General Wood's opinion as the result of his trip was that the American troops should serve by divisions for a time with the French and English rather than as a separate army from the start, {243} because of the fact that all matters of supply, equipment, artillery, air service and so on which were so incomplete in the American service and so complete by this time in the British and French services would apply to the Americans as well as to the others and that the training alongside the veterans of over three years of war would make the effectiveness of the American troops quicker, better and more definite--would in the end increase efficiency and save life.
After having reported to the Senate committee and returned to Camp Funston he took up with immeasurably renewed vigor the work of getting the 89th Division, which he was to take abroad, ready for its service, and all was prepared when the order came for them to move to New York for embarkation. This work of transportation being practically completed and the big division ready to go on board ship, Leonard Wood felt that at last his chance to take his part in the war at the front had come.
It is practically impossible for any one, therefore, to realize just what it meant to him, or would have meant to any man, to receive notification as {244} he was almost in the act of going on board the transport that his command of the division he had trained and organized was taken away from him, another officer put in his place and he himself ordered to the farthest possible extremity of the United States in the opposite direction. It is certainly impossible to express here what his feelings were since nobody really knows them.
Imagination, however, which plays so important a part in this world's affairs will play its part here as elsewhere, and some estimate of what effect it had upon the country was shown in the outcry which arose everywhere and which created such sudden wrath that the order itself was immediately rescinded and changed to the Funston appointment.
The character of men is exhibited in infinite ways and by infinite methods, but never more surely than during critical periods when passions run high and injustice seems to be in the saddle. It is always at such times that reserve force, mental strength, and all the sound basic qualities which make up what we call character play their important parts in the drama of life. No one has, {245} so far as our history tells us, shown greater strength of this nature than Abraham Lincoln, and it is that reserve, that amazing common sense which "with malice toward none, with charity for all" led him on all occasions no matter how extraordinary the provocation to decline to let personalities, jealousies, or any of the baser passions control his actions or influence his decisions.
It would be ridiculous for any one to assume that General Wood was not cut to the quick by this unexplained action, which took the cup from his lips as he was about to drink, but there never has appeared anywhere anything emanating from him which criticized, questioned or in any way took exception to it. One may read, however, between the lines of his short good-by to the division which he created many thoughts that may have been in his mind and that certainly were in the minds of the officers of the 89th to whom this simple address was the first intimation that he was not to lead them into action in France. It is so direct, so simple, so manly that, like all such documents, it is only with time that its great {246} hearted spirit makes the true impression on any reader. It will take its place in the history of this country amongst the few documents which live on always because they exhibit a wise and sane outlook upon life and because they make a universal appeal to the best that lives always like a divine spark in the heart of every man.
It makes the boy in school exclaim, "Some day when I grow up I will do that." It lives in the dreams that come just before sleep as the attitude the young man would like to take when his critical hour comes. It cheers the old, since they can say: "So long as this can be done there is no fear for our native land."
Here it is:
"I will not say good-by, but consider it a temporary separation--at least I hope so. I have worked hard with you and you have done excellent work. I had hoped very much to take you over to the other side. In fact, I had no intimation, direct or indirect, of any change of orders until we reached here the other night. The orders have been changed and I am to go back to Funston. I leave for that place to-morrow {247} morning. I wish you the best of luck and ask you to keep up the high standard of conduct and work you have maintained in the past. There is nothing to be said. These orders stand; and the only thing to do is to do the best we can--all of us--to win the war. That is what we are here for. That is what you have been trained for. I shall follow your career with the deepest interest--with just as much interest as if I were with you. Good luck; and God bless you!"
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