Bisbee daily review., 1919-01-09
GENERAL BELL IS DEAD IN NEW YORK
CBy Review Leased wire)


 NEW YORK, Jan. S.-Maj. Gen. J. Franklin Bell, commander of the de- partment of the east died at the Pres byterian hospital in this city.
 His death was due to heart disease. He was taken to the hospital three days ago for observation, but it was not realized that his condition was serious and his death came as a com plete surprise. General Bell was 6S years old.
 General Bell was a West Pointer of the class of 1878 and during his 40 years in the army had many difficult assignments. As a lieutenant he par ticipated in some of the hardest fight ing in the Indian campaigns. He was a first lieutenant in the Seventh cay airy when part of that famous regi- ment fought the battle of Wounded Knee in December, 1S95.
 On Duty in Philippines.
 At the beginning of the Spanish war Bell was promoted to the rank of major He sailed from san Francisco for Manila on June 15, 1898. and took a prominent part in the Philippines campaign One Of his exploits was to swim out into the harbor and around the Spanish Qualifications to get in- formation which could be obtained in no other way
 Subsequently,, as the colonel in command of the Thirty-sixth United States volunteers. General Bell par ticipated in the Luzon campaign and was awarded the congressional medal of honor for gallantry in the opera tions against the Filipinos, and was promoted to brigadier general of vol unteers.
 When the regular army was reor- ganized in 1901, Bell was made brigadier of regiments, jumping over 5S4 captains, PIT majors, 9S lieuten- ant colonels and 77 colOnels. He was selected in 1903 to re-establish the army schools at Fort Leavenworth. The infantry, cavalry, signal and staff colleges at Leavenworth will stand as monuments to him.
 Becomes Chief of Staff.
 In April, 1906. he was named chief of staff of the army, after being pro- noted to major general and served in that capacity until he was succeeded in April. 1910. by Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood. whom he followed in command of the department of the east with headquarters at Governors island
 Upon his retirement as chief of staff General Bell went to the Philip pines as cOmmander-in-chief, remain ing there until April, 1914. After his return to the United States in that year he held some of the most i'm portant posts in the service, includ- ing that of commander of the depart ment of the west with headquarters at San Francisco. He left there to come to Governors island in March, 1917.
 General Bell had served only three months as commander of the depart ment when he was assigned to take command of the Seventy-seventh na- tiOnal army division at Camp Upton He was ordered to France in Decem- Der of that year for observation and remained abroad three months.
 Although General Bell trained the Seventy-seventh he was not permit ted to lead it to France, foT the medi- cal board which examined him found his physical condition such that he was not fitted for active service in the field and he was relieved of the command in May of last year. He re- mained at Camp Upton for some time, l however, and then was reappointed to take command of the eastern depart ment