Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-03-07
GETS MEDAL II
YEARSAFTERHIS
CORELESS FIGHT
Wasn't Within S Miles
Of Bullet Yet Was
Honored.

military record? His candidacy for
the Republican nomination for the
presidency and the fact that more
than 100000 veterans of three
wars are watching the military
reasons advanced in behalf of the
general make the answer to this
question important IN the interest
of square dealing and good govern
ment. The Times-Recorder here
with presents the first of series OF
articles dealing with General
Woods real military record, which
was written in the official docu-
ments of the nation.)
vASHINGTON, March 6.-Gener-
a. Leonard Woods friends point to
his record as military hero as a
prime reason for Republicans noml-
mating him for the presidency.
Woods campaign for the nomlna-
ton is not his first attempt. In 1915,
o campaign based on identical lines
was fostered by his friends. He re-
ceived one vote, in the Chicago con-
r. ention as the net result. Wood was
at that time boosted as strong man
with brilliant military record which
justified putting him in the White
House.
To the reasons advanced in 1916
is now added the alleged grievance
that the Wilson administration dellb-
erately passed over Wood and refus-
Ned to permit him to hold high mill
Dt..ry command in the world war, to
which he was entitled on his Military
record.
What Is Real Record?
What is Woods real military rec
ord?
General Woods first experience as
a line officer came when Secretary OF
War Alger, whose personal physician
Wood then was, appointed HIM to the
command of a volunteer regiment in
the Spanish-American war. Up to
that time Wood had been an army
doctor. He was a good dotcor-
probably better than the average, but
he never attended military school,
never had any military training and
nuJer exercised command before ne
was boosted into the colonelcy OF vol
unteers by Alger.
This was before Alger was forced
out of of the War Department as
result of the "embalmed beef" scam
dal.
Rises Rapidly in Rank.
Wood did not become an officer
in the army until Aug. 1885, when
he accepted appointment as an assls-
tant surgeon. Before that he was
Contract surgeon-that is, civil
ian doctor employed under contract
to render a physicians services to
the army. He was not an officer, nor
a member of the army, while con
tract surgeon"
Wood held his colonelcy for two
months-from May 8 to July IL,
1898-when he was advanced to
brigadier general of volunteers. He
held this Office for five months, when
on Dec. II, 1898, when he was made
major general of volunteers. He
thus advanced from assistant sur
geon with the rank of captain to
maior-general in seven months.
Under Fire Once.
He was later transferred from the
volunteers to a rigadler-generalcy
in the regular army on Feb. 4, l9Ol,
and became a major-general in the
regulars on Aug. 8, 1903.
General Wood was never under
fire more than twice in his army ca
reer and one of these is doubtful.
His whole experience, practically, has
Leen that of an army doctor and an
administrative officer.
Much has been said about the
award made to Wood by Secretary
of War Alger of the congressional
medal of honor. This was made
March 29, 1898. 1t was given, for
Distinguished service" said to have
been rendered by him IL years pre-
N Continued on page A.