South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-03-14


Gen. Woods real military rec
ord? His candidacy for the re-
publican nomination for the
presidency and the fact that
more than 1000. 009 veterans
OF three wars are watching the
reasons advanced in behalf Of
the general make the answer 10
this question important.
WASHINGTON. March 13.-Gen.
Leonard Woods friends point 20
his record as military hero as "A
prime reason for republicans nOmi-
mating him for presidency
Woods campaign for tbe uomi-
nation IS not his first attempt In
1916 a campaign based on identi-
cal lines was fostered by his friends.
lie received one vote i'm the Chicago
convention as the net result. Wood
was az that time boosted as
strong man with a brilliant military
record which justified putting him
ia the white house.
To the reasons advanced in 1916
is now added the alleged grievance
that the Wilson administration de-
IiberateIy passed over Wood and
refused 10 permit him 20 hold high
military command in the world war.
70 which ne was entitled on his
military record.
What is Woods real military
record:
Gen. Woods first experience as "a
line officer came when SeC'y of
War AIger. whose personal physi
clan Wood then was. appointed
him % the command Of a volunteer
regiment I'm the Spanish-American
war. Up to that time Wood had
been an army doctor. lie was a
good dOctor-probably better than
the average. but he never attended
"A military school. never had any
military training and never eXer-
cised command before ne was
boosted into the colonelcy Of volun-
teers by Alger.
This was before Alger was forced
ont OF the war department as re-
suit of the "embalmed beer scan
dali
Rises Rapidly in Rank.
Wood did not become an officer
in the army until Aug. II. 1886,
when he accepted appointment as
an assistant surgeon. Before that
ne was "A contract surgeOn"-that
is. a civilian doctor employed under
contract 70 render physicians
services To the army He was not
AN officer nor a member of the army
while a contract surgeon"
Wood held his COlOnelcy for two
monthS-from May S 10 July Il.
1S9S-when he was advanced 20
brigadier general OF volunteers. He
held this Office for five months
when. on Dec IT.. 1898, he was
made major general of volunteers.
He thus advanced from assistant
surgeon. with the rank of captain,
To- major generalcy in seven
months.
He was later transferred from
the volunteers to a brigadier gen.
eralcy in the regular army on Feb.
4. 1901. and became a major gen
eral in the regulars on Aug. s. 1903. |
Gen. Wood was never under fire
more than twice in his army career, I
and one or these is doubtful. His
whole experience practically has
been that OF an army doctor and an
administrative officer.
Much has been said about the
award made 10 Wood by Sec'y of
War AlEer OF the congressional /
medal OF honor This was made /
March %. 1898 1t was given for |
distinguished service" said to have 1
been rendered by him p years
previously in the summer of 1886 /
in an Indian campaign.
Five Miles From Bullets.
Mai. II. g. Benson, an officer Of .
the Fifth cavalry, who served in the .
southwest Indian campaign in ques- .
ton. with the same command 10 .
which Wood was attached, and who /.
was in a position TO learn all about .
what Wood did or did not do on the I
occasion which was made the basis .
for the medal award. published. ,
over his signature in the Army and /
Navy Journal OF July 3. 1903. "A let I
ter in which he said. according to \
the Congressional Record of June I
IS. 1912, concerning Wood and his /
Wood never saw a hostile Indian .
nor was within FIVE miles of a hos /
tile bullet"
At the time OF this exposure Gen. /
Wood was in a position 10 cause the I
trial and punishment OF Mai. Ben /
son. II the statement published by /
him had not been entirely accurate. /
He made no attempt TO do so
Two other communications to the /
Army and Navy Register OF May u |
and June Q. 1916. threw light on the /
distinguished service that Wood |
was medaled for twelve years after |
the alleged incident occurred.
The war department records show /
the facts about the Geronimo cam /
paign and Woods part In t. In /
June and July. 1856. Capt r. W. /
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