The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1918-06-07
GEN. WOOD HAS BEEN SAVED
FOR SERVICE IN OLD MEXICO
Could Not Make This Public Before
Administration Leaders Now
Praise His Military Ability.

Washington letters in the d.
press Wednesday tell it as semi
fdential chat in Washington that '.'
reason Gen. Wood has not bee
given military service abroad is that
the administration expected to make
use of his distinguished services in
Old Mexico, expecting trouble in that
quarter before many moons. The
full text of the Washington dispatch
reads:
From those sources "close to the
administration" who circulate the al
legged confidential" information re-
gording things to happen, comes the
new explanation today that all the
mystery about the treatment accord
ed Major General Leonard Wood is
explainable on the ground that he is
"being saved for Mexico
Mexico, one is told in husky whis-
pers, is in a very bad way indeed.
Long ago it became evident that we
must do something in Mexico. And
Leonard Wodd, who knows the Latin
American so well, who handled the
Spanish speaking people of Cuba and
the Philippines, is the man to do that
something. 1t is going to be done,
perhaps very soon.
The whisperers go on that this has
been the plan all along, only the ad-
ministration could not talk out loud
about it.
The chief trouble about this story
is that another group of whisperers
gave out the same line of talk about
the use of Wood in Russia and still
another explained the Wood incident
by asserting that he was being saved
for service in Italy.
While there is not the slightest
shred of evidence to support theory
that the original intention was to
save Wood for any notable duty, it
nevertheless is a fact that if mill
tary operations in Mexico become
necessary Wood is now very likely
to be chosen to command.
Everybody close to the administra-
ton this week is saying nice things
about Wood. When he was chased
to Charleston and then to Camp Fun
ston at the beginning Of our part in
the war things not at all nice were
said by the same people. He then
was a politician in their estimation.
Now change.
Here is what the New York World
says about him editorially today:
"Fine in tone and temper and in SOL
dierly example is the brief speech of
Major General Leonard Wood at
Camp Mills to the officers of the seth
division-the men he trained for the
war"
''These orders stand" said General
Wood, parting firm the division "The
only thing to do is to do the best we
can to win the war That's what we
are here for; that's what you have
been trained for" Of the president
he would only say that he had been
"very courteous and very consider
ate" Of France only this: ~ think
the line will hold"
Respectful toward his comman1"-
loyal to his duty, confident in
allies, General Wood rebukes by
conduct those civilians who tru
peted his Wrongs" in way tina,
Berlin best appreciates. They may
posses their souls with patience if
he steels his with duty.
eve must do the best we can to
win the war; With valor and vigor
and experience in command, General
Wood is sure, living, to do his part,
the spirit of his loyal utterances sus-
tanning him. His part may lie on two
continents. 1t will be useful to the
comon cause. 1t can hardly fail to
be distinguished"