Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-21
LETTER FROM GEN. MILES
He Writes Secretary Alger of Incidents of
His Trip.
Expects to See tire Russian and Ger.
man Armiesi before He Re-
turns Home.

man Armiesf before He Re-
turns Home.
A special to the Philadelphia Press from
Blun Point, N. T., says: Secretary Of War
Alger has received from General Miles two
letters detailing his travels and expert
ences In European. countries. These let
tiers, with third which he will probably
send In a few days. will constitute General
| Miles official report of his assignment by
the government to review the military
| force OF European countries. He writes:
1 visited the Armstrong cannon factory
near Naples, and every facility was offered
| me to examine the work. Field, siege and
n1gh-power guns are constructed there, a
thousand workmen being employed. Skill
| ed labor is obtained at $3.50 and unskilled
labor at so cents day. 1t is private es-
tablishment, but to some extent under the
control Of the government.
Hlgh-power guns are made for the Ital-
ian government and for Spain and the Ar
gehtlne Republic. Excellent field guns Of
| mechanism is strong and we'll adapted for
very rapid fire. The mechanism of the
nlgh-poWer gun was the best had seen up
| to the time. rendering the weapon capable
OF pelng nred with great rapidity.
Saw Itnly's Best Troops.
From Naples went to Rome, where 1
witnessed a parade of six thousand Of
the best troops in the Italian
army. They were reviewed by the
king. and appeared in excellent form
| as regards uniform, equipments, drill and
military bearing. From Rome 1 proceeded
through Florence and Venice to Vienna
ter
bronze guns field and siege batteries.
While great strength is claimed for these
guns, l am not impressed by their superb
ority.
"In view of what I had previously and
have since seen, 1 am, however. much i'm
pressed with the Mannlicher rifle now in
the hands of the Austrian army l saw
one that had been fired over 10000 times
and was-still in good condition. Compared
with ali other rifles in by the great
military powers of the world, this rifle
holds high rank and has some advantage
over all others
Fine New Rife.
1.-THE Austrian government is construct
ing a rifle that will possess superior fea-
lures to any now in use, and, although the
mechanism is kept secret, enough is learn
ed to convince me of Its superiority.
From Vienna 1 passed a second time
through Paris en- route to London, where
arrived June Is. In accordance with my
letter of II struc tons, I participated in the
queens diamond jubilee celebration from
June until June ~. l was the guest of
the government. witnessed on June 20 a
review by Field Marshal Lord Wolseley,
of the British army, Of
the colonial troops. On June u 1 was in-
vited to dine at the palace, and we were
afterward presented to her majesty, Queen
Victoria
ION June % we were assigned place in
the cavalcade short distance in trent OF
the queens carriage. On June % 1 at
terded an official banquet at the Mansion
House given by the lord mayor of London.
On June 26 I witnessed review of a part
Of the British navy at Spithead, consisting
Of los vessels and $4,000 men.
Great Fleet.
"There was gathered the strongest ard
ost effective feet of war vessels that
was ever assembled, from the torpedo boat
and torpedo destroyer of thirty knots speed
to the battle ship of the greatest power.
On June 80 l accompanied Field Marshal
Woiseley to the Royal Military College at
Sandhurst, and saw 1.-The review and in
spection of the corps of cadets. On July
l accompanied Field Marshal Wolseley to
Aldershot, where / was. the guest of the
Duke of Connaught, commanding the AL
dershot district and witnessed the review
by the queen of 2soaO troops-cavalry, ar
tillery and infantry, with trains.
"On July l was present at the test firing
of the Maxim guns and cannons at Eyn-
ford. On July s 1 visited the Woolwich gun
factory government establishment under
the direction of Sir William Anderson. This,
with the Enfield establishment, employs H.
900 men. Last year 500 field, siege and
high-power guns were manufactured at
Woolwich for the British army and navy.
Another important feature is that when the
field. siege and high-power guns of the
heaviest calibers are built, they are placed
upon trucks of cars. moved to the proving
grounds, fired and returned to the factory
or Shi vi ma I'M ed
from the cars.
ION July 8 l visited the small-arms fac
tory at Enfield. where 7170OO Lee-Metford
rifles and carbines Uee is an American in
ventor) have been made and shipped to all
parts of the world for the use of the Brit
ish army and navy. On July Is 1 gave
dinner to Lord Lansdowne, secretary of
state for war; Lord Methuen, commander
of the forces of the home districts, of Lon
DON and other officials engaged in the con-
struction of war material, diplomatic Off
Gals and others.
At Waterloo.
II spent a part of July on the field of
Waterloo, and in the afternoon visited the
exposition of Brussels, where had an OPP
pof tunity of seeing what there was on ex-
hihition Of military character.
LAS l have never taken the time to see
the military features of Europe, / propose
to take advantage of this opportunity to
visit the military establishments of Russia
and Germany.
"There are 10000 troops encamped near
St Petersburg and the German maneuvers
take place this year near Frankfurt be-
tween the Bavarian army and two and
half corps of the German army-12O, 900
men.
II hope to witness these maneuvers, re-
turning to the United States as soon there
after as possible"
Misguided Burglar.
From Hnrper's Bazaar.
Scar-faced Skies, the burglar was operat-