Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-04
MILES TALKS OF WAR
General Of the Army Tells of What He
Saw Abroad.
EHrOpc VAST Military Camp-Lfttle
Indication That the Millennium
is Approaching.
of the Associated Press.

Correspondence of the Associated Press.
LONDON, September 90, 1897
General Nelson A. Miles, U. s. A, with
Mrs. Miles and his aid-de-camp, Captain
Mars, sail for the United States on the
American Line steamer st. Louis on Octo-
Ter .
Referring to his visits to European capt.
tails and review of European troops, Gen.
Miles said: Il saw all the principal armies
OF Europe. many of the most important
| military establishments, the principal gun
factories and foundries, where the material
of war is constructed, from the most mi
mute small-caliber projectiles TO the heavi-
est steel armor plate. l have seen all the
great armies of Europe except the Spanish
army. and, If Spain should declare war
against the United States, I may possibly
have an opportunity of seeing that Of
something over 3,000,0U0 men under arms
l have seen nearly 100000 in barracks and
in garrison and in field maneuvers, besides
nearly 100000 men engaged in the construc-
ton of war material
Europe n Military Camp.
What have seen does not indicate that
the millennium is at hand when swords will
be beaten into ploughshares. There never
was another time in the history of the
world when much energy, ingenuity and
wealth were being devoted to maintaining
large standing armies and formidable
naVleS. Fortunate are the people of the
United States that they are walled in by
two great oceans. Yet this fact would rot
warrant them IN any policy other than
keeping a reasonable percentage OF the
population fully equipped and instructed in
modern appliances and methods of war
The celebration of Queen Victoria's
sixty year reign brought together fifty
Thousand of her army and thirty-eght
thousand men of her navy.
The field maneUvers of Russia were
conducted on large scale and were ex-
ceedinsly interesting Russia for hun
dreds of years has been a great military
nation. Her people have been accustomed
to war; and her population is so numerous,
and she is SO located geogra phically as to
be practically independent of the other
powers of the world. The Russian army
is composed of strong. hardy men and It's
officers are highly educated and skilled
officials.
Germany is one vast military camp 1t
is geographically in such position that it
is compelled to maintain a great military
force. On one side is Austria that they
have overrun, and France that has been
conquered and q part of her territory taken
away, by fghting her when she was at
great disadvantage. On the other side
stands the great Russian bear and between
these two Germany finds it necessary to
Keep her powder dry. The German army
Gu.
makes the finest appearance on parade
tut It's hshting qualities are no better than
the English, Russian or French armies
French Army Well Eauipped.
saw part of the French maneuvers
near 81. quentin The French army is not
spe ctacular in appearance, yet it has a
soluity ana earnestness of purpose which
Indicates that it is well equipped for war.
It's uniforms are not so handsome as those
OF the German army, but are serviceable:
"flie Its officers are ski}lful and intensely
In earnest There are 10000 well-ecuipped
Heii-discipined troops, and the review by
the president was one of the finest DISPLAYS
nave ever witnessed. The army of 7oOU
passed the reviewing stand in a little more
IMAM TWO hours time, and the entire body
of cavalry, 1o.0o0 strong, charged across
the heid in che solid mass, and halted bit
Few yards from the president in almost
perfect line and splendid order.
In these great field maneuyers they SIM
ply simulate war. The Homburg naneuyers
were practically great drill to some ex-
tent spectacular. They looked very grand.
but there is 10 school OF war excent va.
he difference between blank ca-tr;deas
ana leaden bullets and shotted cannon is
as marked as that between the spectacul1r
scenes OF the drama and the real living
issues of life
10 question as to whether the United
States, under its present military policy
would be able to cope with European
power. General Miles replied:
Our Military Strength.
in our population, it is estimated, one
man out of five is capable of bearing arms
That would give army of T., 600 600
Our people are strong physically and gen.
orally intelligent and well-informed; be-
sides. each citizen is q sovereign and per-
sonally interested in the welfare of his
government, and serves voluntarily without
being forced into service by a military des-
potism. We have many thousands of men
still living who have seen more war, par
participated in more battles. than any man
in Europe. But, 1t is another thing to
equip army with modern appliances for
the defense of a coast where we would
have to use high power guns and modern
projectiies which it takes years to con-
struet, while small arms are not to be
made In few days CIR weeks,
In conclusion. General Miles remarked:
Il have never seen a day since have been
away when l have failed to appreciate our
cwn country, its institutions. system of
government and people I have been sur
pr:sed that SO little is known of us in Eu-
rope, but interest here Is conferred ON India,
Africa and Siberia. and European pa,,ers
have NOR. to say of their affairs and the
colonies than abSt America"