The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-08-08
Full Military H0nors
To Be Paid Gen. Wood

(COntlnoed from page one)
General Miles in Arizona, where hel
served until 1881 in the field of &C.
tive operations against the Apaches
and also az commander Of an infan-
try detachment and . scouting party
with the famous Lawton expedition
against Geronimo in Arizona, New
Mexico and below the border.
Throughout these hazardous cam
paigns Wood displayed capacity for
endurance and reckless contempt
for danger which won for him the ad-
miration and respect not alone Of the
hardy frontiers-men but Of the
friendly Indian trailers who accom-
panied the expedition as we'll. His
ability as a fighter and his qualifi-
cats4ns as commander won speedy
recognition at the hands Of his SUI
pcr,ors, especially during the terri
fic forced marches through the de-
sersH wastes Of the Southwest, hence
the young officer was Invariably Sc
lected to lead expeditions against the
fierce Geronimo, chief Of the most
ruthless and bloodthirsty tribe Of
III XVVItu <AUtSII CUs
Beloved by his men for the persist
cncy with which he followed their
fortunes and endured their hard
ships, and respected by his SUPER
Tors for his Unborn ability rs lead
cr,, General Wood capped his first
few months of active service with
master stroke-the taking Of Geron-
imo and most Of his troublesome
followers. His reward came in the
form Of the Medal Of Honor and pro-
motion to the rank Of captain.
For the next two years, ending with
1883, he was attending surgeon at
several posts and forts in the South
west and at the Presidio, San Fran
cisA:y later serving in the same ca
pacity ct Fort Mcpherson, Georgia.
Friend of 3 Presidents
General Wood has been the friend
and upon many momentous occasions
the confidant of three American pre-
sidents--Clcveland, Mckinley and
Roosevelt. When the first named
was elected in 1892 he selected Gen.
cral Wood for assignment to the
White House as physician and aide
to the president, an appointment. he
continued to fill when Mckinley came
into office.
As result of the close friendship
that sprang up between himself and
Theodore Roosevelt, then Assistant
Secretary Of the Navy, it was Gener-
al Wood who was chosen to command
the world famous Trough Riders" of
the Spanish-American war, recruited
by Roosevelt from among the 'front.'
ierskcn and cowboys Of the plain
states. In this outfit Roosevelt con-
tented himself with the subordinate
rank Of lieutenant colonel. The brill
liaxT achievements of the regiment
at San Juan Hill and Las Guasimas
were accomplished with the energetic
doctor-soldier as the actual directing
head, serving as colonel Of volun-
teers. His promotion in July, 1898
to the rank Of Brigadier General Of
the u. S. Volunteers was the direct
result Of this gallant command.
Upon the surrender at Santiago OF
the Spanish forces, General Wood was
made military governor Of the city.
later becoming civil governor with
the rank of Major General and final
ly assuming command of the entire
island as military governor. In this
difficult position he continued to
show the same cool, clear-headed
judicial ability that had marked his
leadership in the past, with the re-
suit that he soon persuaded the ma
tives to accept such sanitary and 9TH
or conditions as he saw fit to i'm
pose and at the same time retained
the friendship of all factions-an
achievement considered nothing
short of marvellous under the circum-
stances. His jurisdiction over Cuba
ended in 1902, when he turned the
government over to the first Cuban
president.
The admiration Mr.. Roosevelt bore
for General Wood had been mater
tally increased through their ASSOC
citation, on the battlefield, conse-
quently there was no great surprise
when the latter was nominated to
the rank Of General officer in the
regular army shortly after Roose-
veH entered the White House upon
the death Of PresidenA Mckinley.
,Pr0moted to MajoraGeneral
Fibm 1901 until 1905, during which
he was again promoted, this time TO
the rank Of Major General in the
regular establishment. General Wood
was busy strengthening out Cuban
affairs, serving rs governor Of Moro
Province in the Philippines, and lat
er attending European army manoeu-
vers as official observer Of the Unit
ed States. From 1908 to 1910 he
commanded the Eastern Department
and in the later year was sent to
Argentina as special envoy Of the
government.
Subsequently, when Eiihu Root was
Secretary Of War and undertook the
creation Of an Army General Staff,
he depended largely upon the advice
and theories worked out by General
Wood. When the law was enacted
creating, the staff, Wood became the
first Chief, and thus set in motion