The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-12-01
BROOKE TEST|F|ES
Takes the Stand n.the Wood
Confirmation Case.
TELLS ABOUT CAMPAIGN
Signed His Superior Officer
in His Reports.

| Washington, Nov 3o.-Major General
John E. Brooke, retired, former governor
general of Cuba, today gave testimony
before the senate committee on military
affairs which charged INSTRUMENTATION
against Major General Leonard Wood.
General Brooke was before the COM
mittee more than two hours and occu-
pied the entire time III telling of General
Woods cOnouct at Santiago. The witness
documents taken from records at the war
department and several papers from his
personals conversation.
At the close of his testimony member
of the committee said that it is probable
General Wood will testify.
One of the charges made by General
Brooke is that General Wood violated the
oath which withheld him in making i'm
provements in Stniago; to submit esti-
mates to the governor general. etc. AS
evidence of this violation, General Brooke
called attention to the building of bar
racks at Santiago near the MORO castle
without General Wood first having given
notice to the department at Havana
General Brooke said that General Wood
continually communicated to the war de-
partment over the head of his command
ing officer. The witness assured the COM
mittee that he cared nothing for the ig-
noring OF his authority, but said that the
proceeding had been detrimental to mill
tary discipline.
One of the extracts from the Indepen-
decia, published at Santiago, which was
read, was bitter denunciation of General
Brooke under the caption OF God Save
Cuba" The article was based on Cen
eral BrOoke's order for the centraliza-
ton OF affairs Of the island. by which re-
ceipts of all customs houses were ordered
sent to Havana. The article, among
other things, said that, if carried into eff
feet, the order would prevent the people
of Santiago from breathing without per-
mission from General Brooks. 1t was
matter of life or death to the province of
Santiago to get the order rescinded.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 pub
LEGATION of such articles during the period
of military government. He also read
General Woods reply to the adjutant
general which, the witness said. had been
sent over the head of his superior, say
ing that freedom of speech, untrampled
criticism of the military government and
absolute independence in all matters was
a part of the Cubans' plant to fit them
to conduct liberal government.
General Brooke told the committee that
on January 4, 1899. General Wood, with
out consulting his superior officer. OBJ
tanned permission to visit Washington,
even though he left nabeyance matters
needing attention. Correspondence relat- !
ing to the trip was laid before the COM
mittee.
In the course of General Brooke's tes- |
timony he said that General Wood be- !
came unduly excited when the Cubaas |
held indignation meetings at Santiago for |
the purpose of protesting against the gen
eralization order. He laid before the COM
mittee copy of the telegram he received |
from General Wood saying that the |
Cubans looked upon the order as ap-
preaching a calamity and that discomfort !
and profound business distress prevailed. |
Finally General Wood prayed that the |
customs receipts be left under the local |
committee Witness declared that the at
titude of General Wood was responsible, |
to a great extent. in adding to the dis
quiet of the Cuban.s
The committee adjourned until Thurs
day