Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-04-30
GENERAL mILEs's JUNKEr.

There has been much comment end
some crlticism-the former inevitable
and the latter not altogether un.
ounded-concernlng the proposition
to relieve General Miles Temporarily
OF the command Of the Amy oil tue
United States while he goes over to
watch the fighting methods OF the
Greeks anc Turks--s proposition which
the national commander.in-chief has
now formally approved Of Those who
criticis', point out that 1t Is not only
an almost unheard.of but highly
improper proceeding for the actual
commanding officer OF the nation's
forces to absent himaeli from the
country on an efrand OF sucn
character; but this Is answereu
by the assurance that there is no
prospect OF his services heing needed
at home in any complication requir'
ing the aid OF the mailed hand oil tue
Republic, and by the further fact that
there are other officers OF equal rank
with himself-men Of just rs much
experience and perhaps just as much
military sagaciiy, In case such service
were needed. Most civilians Will be
disposed to agree that objections on
the score above noted are trivial ana
unworthy; as for Gen. Miles being re-
quired OF nome just now In any capa-
city as q warrior, that 10 altogether
improbable; and as to the propriety oil
the major general commanding ieaV-
ing his post for tour OF observation
II not curiosity, that is merely mat
Ter of taste, which he ought 10 be al
lowed to decide for himself.
From the standpoint Of utility, how
over, the project is more open to
criticism. IL ~ not likely that any
thIng the Greeks or Turks viii do In |
the way Of war Will be OF much beneht
10 General Miles. He has himself on
many a field sDuffsd the hot smoke Of
battle, and has gallantiy ridden the
red pillows OF war. His colleagues In
he higher ranks OF the service are
qually rich in experience, and would
xpect but little addition to their store
II military knowledge from any
hing they may ace on the battle
round occupied by two such
as are now measuring
tIength in southern Europe. Besides,
ven II something were 10 be learnet,
hey are not only too old to learn
much that would be available, but are
certain to go out Of the service before
hey could make use OF anything Of
that might be learned.
There would have bee some sense
In sending abroad as military repre-.
81 natives Of the United States mill.
tary cfiicers who, il participants In
The Civil War thirty-five years ago,
are young enough to be certain OF
still several years OF service in
the army; while the best re.
cults, ana the greatest amount Of
benefit, would surely accrue from
the selection, as such representatives,
OF promising and capable officers VINO |
have come into the service since there |
was any chance OF seeing the game OF |
war as practically played by experts
in the science. General Miles will no |
doubt have pleasant trip and no one
ought to hegIudge him the fortunate |
opportunity opened to him; but, with
out dwelling upon the questionable
taste involved in such tour by the
commanding general Of the United
States army, there is hardly tho com.
pensating assurance that the observa.
tons made ami the knowledge nc
quired will do anybody the least perti-
Gle Of good.