The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-28
awo on Staff of Major General.
Now With Army in France,
Also Are Hurt
BLAST KILLS FIVE
FRENCH SOLDIERS,
DISPATCH ASSERTS
Col Roosevelt's Friend Has
Been Abroad for Some Time
10 Announcement Made in
Making News Public

Washington. Jan. s7.--Ma3or Gem
exal Leonard Wood was wounded to-
day In France. He was the victim of
20 accidental explosion. One arm was
sItghtiy injured.
Announcement OF the accl6 ent was
srsade tonight by the secretary of war.
1Aeutenant-Colonel Charles Il. Kill
bourne and Major Kenyon A. Joyce
also ware injured. Colonel Kiibourne
received a wound In tho eye and Major
Joyce's arm was hurt
Five French soldiers were killed out
right
Secretary Baker has casied General
Tershing for fun details The Mconic
dispatch from the American com
msndsr contained nothing more than
bare announcement of the accident
The war department statement fol-
scws:
"a cable dispatch from the head
quarters of General Pershing fust re-
eefved stated that an accidental ex~
ploason occurred today, KILLED FIVE
French soldiers and injured Major
General Leonard Wood slightly In the
arm. Northumberland Charles 10
Nflbonr0s In the aye and Major Ken
won a Ju - I'm ths arm"
I'm France For Some Time.
General Wood has been In France
sor some time His presence at Gen.
sral Perxhings heaaouartsrr was
learned Friday. The announcement
waa allowed to reach the public stimuli
fMneounly with the announcement FRI
day OF the Testimony of Representa-
tive Mediu Mccormick. of Illinois. be-
tors tina senate military affairs COM
naiftae In December. Mr. Mccormick.
~ an executive session OF the senate
probers. quoted Lloyd George IN CO..
pressing wondernert over what hAd
become OF General Wood. The pre-
M1ier was surprised that 20 Hfstin-
xnish~d soldier should be "nurfed~
when tire United States was engaged
in such great war.
n The information obtained from army
authorities said that General Wood.
with ether offscerw. had gone 10
France 70 study conditions for possible
service with the American expedi-
ticnary forces
General Wood long has been recog~
mined the world ever ~ one of tia
outstanding figures In the army cir-
eiss He, was the greatest advocate
OF universal military training when
the agitation Tor preparedness was In
IT. fncipfcncy. When In command OF
the department OF the East be devoted
much time and energy to the piasts-
n0FR training camp,
War Department Crftan
The major general was one Of the
chief critics OF the war department. |
In widely published speeches General |
Wood asHaiied the government for
it's lack of interest in preparing to
meet what he considered the i'm |
pending military crisfa. He wanted !
the administration 20 wake I'D.
Tina uAfRn~gt TAA
m explanation Of HIS action IN per-
hitting Colonel Roosevelt to criticize /
the government In a speech 10 the |
snen at PlattsburE.
Shortly thereafter the department |
OF the East, OF which General Wood /
was tn command, was divided into |
three sectfons. the department Of the |
East. the department OF the North |
asst and department OF the Southeast. |
General Wood Was removed from tia |
command of the most important Of /
rho military departments and sent /
south. He assumed command Of the I
department of the Southeast, with |
headquarters at Charleston, q. c.
General Wood Mt Camp Funston.
subsequently he was relieved OF /
command OF this department. FITS /
transfer then was to Camp Funston, /
MAS. where he did great work in
whipping into shape men enlisted for
military service through the draft.
1t was said in army circles here
tonight that General wood and star
has been in France about six weeks
IAeutenant-Colonei Kilbourne III
chief OF staff OF General Woods
Division. He has been detailed to
duty on the general staff In Wash
tngton for two periods. 1t was stated
at the war department.