New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-06-14
SHELVING OF GENERAL
LEONARD WOOD DISCUSSED
BY WILLIAM H. TAFT
William Howard Taft in Philadel.
phia Public Ledger.

army as assistant surgeon and be
came a captain and a regular sur,
geon. He received a Congressional
medal of honor for his service "a!
medical officer and in the line" ir
an Indian campaign. He was colone.
of the Rough Riders, and was made
a brigadier general of volunteers
He cleaned up Santiago and was
made governor general of Cuba. He
became a major general in the reg
ular army on August 8, 1902.
Those who know him know that
General Wood is a natural soldier
that, though he entered the army as
a surgeon, his whole life has been
devoted to military matters and
their study. He has given much at
tention to the German system of
military science. Wherever he has
been in command he has earned the
sincere respect of those under him
and stimulated in them an admirable
esprit de corps. He has been charged
with undue ambition and a willing
ness to secure advancement at the
expense Of others, but intense ener-
gy in the line of his duty and highly
efficient service were the means by
which he secured promotion. This
was true of his service in Cuba, in
the Philippines, and as chief Of staff.
Just before the present war Gener-
al Wood was as much concerned at
our lack of preparation for possible
var as Lord Roberts was over the
lack of preparation in England. Both
advocated CONSUMPTION, both u%niver-
sal service, and both have been vim
dictated by the event. When Cen
eral Wood was relieved as chief of
staff, in April, 1914, he was sent to
command the Eastern Division at
Governors Island, which gave him
an opportunity at the most conspic-
ious post in the country to contin-
ue his propaganda of preparation.
He was not careful in his propagan-
da, however, to avoid the impression
that he vas criticising his superiors
for failure to prepare. He stimulated
more than any man in the country.
soldier or civilian, the Plattsburg
idea. The year before the Plattsburg
camp was formed he had in
duced many young collcgianS
to take a course in military summer
training.
When we entered the war, in April
1917, the public supposed that Gen
cral Wood would be consulted and
given an important place in the or
ganization OF the army. Instead he
was relieved from duty at Cover
nor's Island and sent to Charleston.
1t is now known that this was per-
sonally directed by the Commander
in Chief probably for the purpose
of indicating displeasure at General
Woods criticism of the policy of
non-preparation. He was finally sent
from Charleston to Camp Funston
one of the National Army Camps
and from there went abroad with
other commanding officers; to gain
a more intimate knowledge of con-
ditions of the war. On his return
he passed a physical examination
successfully, The division at Camp
Funston received orders to go to
France and with it General Wood
as its commando. On his way East
the orders were changed and he
directed to report to San Fran
and take charge of the Western
Division, at the Presidio- a COM
mand not for the training of troops,
but a mere administrative post.
No official explanation is given OF
change. Some who are suppos-
to be in the confidence of the
Administration suggest that the
change was made at the instance
Of General Pershing, but no official
authority is given for this statement
General Wood has now applied for
command in training of troops
rather than a position on the shelf. ,
The country is seriously disappointed
General Wood has not been per-
to go abroad with the division
he has been training. The
New York World' refers to the
change of orders fin his cast as
likely to leave a bad taste in the
mouth of the friends Of the Admin
stration.
Those who are not thick-and-thin
'ollowers of the President are even
more disturbed. The previous treat
ncnt OF General Wood creates doubt
IF the explanation that his shelving
$ due to General Pershing's request.
he suspicion that it is a continua-
ion of the discipline of General
this time for his recent frank
.ilence before the Senate commit
ce on Military Affairs will find
.tronp Judgment in the minds Of the
people. The public properly has no
,a%ticpcc with a policy which would
MS Of the services OF a vain
bile and able military leader at the
ront merely because he has not re-
strained himself as he should from
pointing ont the military mistakes OF
he administration. The public will
lot approve his improperly if it was
uch but it will not think this a rea-
on for holding HIM unfit or for
TO the country the benefit
II his great military knowledge and
in this crisis.
One may well recall Lincoln's
onP patience with McClelIan's rude
cmarks and insulting conduct to
ward him. and Lincoln's remark that
Ie would hold McClcllln's horse for
i'm if Mcclellan would only render
he service the country needed. With
like spirit, Lincoln called Stanton
o the War Office in spite of Stan
on's previous bitter criticism of him
nd his Administration
Is there not time to retrace the
.nwise step?
There is no trait in the human SO
,~oteu+fa1 for uaat or Vuop &c f,ru,