Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-28
FRIENDSHIP
Major Runcie, Once a Friend
Of Gen. Wood,
Now Striving to Prevent Latter''
Promotion by Every Means.
His Evidence Is Far From Being Cred.
table to Himself.

Washington, Nov. 27.-The Senate
committee on military affairs, today,
heard Major James +. Runcie of Ha-
ynna. probably the most important wit
noss that will be offered by the Oppo-
ueuts of Gen. Leonard Wood in an at
tennt to prevent his confirmation to be
Ma Tor general
Major Runcie was on the stand sew
eral times during the day, telling the
committee of dinner at Santiago,
Cuba, attended by himself, Gen. Wood
and Raw Stannard Baker, newspaper
man, at which, it was alleged, was
manned the magazine article attacking
Ma ior Cen Brooke that has figured
conspicuously in the Wod case. Major
Ruucie was stopped more than once
during the course of his testimony and
told to give nothing but facts of which
he had personal knowledge. This did
not exclude his story of the dinner in
cident, which resulted in the issue of
subpoenas for three other witnesses,
among whom is Gen. Brooke.
In his testimony Major Runcie eX-
plained that he had acted as the con-
fidential adviser Of Gen. Wood for near
ly TWO years and that they lived to-
gether at Santiago. 1t was while they
were living in the same house that MI.
Baker went to Santiago in search OF
material for a magazine article. A
meeting was arranged between the
three men and dinner followed, teStl-
fed Mai. Runcie. at which was dis
cussed the plan to have published an
| article which would exploit the success
Of Gen. Wood in dealing with affairs at
Santiago and draw a comparison with
| the situation at Havana unfavorble to
the administration Of Gen. Brooke.
| Major Runcie declared that Gen.
! Wood asked him to write the article
and that he did so. The article was
given to Baker and published in Feb
ruary, 1900, over the name of MaiRr
Rurcie. He asserted that Gen. Wodd
knew what the article contained, and
that they had correspondence about it
as the result of the former creatsasby
I it's publication. He offered to pI0duce
copies of letters which he had writ ten
| to Ger. Wood concerning his apWT1s de-
fence. 1t was not until afters Gen.
Wood succeeded Gen. BrookeAnat the
article was published. The eMect was
a severance of the relations sfbetween
the witness and Gen. Woods Major
Runcie then began the practice of law
| at Havana, and according to his testi-
mony has been there ever sincea
The witness said that when the sec
rotary of war went to Cuba, following
the disclosures to the war department,
the suggestion was made, either by the
secretary or Gen. Wood that he be
courtmartialed for writing the ;trticie
and that he had, in effect, invited the
courtmartial. q
The committee notified Maj. Runcie'
that he would be called again some
time next week. He left Washington,
tonight, for Cleveland. He is expected
to return within three days and hold
himself subject to the call of the conf
mttee. His connections in Havana,
make it necessary for him to appear
before the committee to testify con-
corning matter other than the writing
of the magazine article. 1t is said he
had knowledge of Gen. Woods order
for the arrest of Maj. Rathbone and
as the agent at Havana for Il Maryland
bonding company, can give Informal
ton in regard to Major Rathbone's
charge that Gen. Wood used his infiu-
ence with the courts in Havana for his
Nathbone's) bond being fixed at a
figure he declares to have been unreal
SOnable