Omaha daily bee., 1918-06-07

III It's HOul Vi ulfcCt peIll ID 10 DC depiFcu
OF the services OF its greatest commander? !?
1t seems incredible. And yet this is what the
sending OF Major General Leonard Wood to
the Pacific coast means. There is nothing
for him to do there that a retired colonel
could not perform satisfactorily. Every army
officer knows that.
Wood is to be shelved definitely and per-
manently His division OF 10000 men are
on their way to France, but he, their beloved
chief. who has made soldiers of them, is or
Gered to oblivion. What, in the name of Al
mighty God and of the American people, does
this portend? Has the administration gone
crazy? Can it,be so stepped in self-sufficiency
as to believe that the Preparation OF so gross
an outrage. not merely upon gallant officer,
bu upon thousands or it may be millions OF
no less gallant lads whose very lives are de-
pendent upon leadership and direction of the
highest order attainable, can pass unheeded
and unrcbuked?
Last week we wrote gladly and rejoic-
ingy of the president at his best Must we
now, with sinking beart, depict the presi-
dent at his worst? Because it is the presi-
ing behind the general staff, the chief of
staff or the paciist secretary of war. The
entire and undivided responsibility rests
squarely upon the commander-in-chief
And why should our senior general officer
the only one whose name had ever been
heard abroad before Pershing went and the
only one of whom Mr.. Lloyd George did ask
of Mr.. Medill Mccormick, despite diplomatic
denials, Where is Leonard Wood?-Why
should he, we inquire, be shelved, punished
and Inundated? His record is unimpeachable;
all admit that. He rendered superb service
IN C,tha hat Ia botd he
respect and admiration of the regular army
to marked degree; despite the fact that he
was not a graduate Of West Point any Off
Ger will tell you that. He was the most cap
able chief of staff the country. ever had; if
we mistake not, President Wilson testified to
that in effect. He successfully passed rig
orous physical examination and is six years
under the age of retirement. So why, why,
why'
The answer is Baker, or rather Baker and
Creel Wood was for preparedness; Baker
was not; Creel not only was not but is hop
ing for long, long life so that to the very
tinue upon bended knees before his crib
each night to thank God that he was not. AS
we recall the happenings and speeches of
these days, the president varied somewhat
BuIs&here was no doubt about Wood. He
waS or getting ready--not to seek trouble,
but to meet it if it should as it finally
did come-and he said so whenever he got
a chance. Frankly, we had forgotten how
far-seeng he was and we were rather start
led when, last evening, we dug up his testi.
mony before the senate military affairs COM
mittee away back in December, 1916, and
in January, 1917. Here are some of the
things he said
I'VE are confronted squarely with the
question of preparedness. Just ask sol.
dier what would happen if we had to meet
a wel-trained enemy. You can imagine
what would have happened in the war with
| Spain if that country had been strong
| wel-organized power.
This country is in effect unprepared
| We need, and need Immediately, system
| for the training of men, and we should push
forward the manufacture of munitions anc
equipment with all possible speed. The les
sons of the present militia mobilization will
its incompleteness of equipment, its short
ent moment in many things, in the MATES
| OF clothing, shortages in artillery, shortage!
in various directions, all indicating the neet
| of systematic and wel-thought-out prepa
/ ration, and that without delay.
we should also take up with the rail
roads the question of constructing the righ
| type of car for the movement of men, horses
arms and guns-a type which at the SAM
| time would be useful for everyday work
| but have those essentials which would maxi
| it available for the use above referred to
We should also organize our railway mel
| SO that they will be available in time of war
| 1t would be the height of folly to take owe
| an able transportation man from one of ou
/ great railroads, where he can do his bes
| work, and use him as an officer of the line
| The same is true with reference to com
| munications telephone and telegraph. Thei
| controlling men must know something o
what is to be expected Of them in time o
war, and from their forces must be organ
lied large reserves for use along the coas
and with the troops. These are some of TIL
many things which must be done in the wa
| of organizing our industriafresources
Our people have been told of our grea
wealth and resources in men. They hav
never been told that these amount to moth
ing in the way of meeting an immediate at
tack unless organized and trained and unleS
the materials of war have been supplied
! Panic patriotism and patriotism as ilustrai
ed by the putting out Of flags and the offe
of money and material after war is upon u
while indicating good spirit, indicate a lac
Ct intelligent appreciation. It is too lat.
To make good shortages and to provid
equipment takes time, and much OF it is rt
CURED No amount of money can buy tim
and months of it, many OF them, are neede
to make even reasonable preparation. Th
knowledge of our condition is gener;
throughout the world in all lands except OF
own.
"Our safety now is dependent upon I'll
forbearance of others and not upon our abb
ity and preparation to defend ourselves. !.
"We are without trench mortars OF II
type in general use throughout the battl'