The herald., 1897-10-03

ARMAMENT
Critically Inspected by
Gen. Miles
HE USED HIS EYES CAREFULLY
AND RETURNS CRAMMED WITH
INFORMATION
The Great Need Of the United States
in Modern Appliances for
Coast Defense
He USED HIS EYES CAREFULLY
AND RETURNS CRAMMED WITH
| INFORMATION
Associated Press Special Wire.

LONDON, Oct 2-Gen Nelson A.
Miles, Mrs. Miles and Aide Camp
Capt. Maus sailed for the United States
on the American liner St. Louis to-
day. The commander Of the army
has been on his tour of military observa-
tion and has inspected everything Of
military interest from the armies Of the
great powers in field Of activity down to
| balloons and bicycles" as he remarked
He has looked over Notifications bar
racks, camps, ordnance works of all
classes, and in the intervals of this work
has written three reports to the govern
ment covering different features of
European militarism. After his return
he will, with the assistance Of Captain
Maus, prepare another and more COM
plete report, in which will be embodied
recommendations for the improvement
of the United States,army.
incidentally, Gen. Miles has met most
of the rulers of Europe, including Queen
Victoria. the Car of Russia, the En-
peror of Germany, the Sultan OF Tur-
key and the President of France.
The President of the French repub-
lic however. he considers to be in every
characteristic the peer Of the royalties
Of Europe.
president Faure Is one of the most
courtly dignified and accomplished
men have met in Europe" he said, and
added that the French republic need
have entertained no misgivings as to
how it's Chief Magistrate would comport
himself during his recent visit of state
to the Car, a question which at one
time deeply agitated the press of France.
General Miles talked Interestingly to
a representative of the Associated Press
of his tour, and although he declined to
give any opinions upon certain ques-
| tions, as to the relative strength OF the
French and German armies, his COM
ments upon the characteristics of those
two organizations as they impressed
| him while on exhibition in the field
maneuvers at Homburg and San Quen-
| tin were decidedly significant
II had opportunity for observation"
he said, giving me chances to see the
best of the armies of all the great pow
ers. The celebration of Queen Vic
toria's sixty-year reign brought together
10000 of her army and $4,000 men Of her
navy. The field maneuvers in Russia
were conducted ON a large scale and
were exceiedirgly interesting. Russia
for hundreds of years has been great
military nation; her people have been
accustomed to war and her population Is
so numerous and she is so located geo.
graphically as to be practically inde-
pendent of the other powers of the
world. Though her governm enyt has
been autocratic and her people far be-
hind the age in enlightenment, only S
per cent of the population being able to
read, the rays of intellectual enighten-
ment are penetrating that vast region.
and there is great future for Russia.
What the headlight of the locomotive
has done for our western country in
the last generationis now to some extent
being done for that country through
construction of the railroad across ST.
beria, one Of the greatest enterprises of
modern times. Remarkably enough, it
is being built under the direction of
self-made Russian prince, who served
his premiership in the machine shops
of Philadelphia, but like Peter the
Great, has become master of his trade,
and is now contributing immensely to
the welfare of Russia. The Russian
army is composed of strong, hardy men
and its officers are highly educated and
skilful officials.
Germany is one vast military camp.
It is geogra phically in such a position
that ii is compelled to maintain great
military force. On ore side Is Austria,
that they have overrur, and France that
has been conquered and part Of her ter
ritory taken away by fighting her when
tn -
the other side STANDS the great Russian
bear, and between these two Germany
finds it necessary to keep her powder
dry. The German army is kept under
rigid discipline, is we'll drilled, makes
the finest appearance on parade, but its
fighting qualities are no better than the
English, Russian or French armies.
II saw part of the French maneuvers
near San Quentin. The French army is
not specta cular in appearance, yet it
has solidity and earnestness of purpose
which indicates that 1t is we'll equipped
for war. Its uniforms are not so hand
some as those of the German army, but
are serviceable, while its officers are
skilful and intensely in earnest There
were 10000 we'll equipped, we'll discip-
lined troops and the review by the presi-
l.dent was ore of the finest displays
have ever witnessed. The army of 70, 900
passed the reviewing stand in little
more than two hours time and the en-
tire body of cavalry, 10000 strong,
charged across the field in one solid mass
and halted but few yards from the line
and in splendid order"
The correspondent suggested that
European military men held that officers
Of the United States army were at
disadvantage in being without oppor-
tunities to drill large armies.
"Yet great field maneuvers simply
simulate war" was the comment of Gen.
eral Miles. "The Homburg maneuvers
were practically great. drill. They
looked very grand, but there isno school
of war except war. What might seem to
be practicable in maneuvers might be
wholly impracticable in condition Of
actual hostilities. There are hundreds.