New-York tribune., 1918-05-29
General Woods Internment

We can win the war without General
Wood. In that sense his domestic in
ternment may not be in itself calamity.
But we cannot win the war unless the gov
eminent is willing and anxious to utilize
all of our resources in materials, ideas
and men.
It is not what happens to General
Wood that gives us feeling of disquet.
He was the first American general to be
wounded in France, on his visit last win
ter, and he might be also the first to give
his life if he were sent to do active duty
at the front. Still, we should win the
war. But the governments attitude
toward General Wood is very differ
ent and much more important matter.
Must man, independently of his abili-
ties, be personally acceptable to Mr..
Baker or to Mr.. Wilson before he can
serve his country in the way he knows?
Must generals availability be tested
by his political discretion and rhetorical
restraint?
Leonard Wood stands for something
in this country. He risked his uniform
to preach preparedness up and down the
land at time, heaven knows, when we
needed to be preached to on that subject
at time when the Democratic party
was proud of our unpreparedness. The
invaluable Plattsburg idea was the prod
uct Of his intense enthusiasm When he
became too embarrassing he was repri-
manded. When it could no longer be de-
MED that he had been right all the time
the War Departments recognition of
the fact was to transfer him to innocu-
Gus service in the South.
He is indiscreet. Thank God he isl
The truth will not stay in him. 1t bub-
bles forth and hurts like shrapnel. He
attacks inefficiency and delay with
hsssSed and terrifying profanity. He is
10 respecter of sacred persons When
re returned from France he cast the
truth upon Congress and knocked in vain
on the door Of the White House. The
atmosphere was charged with his indig-
nation at the inertia he found and the
contentment there was in the midst of
confusion, though Hindenburgs blow
was about to fall on the West front.
He had seen and he knew. But what he
knew the government did not wish to
hear The President declined to receiva
him. The Senate Military Affairs Com
mlttee summoned him and he made the
Capitol corridors ring. Then he was or
dered before medical examining board.
which pronounced him fit, whereupon the
war Department sent him away to Fort
Riley to train the draft army of Kansas
Missouri and Colorado. He had been un-
able TO stir the government out of its
complacency 1t required the German
offensive and desperate outcry from
the British to do that We have moved
more rapidly since.
General Wood may or may not be the
greatest military commander we have.
Our military genius is yet potential. We
can only be sure we have no more of it.
actual and potential, than we shall need.
General Wood has fine, aggressive rec
ora. he Is bigger than any task he has
yet undertaken. Nobody knows how
much Digger he can be. Is that not rea-
son enough why he should have the ut-
most development in active service? Or
IS that reason itself disqualification in
the eye of jealousy?
IN any case, for man of General
woods ability--both the ability that he
Is known to possess and that which NAV
% yet undlscovered-to be rejected for
PERSONAL reasons is almost uncomfortable.
Inc implications are distressing. Pub
nc opinion will be heard from. "The
World" staneh supporter of the Ad-
ministration, says: "The news that
.n: usnetal Leonard Wood is to be kept in
.n's country while the division whose
framing he is completing will 90 abroad
unoer ms second in command will give
every fair-minded man bad taste in
the mouth" -