The Washington times., 1914-05-07
THE ARMY IN MEXICO.

of the present Mexican situation is
the remarkable condition of the army
that will strike the first blow should
it be necessary to carry on a cam
paign in Mexico.
If any of the gentlemen who are
wasting time trying to create the
| idea that there is miSunderstand-
! ing between Gen, Leonard Wood and
the War Department would carefully
analyze present conditions, they
would realize how futile their efforts
will be. There was a time when
General Wood might have looked
askance at any proposition to put
him in command of an army in the
field in actual service, though he
would undoubtedly have accepted the
responsibility. Some years ago
there were a few general officers
who did not look with favor on Gen.
eral Woods attainments. He out
ranked them, and in the field would
be their commander. They would
have obeyed orders, but there is
something more to military success
than the mere obedience of orders.
When the Mexican situation be-
came so clouded and it was necessary
to send men to the border in large
numbers with the ever present threat
Of invasion and the probability of
General Wood being in command, he
was in position to name the men he
wanted to command the subordinate
detachments. The changes were
worked out gradually, but as a result
of them it is now possible for Gen.
eral Wood to go into the field know
ing that all of his brigade command
erS are men he can trust implicitly
men of initiative and unusual ag-
eressiveness, and men who are his
most enthusiastic supporters and
personal friends.
Thus we find Generals Funston,
Bliss, Pershing, Evans and Bailey
among the brigadiers, with General
Scott, the assistant chief of staff,
available in case of need. These men
have been long identified with the
Wood policies. To General Bliss,
General Wood turned over his COM
mand in the Moro province of the
Philippines. Bliss was his personal
selection. Scott, who was then
major of cavalry, was picked for the
difficult post of governor of Jolo at
the same time-also a personal selec-
ton of Wood. Pershing was put in
command there not long afterward.
Evans has worked close to Wood |
in the War Department since Wood
tecame chief Of staff. Funston,
whose capacity for quick. decisive
action of the right kind has made |
him famous, has never worked direct
ly with Wood, but there is bond |
of sympathy and understanding be-
tween these two mtn. 1t was Wood |
who selected Funston to succeed |
Carter in command of the Second
division On the Gulf. 1t was Wood
who designated Funston to take the
first brigade of troops into Mexico
Z COB that Funston was not only
entitled to have because he is the
senior brigadier of the army, but be-
.ause he was the man for it.
That is the situation in the army
Just nova situation created by
icrera! Wood while he was chief of
taft. It is probable that if it be-
'omeS necessary u send Wood to
MEXICO as the -iH-chief of
he American army. he will 20 SUI
'Ounded by subordinate division and
jrigade commanders, such as no
,ther general Officer of an American
army mas had. He will have the
ncn he knows and who l:now him.
Which goes long way toward win
ing battles and clearing uD difficult
situations in the most complete man
lcr.