The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-01
Wood is Accused of
INSTRUMENTATION.
MAY HAVE TO RETURN
The Charges are Such That He
Will Probably be Sent for to
Come and Testify in
His own
Behalf.
(By the Associated Press.)

Washington, Nov. 30.-Major General
nor general of Cuba, today gave testi-
mony before the Senate Committee on
Military Affairs, which charged insubordi
nation against General Leonard Wood.
General Brooke as before 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 statements many docu-
ments taken from records at the War
Department and several papers from his
personal collection. At the close of his
testimony q member of the committee
said that it is probable General Wood
will have to return from the Philippine
and testify.
One of the charges made by General
Brooke is that General Wood violated
the order which required him in making
improvements in Santiago to submit estl-
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 MORO, with
out General Woods first having given
notice to the department at Havana. Cen
eral Brooke said also that General We
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 proceedings had been det-
rimental to military discipline
General Brooke called to the attention
of 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 Sar-
| tiago which repeatedly made attacks on
General Brookes administration.
| GeIeraI Brooke read a number CT these
attacks and also his recommendation to
the War Department that the papers be
suppressed unless they desisted.
/, One of the extracts from the Indepen-
dencia, published at Santiago, which was
| read, was bitter denunciation of Cen
eral Brooke, under the caption of God
Save Cuba The article was based on
General Brooke's order for the centrali-
zation OF affairs of the island by which
receipts from all custom houses were or
dered sent to Havana Inc article among
other things said that if carried into
effect the order soon would prohibit the
people Of Santiago from breathing with
out permission from General Brooks
that it was a matter of life and death
| to the province of Santiago to get the
order rescinded.
| General Brooke read letter which he
had sent to the Adjutant General of the
War Department aGking that General
Wood be instructed to prohibit the pub
| LEGATION of such articles during the pc
Rod of military government. He also
read General Woods reply to the Adju-
tant General which, the witness said
had been sent over the head of his SUI
perior officer, saving that freedom Of
speech, untrammelled criticism of the
military government and absolute indie
pendence in all matters, was a necessary
part of the education of the Cubars to
fit them to conduct liberal govern
ment.
General Brooke told the committee that
on January 4, 1899, General Wood with
out consulting his superior officer, OBJ
tanned permission to visit Washington
although he left in allegiance matters
needing attention.
Horatio s. Rubens, of New York, was
before the committee at the morning SEES
sion. His testimony tended to corrobo-
rate the statements made to the com
mittee by Major j. e. Runcie, in refer
ence to the knowledge General Wood is
said to have had of the Runcie magazine
article criticising unfavorably the admin
istration of Major General Brooke as gov
ernor general of Cuba.
| One of the most important statements
made by Mr.. Rubens was that General
Wood visited him after the pubi
the Runce article and that their CONVEX
sation showed that General Wood had
previous knowledge OF it. Mr. Rubei
said that General Wood admitted that
he had told Runcie that the article put
him (WooO in an awkward position.
| The witness detailed the relationship
between General Wood and newspaper
men saying it was understood that he at
| tempted to use the newspaper men to
| exploit his own deeds.
| At the conclusion of Mr.. Rubens' testi-
mony a member of the committee asked
his opinion of General Woods ve7acity.
He asked that the question be made more
| explicit, and was then asked if he would
be willing to accept the word of Cen
eral Wood in any matter in which the
general had a personal interest. Mr.
! Rubens answered he was sorry to say he
could not accept General Woods state
ment under such circumstances.
| Mr.. Rubens was called, a statement