The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1906-03-28
On His Visit to the Unitec
States From Manila.
Secretary Taft Said He Ordered Gen
eral Wood to Boston For Operation
For Injury Received In Cuba-After
wards Ordered to London on His
Way Back to Manila.

pose of having surgical operation
performed, Secretary Taft told the
senate committee on military affairs
the first information he had in the
matter was received in May in a ca
blegram from General Corbin, who
said that Wood was suffering from an
injury received seven years before in
the line of duty
He asked secrecy because he did
not want to alarm General Woods
mother. Wood was granted leave OF
absence by Corbin and he went to
Hong Kong on the Buford which was
sent there for repairs.
Injury Received In Cuba.
The injury making necessary the
operation was received by striking his
head against chandelier while he
was in Cuba. No bad effects were
felt until the service in the Philip,
pines begun. He was then attacked
by severe cramps and the surgeons in
the Philippines attributed the diff.
Guilty to pressure on the brain.
The Philippine surgeons declined to
undertake the operation and issued a
certificate recommending his return to
the United States to have the skull
trephined.
Il met General Wood in Chicago"
said Mr.. Taft. "He explained the cir
cumstances, and in accordance with
the custom in the army ordered him
to Boston as the proper place for the
performance of the operation"
Was Put on Duty Status.
The general explained that he had
no means except his salary and sug-
gested that he be put on duty status,
which the secretary told him could be
done, his aide, Captain Dorey, being
permitted to accompany him. They
had not travelled on a transport be-
cause of the crowded condition of
those vessels and vouchers for mileage
were issued for the transportation of
via Hong Kong.
The secretary said the Boston opera
tion was not entirely satisfactory to
the generals friends in the United
States, including the president; ac.
cordingly, the general remained here
from July when the operation was
performed until Aug. "a, when at the
suggestion of the surgeon the presi.
dent issued an order directing General
Wood to return to the Philippines via
London for the purpose of consulting
specialist there.
Accordingly Military Secretary
Ainsworth issued an order directing
Wood to proceed to London on conf.
Dental service which, the order said
had been explained to the general by
the president.
Secretary Taft said the allowance
came under the regulation for payments
for public duty. He contended that
an officer was as much on public duty
when protecting his health as at other
times.
Regulations Covered the Circumstance.
Senator Overman called attention
to the fact that General Wood first
left Manila ION leave" but the secre.
tary said that the regulations fully
cover the circumstances. He, however,
did not consider the allowance Of
mileage from Manila to Hong Kong
and from Hong Kong to San Francisco
time the allowance was made and upon
reviewing the case he had reversed
the former finding and directed that
the mileage allowance be changed so
as to make it an allowance for actual
travelling expenses The entire trip Of
Wood and his aide around the world
he said, cost the government about
$4,000
do you know of any other officer
who has travelled on a liner and had
his expenses paid instead of using o
transport" asked Senator Overman.
This question, at which the witness
laughed aloud, was followed by an in.
quiry as to whether General Corbin
had done so. He replied that Corbin
had not. "He applied for an order,
but | did not give it," In this connec
tion, he referred to his last summers
| trip to the orient saying that he had
told the army officers that on that trip
they would be allowed their expenses
but not mileage.
when we got to Hong Kong" he
said, 81 received an order from the
president to so to Canton to interview
the viceroy on the boycott and the
officers accompanied me in uniform.
Subsequently ! gave them an order
for the payment of their mileage on
that trip, supposing that it covered
only their expenses to Canton, but |
| found afterward that it had been con.
strued as covering the entire trip to
San Francisco. When this was eX.
| planned to me | made a new order
which was exactly the same as the
order made in the Wood case. Gen.