New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-02
Designated by Wilson as
Major General Woods
Successor.
INDICATES SCOTS
APPOINTMENT SOON
Army Will Not Welcome Choice
of Close Personal Friend
of President.
Iron The Tribune Bureau.

L
Washington, April MAJOR General
William W. wotherspoon has been desis-
mated by the President to succeed Major
General Leonard Wood as chief OF stan
on April 90, as predicted in The Tribune
on December 10 Brigadier General Hugh
/. Scott, commanding the I'd Cavalry
Brigade. at Fort Bliss, Texas. Is desig-
mated as assistant chief OF stan. This is
taken to indicate that General Scott Will
succeed General Wotherspoon as chief Of
stan when the former retires under the
age limit, next November. as also has
been forecasted in these dispatches. Gen
eral wotherspoon, who for some time has
been assistant chief of staff, must retire
soon through operation OF the age limit.
and despite the fact that mentally and
physically he could serve with credit TO
himself and benefit to the army for many
years to come.
The appointment Of General Scott Will
not be welcomed by the army. He Is re-
garded as a man Of marked ability ana
attractive personality. He Is close per-
eonal friend Of the President and II is
contemplated by the law creating the
General staff that the President Will Sc
lect as IT'S head man in whom he places
the utmost confidence. and who VIII be as
thoroughly in sympathy with his ideas
and policies as member OF his CABINET Is
supposed TO be
An Early Wilson Appointment.
But General Scott is the first brigadler
amounted by President Wilson, and
Junior in that grade. Were the President
10 attempt to appoint him major gen.
eral there would probably be opposition IN
the Senate where Senator Warren is seek
inr that promotion for his son-in-law'
General Pershng, and where Senator
Bristow misses no occasion to press tne
case Of General Funston. 1t is prooaole
that the President will seek TO promote
General Scott TO this grade. on the other
hand, there is a feeling-largely senu-
mental-in the army that the CHIEF OF
staff should be major general. because
he IS often called upon TO pass on the
conduct of officers of that rank. IL Is
also noteworthy that the appointment OF
General Scott could be construed as more
in harmony with the ideas OF Secretary
Root. the father OF the General stan, VINO
contemplated that II would be more OF a
purely advisory body than II has been
under General WoUd.
Incidentally. the appointment OF Cen
sral Scott will prove sore disappoint
'nent 70 Generals Barry. Carter and other
officers who are his sernors In grade and
number
Major General William W. Wotherspoon
vas made a major general on January H.
1918. and a brigader general on Feoruary
e. 1913. skipping the grade of colonel lie
was appointed TO the Military Academy
from the District of Columbia, where he
was born on November 16, 1850. He was
made a second lieutenant OF the 18th In
fantry on October !. 1873; promoted TO first
lieutenant on March 20. 1872; to captain on
April % 1898. and on February 2, 1901, he
was appointed major Of the 3oth Infantry
being transferred TO the 9Th Infantry In
June. 1902. and his promotion to the rank
of lieutenant colonel came on July u, 1904.
In May. 1905. he was transferred to the
18th Infantry, where he was serving when
made a brigadier general.
Scott Born in Kentucky.
BriEaOler htllti d. DNOAN - q biONiN+ ~
Professor Scott, OF Princeton. He was
born at Danvile. KY, on September o. 1888.
His mother. who was Miss Mary Hodge,
was a great-granddaughter Of Benjamin
Franklin. Scott was appointed 10 the Mill
tary Academy from Kentucky and was
graduated from West Point in 1876, becom-
Ing a second lieutenant in the 9Th Cav
airy. lie was made first lieutenant In
1873 captain in 1895 and major, with the
rank of lieutenant colonel OF volunteers.
I'm 1898 At the close of the war with
Spain he was assigned to the Sd Cavalry
es colonel He WAS superintendent at
West Point from 1895 70 1910. His com
mission az brigadier general dates from
March %. 1913.
General Scott spent much time among
the Indians and learned the language OF
every tribe. He was adjutant general in
Cuba from 1893 TO 1903. AS Governor of
me sulu Archipelago from 1903 to 1905 he
abolished slavery and the slave trade.