The herald., 1894-04-04
RETURNED AFTER FIVE YES,
Gen. Nelson A. Miles Was the
City Yesterday.
Talks About the Need of Me Coast
Defense.
Ridiculous to Connect HIstame with
the Nomination for Prfdent.
Came for CllmAtead
Vacation,

General Nelson A. Wss, u. .. Az
formerly commanding 70 department
OF Arizona, with healnsrters in Los
Angeles, but now in cmmand OF the
department which haets headquarters
in Chicago, visited tic city yesterday
after continuous aIence OF over tve
years. General Mis- is accompanied
by Mss. Gen. Miles Miss Miles. Master
Shuman Miles, MiiSherman OF Wash
inston city, and laptains Morse ana
Maus OF the regult army, stationed at
Chicago The psty arrived over the
Santa Fe route d the private car oi
President Rousebf the Missouri, Kan
eas and Texas railroad, shortly alter
noon YESTERDAY.
stay OF oEiy few hours duration
was made il this city, during which the
mem mbers Of the party remained In the
car, and at 40 the journey was re-
sumed TO San Diego, where few days
will be passed at the Coronado hotel.
A reporter OF the HERALD visited Gem
er4l Miles during the short stay in this
city, and questioned in regard to the
significance OF the present trip to the
coast.
"A reply to that is very simple" he
said. my young son had not been we'll
during the severe winter in Chicago,
anu L thought in fact, l knew-that
the warm sunehine and balmy air of
Southern California would do him come
good hence the trip.
"And then" he resumed, "perhaps
had longing myself to see this place
and meet some OF my old friends here.
NJ
lation OF your city must have doubled
within the past five years"
The repo1 ter maintained an eloquent
silence.
II should hardly know the place."
said General Niles, "exoept that meet
30 many old friends and acquaintanc ces.
1t s wonderful country / am filled
with wonder at its progress, myself, and
| thought was keeping up with the
times. i shall visit San Diego and then
return to Los Angeles for q longer stay.
Afterwards we 90 to Santa Barbara and
then to San Francisco and 60 on home
by the northern route.
"The standing army Is all right; IL
never WAS in better condition. just
now there Ia call issued for the enlist
ment OF more men for the departments
stationed throughout the west and there
are many recruits. In fact, and this
may interest you, now, the standing
army 10 far in advance OF the coast de-
fensss. That is the weak part now. On
both tho Pacific and Atlantic coasts we
want more and better means of defense.
This matter demands recognition and
must soon receive it.
"You have some magnificent harbors
on this coast. believe, and ii am not
mistaken the government ie going to do
something for them soon. hsrbor, to
be hsrbor now. must attain the depth
OF the Suez canal. That is the standard,
and while vessels are made to fit that,
our harbors must be made to fit these
vessels.
II have been pleased with the war
vessels built upon the Pacific coast.
They are the best OF their class, and as
such deserve our praise, while their
builders deserve the credit of turning
out such fine craft. l believe that many
more coast defense vessels will be needed
upon the Pacific coast, and that they
can and will be produced here. Then
the land defenses Of the coast need
looking after. l hope to be able to view
the Monterey while at San Diego.
Headquarters of the department OF
Arizona2 All that is a subject of
which l had rather not speak. am
not in command of that department
now.
Eyes. if no accidents intervene, 1
shall, in all probability, be at the head
of the standing army of the United
States after one year from the coming
September. l anticipate no radical or
material changes in any particular,
'PoliticE? The army is not in poll
tics. The army serves the people, and
the whole people, no matter by which
political party governed.
''The idea is absurd; I have heard
that my name was being mentioned in
connection with the nomination for
president, of course, but 1 tell you that
it is absolutely ridiculous, internally 80,
in fact.
"Ooxey's army? Yes, have been
reading of that. and have been quite
amused. Ridicule will kill it without
the aid OF the standing army or anv-
thing else. Men undoubtedly have the
right to 40 to Washington at any time.
and for any purpose, especially to infju.
ence congress and legislation, but it il
folly to walk; they had better ride in
palace cars.
"We will visit the midwinter fair. of
course, and we are all prepared to be
greatly surprised and delighted. What