The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-05-11
CIV Z.EO1LARD WI2lD

Washington. May 9.-7he next
twelve months promise to be memor-
able for the many important changes
in the army, Many of these changes
will occur in the regular course OF
events, and may be discounted, but
others are still somewhat unsettled
and consequently open to speculation
Prominent among the things that
are settled is that Major General
Leonard Wood, now In command of
the military department of the east.
with headquarters at Governors island,
n. Y, Will be the next chief of staff
of the army. General Wood will sue
ceed Major General ]. Franklin Bell
whose reappointment to his present Of
flee was announced Immediately af-
ter the Inauguration Of the new admin
istration. General Bell, however, has
decided to remain here but a few
months, and before next spring he
Will be transferred to Manila, where
he will have command of the troops
stationed in the Philippines
Until General Bell was appointed
the office Of chief Of staff, which is
regarded as the most important Of
flee In the army, was invariably filled
by the officer of highest rank. Lieu.
tenant Generals Young. Chaffee and
Bates held that office in succession.
and the appointment OF General Bell
followed the request OF Lieutenant
General Henry c. Corbin TO be assign
ed to the comand of the southwestern
division at st. Louis, instead Of to the
office of chief Of staff, to which his
rank naturally entitled him. Gene
raj Macarthur succeeded General Cor
bin as lieutenant general, but he was
not on the best of terms with Secre-
tary of War Taft, with whom it
seems he had disagreed when they
were together in the Philippines. it
was deemed best TO make no change In
tne office OF chief of staff for his ben
eft.
No such reasons apply. however, to
the case Of General Wood, who is a
warm personal friend of President
Taft. General Wood likewise enjoyed
high favor with President Roosevelt
Thus, two years ago. 1t was decided
that Lieutenant General Macarthur,
the senior officer OF the army, should
go into practical retirement and fill
out the remaining years of his career
on the active list at his old home In
Milwaukee writing his observations
of military affairs In the Orient prin-
cipally in India, General Wood, upon
his return from the Philippines year
ago, TO he assigned TO the choice OF
the commander of the department of
the east. which in the natural course
OF events would have fallen to Gen
eral Macarthur And now the latter
is to be retired for age early next
month and General Wood will then be
the senior officer of the army in point
of rank and service. I 1hus General
Wood will have accomplished in twen-
ty-three years what General MacAr-
thur accomplished In forty, and other
officers In quite as long a time.
General Wood S career has been one
of the most remarkable the army has
ever seen He was born in New
Hampshire, studied medicine. and In
1856 was appointed an assistant sur
geon in the army. He participated In
the Indian wars and saw considerable
service. 1t was not until he became
the family physician OF the late Pres
ident, however, that he was really
started on the road to success.
He was captain and assistant sur
geon when. with the outbreak OF the
war with Spain, In company with
Theodore Roosevelt. he organized
what was known as the Rough Riders
regiment, He later received a com
mission as major general of volun
teers, and In 1901 was appointed brig
adler general In the regular establish
ment.