The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-12-25
WOODS MILITARY RECORD
SECRETARY OF WAR RUSHES TO
HIS RESCUE.
Considerations Which Led to His
Nomination an Major General
How Men Are Selected.

Washington, December 0.-The letter
Of Secretary Toe TO MI. Proctor. acting
chairman of the committee on military
affairs, dated November IS, giving @
resume of the military record Of Gener-
al Wood and stating the chief
considerations which led to his nominal
ton as a major general, was made pub
&c today. After quoting from remarks
commendatory of General Wood made
by Generals Miles, Lawton. Graham and
Forsyth, the letter reciles that upon
these n similar evidences of fitness
PRECEDENT Mckinley appointed Captain
Wood colonel Of the First Volunteer
Cavalry in May, 1895"
The Secretary also quotes from the
commentators OF Generals Young,
Wheeler, Sumner and Shafter on Gen
Grad Woods conduct in the Santiago
campaign, and says General Woods
appointment as commander of the San
tiago province appears to have been
based upon a statement made by Gen
eral Shafter in a dispatch to the De-
| partment, in which he said he Thought
General Wood by far the best man TO
leave in command of Santiago"
The Secretary reviews Genera
Woods subsequent military career,
saying in this connection:
The high estimate put by the Sec
rotary OF War upon General Woods
services as military governor is shown
in the published orders of the Wa
| Department." referring to the general
! order Of March 2, 1903, and July 4, 1902.
| The Secretary adds that the opinions
| expressed in those orders we're also the
opinions Of both Presidents under
| whom the service was rendered, say
ing:
Upon a review Of General Woods
| entire military record l think IT fair
| to say that no officer Of the American
| army below the grade of major gen
eral has held more important COM
mandS, rendered more diEtinSuiShed
service or demonstrated to a higher
| degree the possession of the ability for
these services to the country as a
major general
In speaking Of the principles which,
he says sound policy requires h Pres
| ident to follow in making appoint
ments, the Secretary says:
The law which recognizes seniority
alone as the title 10 promotion up 70
the grade Of colonel abandors that rule
when it deals with general officers AMI
imposes upon the President the duty
of selecting the best men for generals
without EXPIRE sing any limitation up
on the class from which he is to make
the selection"
The Secretary adds that when sucn
a selection is to be made two different
considerations always present them
! selves to the appointing mind-o"e a
, desire to reward .ong and meritOri0us
service; the other to secure the best
possible man. He says these conSideGa-
tons Go not always cOiHcide in pointing
to the same man. Continuing, he says:
1.-The appropriate reward Of honor
frequently comes to our officers when
their careers are about to close-when
they have passed the period of initla-
tive, of ambition and strenuous exer-
ton, and have come to the period OF
comparative repose. An army, all OF
whose general officers ara selected for
the purpos Of comforting rewards and
thu having come at the period of their
retirement, is hardly fair.
Previous rank" continues the Sec
rotary, lis of little consequence, proVld-
ed the service shall have been lons
enough to furnish the requisite expo
rience and make the demonstration OF
capicity certain"
The Secretary says he thinks both
considerations unite in h cause 81
General Wood, and concludes by say
ing that General Woods record and the
views Of public policy led President
Mckinley to appoint him a brigadier
general and that the present nomina-
ton is in the regular order Of sento"-
ity.