The Savannah morning news., 1904-01-12
AZ INTERESTING QUESTION:

The testimony Of Gen. ]. H. Wilson.
in the case of Gen. Wood now pend
| ing in the Senate, raises an interesting
question Of recollection between the
President and Gen. Wilson. The latter
said that Gen. Wood wasn't at the bat
tie Of san Juan, that in fact, Gen. Wood
had never been under fire in his life
until the Spanish War began, and was
in only one battle in that war, name
ly, that of Las Guasimas, and in that
! battle he would have been badly
handled if the colored troops hadn't
gone to his assistance. He further
said that he had talked with Mr..
Roosevelt about the matter, when the
| latter was vice President, and told
! him that Gen. Wood wasn't in the bat
| tie Of San Juan. The President claim
ed that he was, but when Gen. Will
son said. you know that he was in
the rear looking after ammunition" Mr..
Roosevelt said: Yes; but do not tell
anybody" The President says that
he never had such a conversation with
Gen. Wilson. According to the testi-
mony given by Secretary Root the rec
ords of the War Department show that
Gen. Wood was at the battle of San
Juan, and it said there are several army
officers who can testify that Gen. Wood
was in that battle and behaved with
great gallantry. In fact, it was upon
showing, respecting that battle, greatly
in Gen. Woods favor that President
Mckinley nominated him to the posi-
ton of brigadier general
1t would be interesting to know on
what Gen. Wilson based his statement
that Gen. Wood wasn't at the battle
of San Juan. He must have had very
good reasons for stating that he wasn't
there. 1t ought not to be difficult mat
ter to get at the truth. 1t is certain
that Gen. Wilson wouldn't have stated
that Gen. Wood wasn't at that bat
tie if he didn't believe he wasn't. And
as Gen. Wood got his promotion for
gallant conduct there the issue that
has been raised by Gen. Wilson's
testimony should be settled before the
Senate acts upon Gen. Woods nomina-
ton to the position Of major general.
AS stated by Gen. Wilson, the promo
ton of Gen. Wood over the heads of
so many officers caused a feeling of
great bitterness among these officers.
They wouldn't have objected if they
had believed that he had done any,
thing deserving promotion.
1t is a question if the jumping of
officers over the heads of their seniors
isn't having a very demoralizing effect
upon the army. On Saturday, for in
stance, Capt. Mills. superintendent of
West Point was nominated as
brigadier general. He was jumped over
the heads of more than 100 officers.
some of them colonies and others,
lieutenant colonies, majors and cap
tains. Naturally, officers are inclined
to think one way to get promotion is
to be "a favorite of the President or
to have friends who have influence with
him. There isn't any doubt that one
reason why Gen. Wood was promoted
was that he was a warm personal
friend of President Mckinley and is
of President Roosevelt. If promotions
for such a reason are made, may we
not expect that army officers will be
seeking the favor of the President and
those having influence with him rather
than earning promotion by meritorious
service?
But whatever may be the relation
between the President and Gen. Wood,
there is no doubt that the question
raised by Gen. Wilson as to whether
or not Gen. Wood was at the battle
of San Juan ought to be cleared up.
And as already stated, it would be in
teresting to know whether or not the
conversation between the President and
Gen. Wilson, to which the latter testi-
fled, really took place. Somebody must
have made mistake