Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-23

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the conduct of Gen. Wood in Cuba that
it will be necessary to examine witnesses
in that island who cannot come to the
United States.
Brief Session This Morning.
The committee held brief session today
to continue the investigation of charges
against Gen. Wood in opposition to his
confirmation to be major general. Capt.
w. J. Barcen of the artillery corps, U. ..
A., engineer officer in charge of street
improvements at Havana during Gen.
Woods administration as governor gen
eral of Cuba, was the only witness hearo.
The committee adjourned to meet again
Friday at II O'Clock.
portant bearing on the charges against
General Wood. He was summoned at tI-e
request of Senator Foraker. and IS undef.
stood to be one OF the ofnceIs ee' '1ioa
Wood is said to have asked to have cIlieu
to refute certain charges Wh!ch Ma,o
Rathbone had Indicated he would Dring De-
fore the committee.
When the committee met today only SIX
members were present These were Sena-
tors Foraker, Quares, Suott. Cockrel
Pettus and Bate. Other members were de-
tanned by the republican caucus Tor the
appointment Of committees.
Favorable action was taken on the re-
quest of Major Rathbone for the issue or
subpoenas for army officers, and PERMISSION
was given him to prepare list, Win
statements as to what he expected to prove
by each. This list Will be ready for sum
mons to be issued tomorrow. MAJOR huncle
will be the first witness when tine com MT
tee meets Friday. He $ now en- route from
Havana to the United States.
Report of Gen. Woods Career.
Secretary Root in response to request
from the Senate military committee, has
sent a report upon the military record of
General Wood, and it Is strong common
dation of that officer. Tine Secretary reviews
his career, pointing out that he was first
a line officer; then became a surgeon: how.
when I surgeon. he asked and obtained
command of troops in the Geronimo cam
paign, and In this connection he appends
letters of commendation by General Miles
and the late General I.awton. He also
points out General Woods services du. ing
the Spanish war and calls attention to the
fact that he has been five times named as
a general officer, twice as b'1gad;er general
of volunteers, once as major general or
volunteers. once as b!igadfer general IN the
regular army and again as major general
in the regular army. Secretary Root in his
letter does not make and reference or reply
to the charges that have been made against
General Wood as military governor OF
Cuba.
At least several members of the Senate
committee on military affairs resent what
they regard as the great extremes to which
assailants of the personal character and
military reputation of General Wood have
resorted This resentment. it is said by
members of the committee, has been the
result of careful review of General
Woods military career Some of them de
clare that until this case came before them
in the present hearings they had not APP
preciated the amount of military experience
that General Wood has had and the bril-
Iinacy of his career in many respects
Lawton's Praise.
A member of this committee today called
the attention of a Star reporter to few
of the incidents of General Wood career,
as result of his own investigation. He
recalled that seventeen years ago. or in the
summer of 1856, General Lawton. then cap
tain of the fourth cavalry. and always an
accurate judge of men gave Wood the nigh
est praise in connection with what he had
done in the campaign against Geronimos
and Natchaz's bands of hostile Indians. On
that occasion Assistant Surgeon Wood was
al his own request, given command OF the
infantry, being the only officer who was
with Iawton through that whole campaign.
Lawton was enthusiastic in officially com
menting upon the courage and energy
shown by Wood at times when the work
was hardest and the prospects darkest.
Wood always believed that they would
finally succeed. and his confidence inspired
others
Gen Lawton IN later years personally in
Indian service for Gen. Wood.
He sought.'' said i.awton speaking OF
Wood at that time. 1.-THE most difficult and
dangerous work, and by his determination
and courage rendered a successful issue
of the Indian campaign possible"
He spoke of Wood as enduring great per-
sonal inconvenience and physical suffering
with untlinching courage.
There were no officers. he said, who
deserved recognition before DR.. Leonard
Wood"
Major General Miles in 1895 gave official
expression of his appreciation of the dis
tinguished service performed by Wood in
connection with the Indian wars
Gen. Alger in 1898 Secretary of War, and
now a member of the Senate commi tee on
military affairs. congratulated Wood on
comforting upon him a congressional medal
of honor for most distinguished galiantry.
Recommended by Forsythe.
Attention has also been called by mem
bers of the committee to letter written
by Gen Forsythe to the governor of Mas
sachusetts in 1898 when Wood was about
to be appointed colonel of one of the volun-
teer regiments for the Spanish war, which
sachusetts. Gen. Forsythe stated to Gov
Wolcott that he had known Wood for ten
wears and regarded him one of the best
soldiers he knew. He was sure that he
would do honor to his state and prove a
credit to the nation.
"He has" he continued, "all the sound
Judgment good sense, executive ability, eX-
perence and courage requisite 20 make him
one of the very best and safest colonies in
the army. If you fit to make him a
colonel you will never have occasion to re-
gret your action"