Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-03-27
TAFT ON ARMY AFFAIRS
Secretary Of War Recommends Creation of
Larger Posts,
MILEAGE EXPENSES FOR GENERAL WOOD
circumstances Under which Unusual
Allowances Were Made Are
Detailed 20 the senate
Committee.

WASHINGTON, March ~ en- Secretary
Taft discussed today with the senate COM
mittee on military affairs the recon-
mendation Of the president regarding the
distributing Of army officers among the
army posts. He criticised the present sys-
tenn saying that It is deficient in that 1t
does not afford officers an opportunity
for exercising command over large forces.
He attributed the system to the fact that
in the. earlier days many posts were de-
sirable on the frontier and said It is diff
cult to discontinue a system once es-
tablished. Yet, he said there is a ten
dency toward an improvement as seen in
the establishment Of regimental posts in
this country and of brigade posts in the
Philippines. Forts Riley. Leavenworth,
d. A. Russell and Sam Houston in this
country can. he said be easily transformed
into brigade posts. At all those posts
there are large reservations while to es-
tablish large posts in the east would re-
quire vast OUTLAWS to secure maneuver
grounds. one exception in the eastern
states is Fort Oglethorpe. in connection
with which the Chickamauga battle reser-
walton could be used. 1t is not the pur-
pose to do away with the small posts
said the secretary. nor would It he neces-
sary to do so. He said that for $4,000
he could buy 100 acres OF land near Fort
Sam Houston and he thought this invest
ment preferable to further improvements
at Fort Clarke also in Texas, and said the
money could be taken from appropriations
already made for military posts.
Mileage for General wood.
The secretary thought there would be a
change in the present method of including
everything in the army transportation fund.
Senator Overman here brought up the
subject OF travel pay, especially to
the payment OF General Woods expenses
on the occasion of his visit to the United
States from the Philippines last summer
for the purpose OF having a surgical opera
ton performed. Secretary Taft said the
first information he had that the general
desired to come to Boston for the opera
ton was received in a cablegram from
General Corbin, who said that Wood was
suffering from injuries received seven years
ago in the line OF duty. and he asked
secrecy because he did not want to alarm
General Woods mother. Wood was
granted leave BY Corbin and he went to
Hong Kong or the Buford, which was
sent there for repairs 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 began. He was then attacked by
severe cramps and the surgeons in the
Philippines attributed the difficulty to pres
sure on the brain The Philippine surgeons
declined to undertake the operation and
issued a certificate recommending his re-
turn to the United States for the purpose
of having the skull trepanned
mat naDaraI NVbod In rhi,,g, II.
explained the circumstances and in accord
ance with the custom in the army ordered
him to Boston as the proper place for the
operation TU' ~
Placed on Duty status.
| The general p explained that he had no
means except his salary and suggested that
he be put on duty Status, which the secre-
! tary told him could be done, his aide, Cap
tain Dorey being permitted to accompany
him They had not Travelled on transport
because of the crowded condition Of those
vessels and vouchers for mileage were is
sued for the transportation of both the
general and his aide from Manila to Bos-
ton, via Hong Kong, but the mileage from
Manila TO Hong Kong was reduced because
of the use of the transport.
| The secretary said that the Boston opera
ton was not entirely satisfactory to the
generals friends in the United States in
! GLIDING the president, accordingly the gen
| eral remained here from July T. when the
! operation was performed, until August a.
when, at the suggestion of the surgeon, the
president issued an order directing General
! Wood to return To the Philippines. via
| London, for the purpose of consulting
| specialist there. Accordingly Military Sec
sretary Ainsworth issued an order directing
| General Wood to proceed to London, on
confidential service, which the order said
| had been explained TO the general by the
/ president. Secretary Taft said the allow
| anee came under the regulation for pay
ments for public duty. He contended that
an officer was as much at public duty
when protecting his health as at other
| times. Senator Overman called attention
to the fact that General Wood first left
Manila ION leave,"' but the secretary said
the regulations fully cover the circum-
stances. He did not consider the allow
ance Of mileage from Manila to Hong Kong
and from Hong Kong to San Francisco as
legal. He had been absent at the time
the allowance was made, and upon review
ing the case he had reversed the former
/ finding and directed that the mileage al
lowance be changed so as to make it an
/ allowance for actual travelling expenses.
The entire trip Of Wool and his aide around
the world had, he said, cost the govern
ment about $500.
General COrbin Turned Down.
DO you know OF any other officer who
has Travelled a liner and had his ex-
penses paid instead OF using transport"
asked Senator Overmap.
| This question, at which the witness
! laughed aloud, WAS followed by another
inquiry as to whether General Corbin had
done so. He replied that Corbin had not.
He applied for an order but I did not
give H."
In this connection he referred to his
last summers "Trip 20 the orient, saying
chat he had told the army officers that on
that trip they would Ne allowed rheir ex-
penses but not mileage.
When We got 10 Hong kouE. he said.
II received an order FROM the president 30
go 10 Canton 10 interview the viceroy on