Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-22
GEN. LEONARD WOOD
He Will Return to the Phip-
ippines
ABOUT OCTOBER FIRST
WHEN HE WILL HAVE BEEN DIS
CHARGED FROM TREATMENT.
President Wishes to Place Him in SUI
preme Command of Military
Forces in the Archipelago.

Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood who has been
visiting friends In this city, expects to leave
mere this evening for Boston. and will
probaoiy stop at Oyster Bay for a short
visit to President Roosevelt As stated In
yesterdays Star. Gen Wood has informed
Gen. Bates. the acting secretary of war
that he has almost completely recovered
from the recent operation his head and
Is prepared to resume his duties in the
Philippines at once. IL necessary. He ex-
planned. however. that the physicians in
Boston who had charge OF his case had
suggested that he remain In this country
for a few weeks longer, provided there WAS
no particular urgency in his return To the
Philippines. in order that they might com
plete their treatment and observations of
the effects of the operation. They had in
formed him that the operation was entirely
successful and that there was no reason
to fear a setback, and had simply suggested
a short delay In his departure so as to give
them little more time to complete the
study OF the case.
Will Be Guided by Corbin's Wishes.
Gen. Wood informed the officials OF the
War Department that he would be guided
in his movements entirely by the wishes of
Maj Gen. Corbn. commanding the Philip
pines division. He was prepared. ne said.
to take passage on the next transport for
Manila. il his presence there is necessary
Otherwise he will defer his departure from
this country until about the 1st of October
by which time he expects to be completely
discharged from medical treatment. mes
sage of inquiry on the subject has been
cabled to Gen. Corbin and reply is OK
pected in few days.
The fact that Gen. Wood Is to return to
the Philippines settles several interesting
questions that have been pending before
the War Department. regarding important
military assignments. Orders were recently
prepared at the War Department transfer
ring Brig. Gen William II. Carter from
command of the Department of the Vis-
ayas to the command OF the Department OF
the Lakes, at Chicago. and assigning Brig.
Gen. w. 8. Edgerly to the command or the
Department OF the Visayas.
Those orders have been held up by direc.
ton of President Roosevelt. pending the
result of the operation on Cen Wood. as. II
the latter did not return to the Philip pines.
he intended to have Gen. Carter succeed
to his duties in the Philippines. The Pres
ident did not desire that Gen. Wood should
return to the Philippines at all unless his
state of health would justify his going.
Now that that point has been practically
settled by reason Of Gen. Woods recovery.
II Is fully expected that the original plans
of the War Department will be carried Out,
and that Gen. Carter will be recalled to the
United States and assigned to duty at Chi
cago.
One Reason Why He Returns.
One Of the principal reasons for the re-
turn of Gen. Wood to the Philippines 10 the
Presidents desire to put him In supreme
command of all the military forces in the
archipelago on the relief OF Nal. Gen. Cor
bin. who Is to come to the United States
and assume the duties Of chief Of staff OF
the army. with the rank of lieutenant gen
eral in succession to Gen. John c. Bates.
who will succeed Lieut.. Gen. Chaffee as
head of the army In April next. Gems.
Bates and Corbin each retire for age next
year, the former August % and the
latter September IS. Gen. Chaffee will re-
tire April IA next. 1t has been arranged at
the War Department that the period OF hve
months between the retirement OF Gen
Chaffee and the retirement Of Gen Corbin
shall be divided equally between Gems
Bates and Corbin chief Of staff. with the
rank of lieutenant general In order to ef-
feet this division. 1t will be necessary for
Gen. Bates to voluntarily anticipate his re-
tire.nent for the benefit OF Gen. Corbn.