Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-07
some 30 divisional camp sites
throughout the country.
SheIyed for. pcrSiliuo

throughout the country.
Sheived for PcrsIling.
By his own selection. Gen. Wood was
assigned to train and command the
S9th Division, then stationed at Camp
Funston, whereupon he threw himself
into the task with all the energy and
enthusiasm that had marked his we'll
rounded Army career. While he might
readily have expected, as senior officer
of the Army. to be given command OF
the forces sent to France. il he felt
any chagrin at the selection OF an
officer so much his Junior I'm the serv-
ice az Gen. Pershing, 1t was not re-
fiected In his work at Camp Funston.
Pursuant to War Department or
der. Gen. Wood. along with other d.
vision commanders. was sent to
France on an inspection tour OF the
battle front and as 1t later happened,
this was his only direct view Of the
World War, although his division
reached France and participated in
the fighting before the Armistice was
signed. The general himself narrow
~ escaped death while on his inspec-
ton tour through the bursting Of
large caliber gun, which discharged
prematurely throuGh the breech and
killed several officers standing near
1t. Gen. Wood was slightly injured
but carried out his orders to return
home, where he testified before SEN
ate committee as to the urgent need
Of rushing troops overseas.
While his friends we're exerting all
the pressure at their command to
have the services Of Gen. Wood uti-
lied in France, he was called upon
to undergo an Army medical eXamina-
ton, which despite his So years he
passed successfully.
Overseas Service Denied.
He was then ordered back to Camp
Funston, and WheA orders arrived
that moved his division to the East
Coast for emharkati0n, Gen. Wood
himself was directed by Secretary of
War Baker to proceed to Washington.
where he was informed that he was
not to command the division when il
went overseas
While Wood partiSans in Congress
and throughout thelcountry were max
ing The claim that he was being un.
fairly treated, the general was given
permission by the' War Department
to lay his case before President VIII
son. Just what occurred during this
visit to the White House has never
been disclosed but it was generally
understood at the time that the officer
merely made the President a further
pledge of loyalty IN whatever post he
might be called upon to fill. At his
request. however, the orders were
changed to permit his return to CamD
Funston for the Purpose of organizing
a new division and his application for
oversee service was placed "in the
hands of the Chef of Staff.
While no formal official explana-
ton Of the incident ever had been
issued. the Springfield, Mass Repub-
lican. upon the death of Woodrow
Wilson. published a letter written by
the War President to the editor of
that newspaper June 5. 1918, which
disclosed the reasons for not send
ing Gen, Wood overseas.
Reply From Wilson.
President Wilson's letter was a re-
joinder to an editorial in the Repub-
lfcan calling attention to Gen Woods |
abilities and popular following and
observing, in substance, that if it |
was not the administration purpose |
to send Gen. Wood to the battle |
front. it should make that decision |
only on adequate grounds.
Il hope you will not be surprised |
to know that /, subscribe almost in |
its entirety to the inclosed editorial |
from the Repub Jean" President VIII
son wrote.
II am keenly aware of and keenly |
sensitive to the implications which |
will be drawn cut of the fact that I |
am not sending Gen. Wood to the |
other side. and / want personal friends |
like yourself UPON whose approval ,
diamond &xl
know why / ana not sending him.
Called Storm Center.
In the first place I am not sending
him because Gen. Pershing has said
that he does not want him, and in the
second place, Gen. Pershing's disincn- !
nation to have Gen. Wood sent over
is only too well founded. Wherever
Gen. Wood goes there is controversy
and conflict Of judgment. On this |
side of the water we can take care of |
things of that sort, because the fight |
ing is not done here. but it would be |
fatal to let it go on at or anywhere |
near the front.
L have had a great deal of expert |
ence with Gen. Wood. He is a man
of unusual ability, but apparently abb
solutely unable to submit his judg-
ment to those who are superior in
command. l am sorry that his great
ability cannot be made use of in
France, but at the same time l am
glad to say that it is being made very
much use of in the training of soldiers
on this side of the water. task for
which he is eminently we'll fitted and
which he is performing with diligence
and success
When the armiStice was signed and
the task of demobilizing the huge
army was under way. the country be-
gan turning it's attention to the Ma
tion-wide primary campaign that was I