Angered By Goethals Story.

New York Times 100 years ago today, July 31, 1912:
    WASHINGTON, July 30.— Great indignation was expressed on all sides among army officers and War Department officials to-day at the report cabled from Paris as coming from a newspaper correspondent at Panama to the effect that an intrigue was in progress with the object of Col. Goethals's removal from his position as Chief Engineer of the Panama Canal.
    "You may say it as strongly as you please for me,'' said Secretary Stimson. "that there is not and never has been any foundation for such a statement. Col. Goethals is performing a most responsible duty in a manner that is satisfactory in the smallest detail. I have never heard a word about him since I have come here that was not in praise of his excellent service. Instead of being removed, I believe he will continue in the work at Panama until the project is fully completed, and that he will receive a distinctively great reward for his faithful and successful accomplishment of what he was set to do."
    "There is not a word of truth in any such report," said Major Gen. Wood when the Paris report was called to his attention. "It is curious how such things Start. When I was Governor General of Cuba I had two or three such reports for breakfast every day. I used to wonder how they could be thought up. Col. Goethals has done his duty with singular fidelity, and it would be impossible to hear any suggestion here or anywhere in the army that he should be recalled and any one else put in his place. We all hope that he may enjoy good health and continue to the end of the work at Panama, and, in common with every one else, I expect that he will be splendidly rewarded for his services when the time comes for that."