Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-06-13
At GEN. WOOD
Army Bill Clause Would Gust Him
as Chief Of staff.
RESULT OF LONG FRICTION
Fellow ofieers Now Generally Admit
Excellent Qualities Of Former Sur
seon-PershIns May Be Super
Intendent Of Academy.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

BY GEORGE CLINTON.
Washington.-If congress has its
way Major General Leonard Wood
will cease to be chief Of the general
staff of the United States army on
March 4 next. This story of the posi-
bility or probability of General Wood
being deprived Of the chieftainship Of
the general staff is curiously interest
ing, and 1t involves troubles In the
army, resentments In other places,
and even possibly a desire TO get
ven personally"
Today General Wood is the ranking
officer on the active list Of the Ameri-
can army. For years in the war de-
partment there was friction between
the adjutant generals department. OF
which General Ainsworth was the
head, and some Of the other depart
ments. The matter was brought to a
crisis when General Ainsworth was
suspended temporarily from command
IL order presumably that an investi-
cation OF the troubles might be made.
Then General Ainsworth asked to be
placed on the retired list and this was
done and 1t was thought that further
trouble was to be avoided.
Many Of the members Of congress
sided with General Ainsworth and they
seemed to think that General Wood
was in a way responsible for the
bringing of matters to a head and the
forcing of the retirement Of the ad-
jutant general. So 1t was that at the
last moment, while the committee Of
the two houses was considering the
army bill, a provision vas inserted by
n OF the house members that no
man, after March 4 next, should be
chief Of the general staff who had not
served tel years in the line Of the
army. This would knock out General
Wood because he was a staff officer
for a long time as a surgeon with the
medical corps. The senate confereea
agreed with the house conferees and
the matter is now up to the senate
and house for sanction. 1t seems
probable that President Taft would
prefer to veto this proposition, but II
he does he will have to veto the whole
army appropriation bill Of which 1t Is
a part, and this he cannot well do.
General Woods Career.
1t was General Wood who was colo
mel of the Roosevelt Rough Riders
Mr.. Roosevelt himself being the lieu
tenant colonel, at the outset OF the
Spanish war. Later, General Wood
was made a brigadier general by Pres
ident Mckinley, and later still he was
promoted to a major generalship By
President Roosevelt, and now he is the
: ranking officer of the army. For years
the army resented what they called
the Intrusion" of General Wood ints
the line, ranking as he did officers wht
had seer long service in command o
regiments, but the feeling agains'
him in the army largely has passed
and army officers today say he Is {
most efficient officer. The attempt o.
congress to prevent his continuing ii
the position which he now holds al
chief Of staff has aroused many ami
mosities and tits probable that thi!
one time surgeon will be looked upo1
by some people as a martyr to inim
ical legislation.
1t is said that Brig. Gen. John ]
Pershing is likely to be named al
superintendent Of the United State!
military academy to succeed Major
Thomas H. Barry, who may take tn
post of command at New York mad,
vacant by THE death Of Gen. Fred
erick Dent Grant. Like General Wood
General Pershing has had a phe
nomenal rise in the army. Eight o
nine years ago when he was a car
tain Of cavalry circumstances CAV,
him command of troops enough t
make a brigade formation. He har
pened to be the senior officer In til,
field, and although he was only a car
tain, this gave him the command of
considerable body of troops.
Pershing In the Philippines.
At that time certain savage IL
habitants of the Philippines were dc
flying the American troops and con
hitting depredations in what wa
called the Lake Lanao region Of tn
Philippines. Pershing took his brigad
into the field against them and did ez
cellent service, putting down the vi
rising and later pacifying the natives
In n Of his messages to congress MI
Roosevelt, who was then president, Ia
mented the fact that the law prevent
ed the president from promoting al
officer for good service from one grad
to another. He mentioned PershinI
by name.
When there was a vacancy In til
rank Of brigadier general. Mr.. Roost
welt promoted Captain Pershing to al
the place, a promotion which jumps
over the heads Of four or Ave hundre,
senior officers. President Roosevelt
nIIAI ITlES THAT MARK CASTI