New-York tribune., 1903-03-23
WOOD ANSWERS CHARGES.
Generals Reply to attack Made By
Estes @. Rathbone.

WASHINGTON. March 22.-Brigadier General
Leonard A Wood to-day placed in the hands OF
the Secretary Of War a voluntary statement re-
gardtng the charges filed against him by Major
Estes G. Rathbone, ex-Director General or
Cuban Posts. No official notice Of Major Rath-
bones charges had been taken by the Secr7Ialg
as vet. but General Wood, on reading theff'
aaked and received permission to file at the de-
nartnnent 2 statement setting forth his side OF
the case before his departure for service III Iile
Philippines General Wood leaves washington
on wednesday afternoon for Boston, "heH'e ''e
sails on Thursday for Manila. Pending the action
ne tho Secretary on his stattment General Wood
refuses to comment upon the charges most VI
which. he says have been presented before
In his statement to the Secretary. Generai
Wood denies that he received any except purely
narsonap' gifts while in Cuba AS to his at
tendance on the .jai allai." public institution
at Havana at which the Spanish national game
Was played General Wood calls attention to the
fact that the Bishop of Havana was present at
the dedication OF the institution, and conducted
the service on that occasion. AS Governor Geh-
erfs of Cuba it his policy. he says to es-
tshIisb and maintain cordial relations with the
reonle of the island. including the Spanlards'
who were the influential element. He felt. he
saws that it was only an appreciation OF Span
ish institutions for him to recognize and pat
ronize the Spanish national game, which CORE
sponds closely to the American game OF rack
cts and he made it point to attend the "Jal
ALLAH" quite often in the evenings. being accom-
ranied by several Of his aids. The latter, ne
saws, received professional instruction in the
game The institution. General Wood states,
had a drinking and betting privilege legally
granted by the authorities and was attended in
the evenings by from two thousand to three
thousand people.
Last May, on the Sunday before his departure
General Wood says he was asked to receive
delegation of Spanish merchants, who desired TO
,resent to him q testimonial of their esteem
This was handsome silver service. General
Tasker H. Bliss then in charge Of the customs
service General Wood says. admitted the g1ft
free of duty first, because under the law no
duty could be collected importations FOR orl-
ciaIs and soldiers of the United States, and, sec
ond because the law provided also for the free
iyr nortation of household goods and personal
effects which were not to remain permanently
in the island AS the customs houses aIready
hnd been closed that the Governor General
might make a complete return of the Gunos III
the treasury at the hour of the American
evacuation General Bliss could issue no pono
for the admission Of the gift, but he personally
exanined 1t and authorized its free entry.
General Wood said tonight that ne Mouiu
leave with each member Of the Senate CUBAN
Committee a copy of his statement to secretary
Boot and that he WAS ready at any time to ap-
near before that committee to reply 70 any
charges which might he brought against him.