The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-10-05
GEN. WOOD QUITS
after Sc YEARS..
SERVICE in ARMY.
Following Appointment AS
Governor General of the
Philippines, Wood
Leaves Army.
BAILEY SELECTED
TO FILL VACANCY
Career of the Noted Veteran
Began AS Contract
Surgeon June 1885.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5.-Major Gen.
eral Leonard Wood retired today from
active service in the army to accept
appointment as governor general of
the Philippine Islands, thus terminate
ing voluntarily, more than 80 years
of distinguished military life. His
retirement was caused by insistence
of administration officials that he ac-
cept the new post and the refusal OF
congress to permit him to do so while
continuing his active army status. In
announcing the generals retirement
; Secretary Weeks said he would select
vice governor for the islands and ex.
pected Immediately to commission Cen
eral Wood to duty as governor general.
He announced also that nominations
would be forwarded TO congress with
out delay promoting Brig. Gen. Charles
j. Bailey commanding the second coast
artillery base to fill the vacancy caus.
ed by General Woods retirement.
Begun Career i'm 1885
General Wood begun his army ca
reer as contract surgeon in June,
1885. Immediately entering service with
troops in the Apache campaign in
Arizona and northern Mexico. AS
commander Of an infantry detachment
in that campaign he was commended
FOR gallant and hazardous service,
co~-Sza on' rcrry ar a. ~ ~ ,ra 3
awarded the congressiona medal Of
honor the highest compliment the ma.
ton has 10 give for distinguished con-
duct in the Apache fighting. When
the Indians were pacifled and their
leader, Geronimo, taken. the surgeon
dropped his fighting weapons tempo
rarily and again returned to the prac-
tice OF medicine and surgery at army
headquarters in Arizona. He continued
IN army medical corps in 1898. but
when the Spanish-American war was
declared in that year he re-entered the
combat ranks. organized and COM
manded the first u. S. volunteer caval-
ry trough riders) and later was trans.
ferrcd 10 command the second brigade,
cavalry, in the Cuban campaign, in
which capacity he entered the fight
at Las Guisemas and San Juan, San
tiago. When the Spanish forces sur
rendered the general was appointed
military governor of Santiago. COM
mander OF the department of Santiago
and civil governor of that province and
military governor of the Island of
Cuba. He turned the government of
the island over 10 Thomas Il. Palma.
first president of the republic OF Cuba
in 1902 and returned 10 the United
States.
Service In Philippines
About year later he was ordered
to proceed to the Philippines as COM
mander of the department Of Min.
danao. He also acted as civil COVER
nor OF the Moro province and other
administrative work until 1908. The
experiences and understanding of the
natives gained at this time and later
as member of the special commits
sion sent by the president TO investi-
gate conditions in the Philippines un-
doubtedly were responsible for his
selection for the new post
His record In the world war began
with the assignment to select fer the
war department the sites for the great
majority OF the training camps for
tho national guard and national army
troops of the southeastern depart
ment, which he rhen commanded.
Later, he was assigned 10 Camp
Funston. Kan. TO organize the S9th d.
vision. With other divisional officers
he went on preparatory inspection
trip TO France, while the American
army was In the making and was in.
jured there by the bursting Of II
French gun.
Trained S9th Division
On his return to the United states
General Wood completed the train
ing OF the seth division Qor battle
but got no chance TO serve with 1t
abroad as he was relieved on the eve
of embarkation, preclp!tatlng con-
troversy that ragged in the press for
months after, even during General
Woods campaign for the republican
nomination for the presidency.
An achievement for which General
Wood has been greatly praised was
the development of the "Plattsburg
idea" Of civilian training camps ovolv-
ed ms a measure OF preparedness be-
fore the United states entered the war.
When the pressure Of war demanded
quick mobilization and training of
men by the million the Plattsburg
idea" was expanded into the many d.
..t.t.noi training canpg of war DAYS.