Evening star., 1924-02-04
WOOD PART IN WAR
is FULLY REVEALED
Wilson Letter of 1918 Says
/ Pershing Did Not Want
F. Former Overseas.
HAD UNUSUAL ABILITY
Could Not Submit to Judgment Of
Superiors, Letter to
Editor Says.
HAD UNUSUAL ABILITY
BY tho Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
SPRINGFIELD. Mass, February A.
Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood was not
given command In France primarily
because Gen. "Pershing did not wish
him to have lone and, secondly, be-
cause President Wilson. though credit
thought him apparently absolutely
unable to submit his judgment to
those who are superior to him in
command"
This answer to the question raised
during the war, and frequently called
up in the subsequent years, was an
nounced today, when the Springfield
Republican, considering that Mr.. Will
sons death gave it the liberty, made
public personal letter to the editor
of the newspaper written by the
President on June 5, 1918.
Mr.. Wilson's letter was a rejoinder
to an editorial of the newspaper call
ing attention to Gen. Woods abilities
and popular following, and observing.
in substance, that if it was not the
administrators purpose to send Gen.
Wood to the battle front it should
make that decision only on adequate
grounds.
Political Prejudice Charged.
Friends of Gen. Wood had charged
he was d victim of political prejudice,
and at about that time civilians re-
turning from France had reported
that Gen. Woods brief tour of inspec-
tion on the other side, during which
he was wounded by the bursting of
a gun, had threatened dissension be-
tween him and Gen. PerShing.
At any rate, d few days after
publication of it's editorial the Re-
publican received from Mr.. Wilson
the following personal letter, which
was made public today:
THE Invite House.
washington, June 5, 1918.
ITO the editor of the Republican:
Il hope you will not be surprised to
know that j subscribed almost in it's
entirety to the inclosed editorial from
the Republican.
II am keenly aware of and keenly
sensitive to the implications which
would be drawn out of the fact that
am not sending Gen. Wood to the
other side. and l want personal
friends like yourself. upon whose
approval l depend for my encourage
ment, to know why I am not sending
him.
PerShinE Opposed.
I'm the first place, I am not send
Ing him because Gen. Pershing has
said that he does not want him, and,
TIC ScIollh pave, Well 5
disinclination to have Gen. Wood sent
over is only too well founded. Wher-
ever Gen. Wood goes there is con-
troversy and conflict of judgment. On
this side of the water we can take
care of things of that sort. because
the fighting is not being done here.
but it would be fatal to let it go on
at or anywhere near the front.
Il have had a great deal of expert
ence with Gen. Wood. He is man
of unusual ability. but apparently
absolutely unable to submit his judg
ment to those who are superior to
him in command. / am sorry that
his great ability cannot be made use
of in France, but, at the same time,
! am glad to say that it is being
made very much use of in the train
ing of soldiers on this side of the
water, task for which he is emil
nently we'll fitted and which he is
performing with diligence and sue
cess.
with sincere regards,
Faithfully yours.
(Signe0 'WOODROW WILSON"