Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1912-06-21
AIMED At GEN. WOOD
Army Bill Clause Would Gust Him
as Chief OF Staff.
RESULT OF LONG FRICTION
Fellow Officers Now Generally Admit
Excellent Qualities Of Former Sur
seon-Pershine May BE Super
lntendent Of Academy.
RY GEORGE CLINTON

OF 1E0h1E GElN Yin.
Washington.-If congress has its
way Major General Leonard Wood
will cease to be chief of the general
stan of the United States army on
March 4 next. This story Of the posi-
bility or probability of General Wood
being deprived of the craftsmanship of
the general star is curiously interest
ing. and 1t involves troubles in the
army. resentments In other places,
and even possibly desire Ito get
even 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 q
crisis when General Ainsworth was
suspended temporarily from command
In 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 way responsible for the
bringing Of matters to 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. provision was inserted by
one OF the house members that no
man, after March 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 long time as a surgeon with the
medical corps. The senate conferees
agreed with the house conferees and
the matter is now up to the senate
and house for sanction. II seems
probable that President Taft would
prefer to veto this proposition, but Il
he does he will have to veto the whole
army appropriation bill of which 1t II
n pal anu lHlS NC CdnhOt NCh ~
: General Weod's caresl
1t was General Wood who vas colo
mel of the Roosevelt Rough Riders
Mr.. Roosevelt himself being the lieu
tenant colonel, at the outset of thu
Spanish war. Later. General Woo'
was made brigadier general by Pres
tdent Mckinley. and later still he wa
promoted to major generalship b,
President Roosevelt. and now he is tn
ranking officer OF the army. For year
the army resented what they calle,
tie Intrusion" of General Wood int
the line. ranking as he did officers VIII
had seen long service In command O
regiments, but the feeling agains
him in the army largely has passe
and army officers today say he is
most efficient officer. The attempt @
congress to prevent his continuing
the position which he now holds a
chief OF staff has aroused many an
mosities and 1t IL probable that thi
one time surgeon will be looked upo
by some people as a martyr to inin
ical legislation.
> II is said that Brig. Gen. John
Pershing is likely to be named q
superintendent of the United State
military academy to succeed MaJe
Thomas H. Barry. who may take tn
post of command at New York mad
vacant by the death OF Gen. Free
erick Dent Grant. Like General Woo
General Pershing has had phi
81 L.. tD =
nine years ago when he was ca
tain OF cavalry circumstances ga,
him command OF troops enough
make brigade formation. He ha
pened to be the senior officer In Il
field, and although he was only ca
tain, this gave him the command OF
considerable body Of troops.
Pershine In the Philippines.
At that time certain savage I
habitants of the Philippines were
flying the American troops and col
hitting depredations In what WI
called the Lake Lanao region OF Il
Philippines. Pershing took his brigat
into the field against them and did G
cellent service. putting down the u
rising and later pacifying the native
In one OF his messages to congress N
Roosevelt, who was then president.
mented the fact that the law preveI
ed the president from promoting
officer for good service from one gra
TO another. He mentioned Pershil
by name.
When there was a vacancy in t
rnnk of brigadiar penaral Mr. ROni
welt promoted Captain Pershing to
the place. promotion which Jump
over the heads of four or five hundr
senior. officers President Roosey'