Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-05-29
1tsaensnt ef General Wood Suggests That
the War Department Does Not
Know II Yes

Know It Yet
THERE are no adequate reasons, Of
= which the public has knowledge, why
General Leonard Wood should not be
sent to France in active service.
He is a capable soldier. He demon
strated his military abilities while he
was medical officer in the army. When
he was transferred from the medical to
the fighting branch Of the service he con-
tinued to prove that he had the tempera-
ment Of a commander Of men and the
skill Of an organizer and a strategist.
He has impressed the British and the
French commanding officers with whom,
he came in contact in France with his
great capacity.
He is physically fit. This was proved
when he went before a medical board on
his return from the front. The injuries
which he sustained in the Philippines
years ago and the wounds which he suf-
fered in France have not incapacitated
him for active service In the judgment
of the medical men who examined him
recently.
It is Of the first Importance that all
the military skill that we have should be
used in winning the war. If we are to
use force to the utmost we must use it
to the utmost. To shelve a man Of the
ability and fitness Of General Wood is to
neglect to use all the available force we
have.
But what has been done with this able
soldier? He organized the Plattsburg
training camp. He preached prepared
ness when it was unpopular with the
Administration and he did his utmost to
inform the people Of what war meant,
when we were at peace, and to plant the
seed of readiness which bore fruit when
the declaration Of war came But instead
"f being put in charge Of training the
drafted men he was sent to Charleston to
command an army post. After while
he was allowed to go to France and when
he returned he was put in command of an
army which was expected soon to so to
France. Then he was suddenly detached
from this army and ordered to San
Francisco. And no explanation was
offered When Secretary Baker was
asked why the new order was issued he
said that the War Department was not
in the habit Of making explanations Of
orders to officers.
It is regretted that the new order has
strengthened the impression that Cen
eral Wood is kept in the background
because Of prejudice. This impression
must be unfounded, for the President
himself said no longer ago than Monday
that politics is adjourned Mr.. Wilson
Is familiar with the history Of our wars
and he knows what havoc has been
wrought by the attempts to inject poll
tics into the army. He will disappoint
the country unless he does something to
remove the growing belief that politics
is behind the discrimination against Gem
eral Wood.
We do not mean to imply that the war
cannot be won without this soldier, but
we do mean that the supply of trained
men is so scant that we cannot afford to
turn any of them down without good
reason. It is no discredit to General
Wood that he has been mentioned for
the presidency. It is tribute to his
many-sided abilities, and an admission
that he is more than mere soldier. with
no interest outside of drill and equip
ment.
If it be true that General Pershing has
objected to General Wood, that fact can
not be made known too soon. From the
knowledge Of General Pershing's charac-
ter and disposition now available, how
ever. no one is justified in assuming that
he has specifically protested against the
presence of Wood or any other capable
soldier in France.
The President can clarity the situation
with a word if he will. He can restore
our confidence in the desire of the War
Department to utilize every capable COM
manding officer to the fullest extent,
regardless of his political affiliations. It
is important that he should demonstrate
by his actions as we'll as by his words
that politics is adjourned" in the War
Department as well as in Corrress