The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-01
WOOD MAY RETURN
MAY BE SUMMONED FROM THE
PHILIPPINES TO TESTIFY.
Maj. Gen. j. r.. Brooke's Testimony of
Such n Nature that Senators Want
to Hear Defendants Reply.
NUMEROUS CHARGES MADE
GEN. WOOD ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN
GUILTY OF wRONG-DOING.
Also Said to Have Ignored Governor
General Brooke in Communicating
with the War Department..
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS READ
SHOWING WOOD DID NOT WORK IN
HARMONY WITH BROOKE.
Santiago De Cuba Editors Permitted
to AssaiI the Governor Generals
Administration.
Also Said to Have Ignored Governor
General Brooke in Communicating
with the War Department.
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS READ
SHOWING WOOD DID NOT WORK IN
HARMONY WITH BROOKE.
Santiago De Cuba Editors Permitted
to AssaiI the Governor Generals
Administration.

r. Brooke retired, former Governor Gen.
eral of Cuba, to-day gave testimony before
the Senate committee on military affairs
which charged insubordination against Gen.
Leonard Wood. General Brooke was be-
fore the committee more than two hours,
and occupied the entire time In telling OF
General Woods conduct at Santiago. The
witness offered, in support of his state
ments, many documents taken from rec
ords at the War Department and several
papers from his personal collection. At the
close of his testimony a member of the
committee said that it is probable General
Wood will have to return from the Philip
pines and testify.
One of the charges made by General
Brooke is that General Wood violated the
order which required him. in making i'm
provements in Santiago. to submit esti-
mates to the Governor General. AS evil
dence of this violation General Brooke
called attention to the building of bar
racks at Santiago near the Morro without
General Wood first having given notice to
the department at Havana.
General Brooke also said that General
Wood continually sent communications to
the War Department over the head Of his
commanding officer. The witness assured
the committee that he cared nothing for
the ignoring of his authority but said that
the proceeding had been detrimental to
military discipline.
General Brooke called to the attention of
the committee, in support of an allegation
that General Wood had neglected TO work
I'm harmony with the military government
to the matter of General Woods attitude
toward the newspapers at Santiago, which
repeatedly made attacks on General Brooke
and his administration. General Brooke
read a number of these attacks and also
his recommendation to the War Depart
ment that the papers be suppressed un-
less they desisted.
BROOKE WAS DENOUNCED.
One of the extracts from the Independent
cia, published at Santiago, which was read.
was bitter denunciation of General Brooke
under the caption of God Save Cuba" The
article was based on General Brooke's or
der for the Capitalization of affairs Of the
island by which receipts from all customs
houses were ordered sent to Havana. The
article among other things said that IL car
ried into effect the order would pro-
hibit the people of Santiago from breathing
without permission from General Brooke;
that it was a matter of life and death to
the province Of Santiago to get the order
rescinded. A large number of telegrams 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
| be instructed to prohibit the publication Of
| such articles during the period of military
government. He also read General Wood IS
| reply to the adjutant general which, the
| witness said, had been sent over the head
| of his superior officer, saying that freedom
| of speech, untrammeled criticism of the
military government and absolute independ-
| ence in all matters was necessary part of
| the education of the Cubans to fit them to
| conduct a liberal government.
General Brooke told the committee that
on Jan. 4. 1Ss9 General Wood, without con-
sulting his superior officer, obtained per-
| mission to visit Washington, even though
he left in abeyance matters needing atten-
| tion. Correspondence relating to the trip
was laid before the committee.
WOOD UNDULY EXCITED.
In the course of General Brooke's testi-
mony he said that General Wood became
unduy excited when the Cubans held in
dignation meetings at Santiago for the
| purpose of protesting against the centrali-
| zation order. The witness laid before the
committee a copy of a telegram he re-
| ceived from General Wood saying that the
| Cubans looked upon the order as approach
| ing a calamity, and that discomfort and
| profound business depression existed. FL
| nally General Wood prayed that the GUS
| toms 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 committee took a great
| interest in General Brooke's testimony and
| steps were taken to have copied number
of the papers he offered in evidence.
Major Rathbone was before the commit
! tee for half an hour this afternoon. The
committee asked him If he desired to have
| additional witnesses summoned, and as q
result of the conference number of sub
| poenaes were issued.
| Dr. Pablo Desvernonie. who was secre-
! tary of finance under General Brooke's ad-
| ministration, will be called TO tell what he
| knows concerning orders issued to the
/ courts by General Wood, which are alleged
| TO have brought about the conviction OF
4 Major Rathbone 1t was decided also to
| recall Gen. Tasker II. Bliss, of the general
| staff of the army.
The committee will make requisition on
| the War Department for all correspondence
I and documents between the War Depart
ment and General Wood regarding the Cas-
| tonada electric lighting and power conces-
/ sion for Havana.
A subpoena was issued to-day for Burt
| A. Miller of Canton, o.. agent at Ha-
vana for Maryland bonding house. He
| will be asked concerning General Wood
| alleged influence on court Instructions
| subpoena was issued for Corydon NJ Rich
| of Muncie, Ind, who was chief of the
! bureau of finance, department of posts dur
| ing American occupation of Cuba. The