Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-04-13
LEONARD WOOD SUFFERS
Americas Ranking General Reduced
to Satisfy Old Political drudge

Washington, April 11.-No satis-
factory reason has yet been advanced
by the administration for the trans
fer of General Leonard Wood from
the department of the East to the
comparatively unimportant post at
Charleston, S. c. OF course, the
best things Congress has to give are
all going South, for the South is in
the saddle at Washington as it new
er was before. Even the new gov
eminent armor plant is to be taken
away from steel centers and is to be
located at Rome, Ca, or some other
southern city. The big nitrate plant
for which hundreds of thousands Of
dollars have been appropriated will
undoubtedly be located at Mussel
Shoals, Alabama.
But why the ranking general of
the Army, whose ability is unques-
toned, should summarily be removed
from the most vulnerable point on
the American coast, at a time when
the country is on the very verge of
war is not understood in Washing
ton
The first official news General
Wood had of the proposed transfer
was when he had word from the
Secretary of War saying he could go
to Hawaii, the Philippines or the less
Important post, Charleston. To this
General Wood replied, briefly, that,
OF the three, he preferred Charles
ton. When newspaper men attempt
ed to interview him, he simply said,
Il am a soldier and I go where
am ordered" Not that General Bell,
who has been assigned to the new
Northern Department with headquar-
tiers at New York City, is not a
good soldier. He is. But all dur
Ing the preparedness plans, General
Wood has been working night and
day at his post on Governors Island,
New York, and is largely responsible
for the success Of the Plattsburg
Camps, the biggest step in prepared
ness. New York, of course, is the
richest city in the country and the
richest prize for any foreign fleet.
1t is honeycombed with plots and
sprlnkled with spies. Within the
northern department. are l coated
some of the most important ammu-
milton making plants, which will
have to supply America in the war
just entered into.
General Wood knew just what he
would do in case of an attack. The
men of New York who have been
leading in preparedness plans regard
less Of politics were ready to stand
behind him. He had no thought of
his transfer until suddenly, the
War Department concludes to send
him to Charleston, S. c., unless, as
they told him, he wanted to get
clear out Of the country, and sit
down in the Philippines or Hawaii.
1t may be, of course, that the ad-
m1nstraton has good reasons for the
Generals transfer, but if it has, the
reasons have not been advanced. In
the meantime, members Of Congress
and citizens generally, although loyal
to the government and standing by
the President, are saying that this,
like the promotion of DR.. Cary Gray
son, is a bad example of petty par
ty politics at time when the very
life of the nation may be at stake.
Meanwhile, Leonard Wood, ranking
general Of the United states Army,
the man who cleaned up Cuba, the
old fighter whose face has grown
lined and whose hair has turned
gray, in working for the nations
defense, prepares, at the behest of
young Secretary Of war, to go to
the subordinate post in the South.