New Britain herald., 1927-08-08
establishing some 30 divisional camp

establishing some 30 divisional camp sites throughout the country. By his own selection General Wood was assigned to train and command the s9th division. then stationed at Camp Funston, where upon he threw himself into the task that had marked his we'll rounded army career. While he might read liiy have expected, as senior officer of the army, to be given command of the forces sent to France. If he felt any chagrin at the selection it was not reflected in his work at Camp Funston.
 Persuant to a war department or der, General Wood. along with other division commanders was sent to France on an inspection tour of the battlefront, and as it 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 mar rowly escaped death while on his in- spection tour through the bursting of large calibre gun which dis charged prematurely through the breech and killed several officers standing near it. General Wood was slightly injured but carried out his orders to return home, where he tes- tified before Senate committee as to the urgent need of rushing troops overseas.
 While his friends were exerting all the pressure at their command to have the services of General Wood utilized in France, he was called up- on to undergo an army medical ex- animation which, despite his 5S years, he passed successfully. He was then ordered back to Camp Funston, and when orders arrived that moved his division to the East coast for embarkation, General Wood himself was directed 1 by Secretary of War Baker to pro- ceed to Washington, where he was informed that he was not to com mand the division when 1t went overseas.
 While Wood partisans in Congress and througout the country were making the claim that he was be- ing unfairly treated. the General was given permission by the war depart ment to lay his case before Presi- dent Wilson. 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 loy- atty in whatever post he might be called upon to fill. At his request, however, the orders were changed to permit his return to Camp Fun ston for the purpose of organizing new division, and his application for oversea service was placed "in the hands of the Chief of Staff"
 While no formal official explana- ton of the incident ever had been issued, the Springfield, Mass. Re- publican. upon the death of Wood- row Wilson. published letter writ ten by the war president to the editor of that newspaper June 5, 1918. which disclosed the reasons for not sending General Wood over- seas.
 President Wilson's letter was a reioinder to an editorial in the Re- publican calling attention to Gen. eral Woods abilities and popular following and observing, in sub- stance, that if it was not the ad- ninistration's purpose to send Gen. eral Wood to the battle front, it should make that decision only on adequate grounds.
 T hope you will not be surprised to know that I subscribe almost in it's entirety to the inclosed edi- torial from the Republican," Presi- dent Wilson wrote.
 T am keenly aware of and keen ly sensitive to the implications which will be drawn out of the
 fact that I am not sending Gen.
 eral Wood to the other side, and
 I want personal fgriends like your. self upon whose approval l depend
 for my encouragement to know
 why I am not sending him.
 "In the first place I am no'
 sending him because General Per. shing has said that he does no
 want him, and in the second place General Pershings disinclination tt
 have General Wood sent over l:
 only too well founded. Wherever General Wood goes there Is con. troversy and conflict of judgment On this side of the water we car take care of things of that sort because the fighting Is not done
 here, but 1t would be fatal to lei it go on at or anywhere near the