New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-27
Garrison in Sharp Mes
sage Orders General Not
to Repeat Offence.
COLONEL, ANGERED,
TAKES FULL BLAME
Saws the Administration Had a
Chance to Censor Platts-
burg Talk if 1t Desired.

Washington. Aug. 26. Secretary of
War Garrison sent a telegram to-day TO
Major General Leonard Wood. at the
Plattsburg training camp, rebukinG him
for permitting the speech of ex-Presi-
dent Theodore Roosevelt yesterday, IN
which the administration was attacked
and statements made in contraventon
Of the Presidents neutrality proclama-
ton. The Secretary did not consult
President Wilson before sending the
telegram. but it Is understood 1t met
with the Presidents approval.
Secretary Garrison said this after
moon that he did not wish to be inter
nreted as attacking Colonel Roosevelt.
Tbe same action would have been
taken. he said, if a speech had been
made on prohibition, or woman sut-
frage. or any other subject foreign to
the purpose for which the camp had
been ordered.
There would have been no objection
on the part Of the War Department to
Colonel Roosevelt being asked to speak
on strategy or on sanitation, IT was
said. but his speech had nothing what
ever 20 DO with the purposes Of the
eanp. and Major General Wood was,
therefore. sharply rebuked for per-
hitting IT,
Sharper Censure Possible.
Whether General Woods action IN in
yi,inc Colonel Roosevelt to speak at
the camp o. subjects foreign to its
work would be incorporated into his ef-
hciency record the Secretary would not
say. He was equally silent as to the
possibility Of other and more severe
censure being meted out.
Following is the text of the Secre-
tsry's telegram:
~ have lust seen the reports IN the
newspapers Of the speech MADE by eX-
President Roosevelt at the PlattsDurg
camp. Il is difficult 10 conceive OF any
thing which could have more deIrl
mental effect upon the real value OF
r. eyneriment than such an incident.
"This camp. held under government
ausnices. was successfully demonstrat-
inc many things Of great moment. It's
virtue consisted in the fact that II con-
vaved us own impressive lesson in ITS
practical and successful operation and
results
NO opportunity should. have been
furnished 10 any one 10 present 10
the men anv matter excepting tnat
which was essential TO the necessary
training they were there 70 receive.
ANYTHING else could only have the Ell
feet Of distracting attention from the
real nature of the experiment, divert
ing consideration 20 issues which eX-
cite controversy, antagonism and III
feeling. and thereby impalring, II not
destroying. what otherwise would
hive been SO effective.
"There must not be any opportunity
given at P.attsburg or at any other
similar camp for any such unfortunate
consequences
The Secretary was the more sur
prised at General Woods invitation 10
colonel Roosevelt as ne had received
letter from the general stating that
no discussion of international affairs
or of anything but the strict busl-
ness Of soldering was permitted at
the camp.
Misquoted. Says Wood.
General Woods letter, which was
written after the newspapers had as
he asserts, misquoted an address
which he made 10 the men shortly
after the camp was opened, read, in
part. as follows:
You. perhaps, have seen something
Of the articles in the various papers.
Il is needless TO state there was no
discussion by me. nor has there been
any by any officers here, of interna-
tional affairs or anything that comes
under the Presidents prohibition. The
talks 20 the men have been on purely
technical subjects, explaining the use
Of armies, methods of raising them,
sanitation, etc
my own talk was absolutely on
technical lines. and had TO do with
the methods Of raising and maintain
ing armies, voluntary systems, etc.
and the usual strong Endorsement of
the militia. into which | think great
many Of these men will go"
Il is not believed President Wilson
will take any further action toward
reprimanding General Wood. although
il was reported tonight that he might