Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-07
CEN. WOOD DIES
|NBOSTON AFTER
SKULL OPERATION
Delayed Too Long in Philip
pines, Old Trouble REQUIRED,
Doctors Say.
GOVERNOR GENERAL ILL
FOR SEVERAL MONTHS
Long Prominent Figure in Public
Life Was in United States
to Recuperate.


BOSTON. August Mai. Gen.
Leonard Wood, governor general of
the Philippines died at the Peter Bent
Brigham Hospital here at 1:20 am
today following an operation at the
institution yesterday.
Gen. Wood was admitted TO the
hospital two days ago for observs.
ton and yesterday underwent "a seri.
Gus opera tion," according to A bulletin
issued late last night by DR.. Alexander
Lambert of New York.
Operated on II Years Ago.
DR.. Lambert's bulletin, although fail
ing to state the exact nature of the
operation. indicated it was for a re-
currence of a tumor which was re.
moved by DR.. Harvey Gushing, II
years ago. The growth at the time
of the first operation was found to
have involved the bone of the skull,
the statement said, and recurrence
Of the trouble was anticipated"
Gen. Wood was operated on for
hernia in Manila last January and
came East for treatment as soon as
he felt conditions in the islands JUS
tilted his absence. DR.. lambert added.
Mrs. Wood accompanied her husband
to this city. but went into seclusion
as soon as Gen. Wood went to the hos
pital.
Beyond the bare announcement of
the generals death and the time, hos
pital authorities declined further in
formation, pending a. statement from
the attending physicians. including
DIR. Gushing, or from the governor
generals aide. Maj. Reed.
Rise Was Spectacular.
The spectacular rise of Leonard
Wood from an obscure post in the
Medical Corps to A commanding rank
in the combatant branch Of the United
States Army was one OF the outstand-
ing features of American military an
nails. Appointed an assistant surgeon
several years prior to the Spanish
American War, Wood rose to the fore
most rank of American generals, his
active duty eliminating in the gov
ernor generaiship of the Philippines.
after he had served four years as
Chief OF the General Staff OF the
Army. the topmost military command.
While his rapid promotion, ascribed
largely to his close friendship with
Theodore Roosevelt. was the subject
of frequent criticism in military cir
cles, Gen. Woods service was recog-
nized throughout the establishment as
of the highest type. His first official
commentator for gallantry came dur.
ing hostilities with the Apache In.
dams in 1855, when he was given the
congressional medal of honor for brav-
cry, and his work throughout the
World War, limited as it was from
the generals standpoint, won him the
distinguished service medal for espe.
cially meritorious and conspicuous
service
Rise Was Unparalleled.
The placing of medical officer in
command of troops-a prerogative
jealously guarded by line officers-was
a departure so exceptional in the mill.
tary establishment that 1t has since
been prohibited by Army regulations:
but that Gen. Wood justified the trust
and proved his value as a part of the
fighting arm is conceded by many OF
the highest military authorities, and
was shown even more conclusively by
his unusual rise to the peak Of the
profession.
Gen. Wood was born in Winchester.
New Hampshire, October 2. 1850, the
son Of Charles Jewett and Caroline
f. Hagar) Wood. His preliminary
education was obtained at the Pierce
Academy, Middleboro, Mass. following
which he attended Harvard University
and was graduated from the medical
school in 1884
For year thereafter he acted as
house surgeon at the Boston City
Hospital and then began the general
practice Of medicine in that city, but
the lure of adventure, aftermath of
his intensive study, induced him to
join the Army as an assistant con-
tract surgeon in June, 1885. The for.
tunes Of war cast his lot with Gen.
Miles in Arizona. where he served
until 1891 in the field of active oper.
ations against the Apaches and also
as commander of an Infantry detach.
ment and a scouting party with the
famous Lawton expedition against
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