The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-09
MAJ.-GEN. BELL
DIES SUDDENLY
Commander Of Eastern De-
partmcnt Expires in Pres
bytcrian Hospital.
DUE TO HEART ATTACK
Brilliant Record in Army and
Trainer Of 18th Division
and Other Upton Troops.
DUE TO HEART ATTACK

Major-Gen. j. Franklin Bell. COM
mand!ng the Eastern Department or the
army died suddenly last night o, heart
disease IN Presbyterian Hospital. His
death was a complete surprise, even the
fact that he was IN the hospital being
known 10 only few Of his most init
mate associates at department head
quarters on Governors Island
At o'clock last night Gen. Bell re-
ceived his aid. Capt. s. NJ. Spaldsng. 10
whom he said he was feeling fine. and
aid not have an ache or a palm At
II o'clock Gen. Bell was taken with
sudden heart attack and died few
minutes afterward.
. Gen. Bell had not been feeling well
for several days. Three days ago he
went to the hospital. but only for OBJ
servation purposes. It was not realized
that his condition was serious. He was
in his sixty-third year, and just be-
fore assuming command OF the Eastern
Department had been in command at
Camp Upton, training new division
Of drafted men for overseas duty.
Gen. Bell was Kentuckian and
West Point graduate. He was prob
ably one of the best known officers OF
the Regular Army and through many
campaigns on the Western plains and
In the Philippines achieved distinctive
reputation as a fighter For many years
there has been a saying that the then
Lieut.. Bell smiled broadly among
group o. other young army officers when
the Spanish war broke out and an
nounced that he was coming out or that
war either a General or corpse. II"
came out a General, whether he ever
made the remark attributed TO him
or not.
Long with the Cavalry.
Born at Shelbyville, KY. Gen. Bell
was graduated from West Point in the
class OF 1878. Although In later years
he held many OF the most difficult as
slgnments In the army his rise in rank
after he left the training college Has
not rapid He went first to the Ninth
Cavalry-the Black Cavalry It Is called
in the Army-but moved along soon to
the seventh Cavalry. which ts Gen.
Clusters famous old command In both
units he was a Second Lieutenant.
II was while he was serving with the
Seventh Cavalry that he got his FIRST
taste OF campaigning in the Sioux up
! risings He had been advanced to
First Lieutenantcy ir that regiment
| when part OF the Organization fought in
I. the battle Of Wounded Knee in Decem-
Der, 1890. lie married Sarah Bulford Of
Rock Island H., January >. 1881.
At the start OF the Spanish War Gen.
| Bell got his promotion 10 Major and
I sailed from San Francisco for Manila
| on June Is. 1925, taking a prominent
| part In nearly all OF the important cam
| paigns there. lie was attached 20 the
/ army led by Gen. Merritt, and was IN
cnarge Of the Bureau OF Information.
the Intelligence Department. He
achieved a reputation FOR getting In
! formation. no matter how Once he was
charged with obtaining Information re
gardng certain tortihcatlons fronting
Manila. He got the Information HIM
I, self by diving overheard at night and
swimming about the fortifcations,
Won Ionors In Luzon.
1t was the only way that information
| could be obtained and II came in mighty
handy In connection with subsequent
. operations by Tho American troops In
cidentally It directed attention 10 the
young officer who carried the exploit
through successfully.
SUI later, - Nplpnei IN command o.
the Thirty-s;xth United states Nolun-
teers, Gen BELL had a hand In the Luzor
campaign. For Ms part in this fighting
he was awarded the much coveted Com
gressional Medal of Honor for gallantry
in the dSicIlt operations against the
Fflipinos The specific action for which the
medal was awarded was 2 charge IN
which he led his men against the er-
emy's works.
In recognition Of Gen. Bells services
in the Philippines he was advanced t.
the rank OF Brgader-G General of Noluu.
teers At the time he was the youngest
General in the army
At the time of the Regular Army
reorganization, IN 1901, Gen. Bell go
the rank OF b-igadier general in thc
regular establishment. II was n sig
nal honor. for he was Jumped over th'
heads of 5s4 captains. 217 majors, rs
lIeutena Mt -colonels and ~ Colonels. Il
1903 he was placed In charge OF th'
Job OF reesta blishing the Army schools
at Fort Leavenworth, Kas. The Infan
try, Cavalry, Signal and Stan colleges
there are spoken OF In the Army az
worthy monuments to Gen. Bells ab!l
ity as an organizer.
Gen Bell became Chief of Stan OF th'
Army in April, 1906, while Theodor'
Roosevelt was President. He was consid
| cred one OF the IresluCHl rnbst
military advisers. He held the Chief o.
stafr assignment until he was succeeded
in 1910 by Major-Gen. Leonard Wood
whom ne followed In command OF thu
Eastern department In 1917.
When Gen. Bell retired as Chief o.
, Stafr he went to the Philippines sgair
. as commander In chief of the forces
there. He remained In the islands unit
April. 1914.
Upon his return to the United State!
he held many OF the most importan
homo posts, among which were commanC
Of the Western Department, with head
quarters at San Francisco. He left ther'
In March. 1917, 10 come to Governor
| Island and take up command OF th'
Eastern Department. He held that com
mand only for three months relinquish
ing It TO assume command OF the Seven
ty-seventh, or Metropolitan Division. a
, Camp Upton. He was ordered to Franc.
In that year for observation on the bat
x-out ana stayad abroad for fhre,