTATION
Charge Made Against Gen.
Wood by Gen. Brooke.


Washington, Dec. characterization
Leonard Wood by Brigadier General
John E. Brooke, retired, ex-governor
general of Cuba, before the senate
committee On military affairs. General
Brooke was before the committee more
than two hours and occupied the entire
time N telling of General Woods con-
duct in Santiago. The witness offered
in support of his statements many
war department and several papers
from his personal collection. At the
close of his testimony. d member of the
committee said that it is probable that
General Wood will have to return from
the Philippines to testify.
one OF the charges made by General
Brooke is that General Wood violated
the order which required him in max
ing improvements in Santiago to sub
init estimates to the governor general
AS evidence of this violation. General
Brooke called attention to the building
or barracks in Santiago near the Moro
given notice to the department at Ha-
vana General Brooke said also that
General Wood continually sent commu-
nlcatlons to the war department over
the mead OF his commanding officer.
Ihe witness assured the committee
tnat ne cared nothing for the ignoring
OF his authority, but said that the pro-
ceeding had been detrimental to mill
tary discipline.
General Brooke called to the attention
or the committee in support of an ale
cation that General Wood had neglected
TO work In harmony with the military
government. the matter of General
WOODS attitude toward the newspapers
at Santiago which repeatedly made at
tackS on General BroOke's administra-
tlon. General Brooke read a number of
these attacks and also his recommends
t1ons to the war department that the
papers be suppressed unless they de-
sisted.
One of the extracts from the Inde-
pendencia, published in Santiago, which
was read, was a bitter denunciation of
General Brooke, under the caption OF
God Save Cuba" The article was
based on General Brooke's order for the
centraltzation of affairs of the island,
by which receipts from all custom
houses were ordered sent to Havana.
The article, among other things, said
that if carried into effect, the order soon
would prohibit the people of Santiago
from breathing without permission from
General Brooke! that it was a matter OF
life and death to the province of Santi-
ago to get the order rescinded. A large
number of kilograms of indignation sent
to President Mckinley were appended
to the article.
General Brooke read a letter which he
had sent to the adjutant general of the
war department, asking that General
Wood be instructed to prohibit the
4
period of military government. He also
read General Woods reply to the ad-
Jutant general, the witness said which
had been sent over the head of his su-
perlor officers, saying that freedom Of
speech, untrammeled criticism of the
military government and absolute in
dependence in all matters was a, neces-
sary part of the education of the Gu
bans, to fit them to conduct a liberal
government.
General Brooke told the committee
that January 4, 1899, General Wood.
without consulting his superior officer,
obtained permission to visit Washing
ton. even though he left in allegiance
matters needing attention. Correspon-
dence relating to the trip was laid be-
fore the committee
In the course of General Brooks tes-
tfmony, he said that General Wood
became unduly excited when the Gu
bans held indignation meetings in San
t1ago for the purpose of protesting
against the Capitalization order The
witness laid before the committee a
copy of a telegram he received from
General Wood asked that the customs
receipts be left under local control. The
witness declared that the attitude of
General Wood was responsible to a
great extent in adding to the disquiet
OF the Cubans. Members of the COM
mittee took a great interest in General
Brooke's testimony and steps were ta-
ken to have copied a number of the or
derS he offered in evidence