The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-10-03
The Generals Tour of Military OBJ
Servation at an End.
HOBN0BBED WITH MOBILES.
WILL PREPARE PAPERS ON
WHAT he SAW ABROAD.
He Hints That Changes May BE Made
in Our Army-Pays a High Trib-
ute to President Faure-saw AL
the Great Armies Excepting the
Spanish.


the Associated Press. general Mel
son A Miles, Mrs. Miles and Aide-de-
Camp Captain Maus saii fer the United
States on the St. Louis, Oct. 2. The
commander of the army has bean in
Europe since May on his tour OF mill
tary observations. and has inspected
everything Of military interest from
the armies of the great powers in field
of action down to balloons and bicy-
cles He has looked over Notifications,
barracks. camps, ordnance works Of all
classes and in the Intervals Of this
work has written three reports to the
government covering different features
of European militariszn. Upon his re
turn, he viii, with the assistance OF
Captain Maus. prepare another and
more complete report, in which viii be
embodied commentators for the IN
provement of the United States navy.
HOBNORBED WITH THE NCi5it4I y
Incidentally General Niles has met
most Of the officers OF Europe, inclUd-
ing Queen Victoria, the car of Rus
STA, TIE emperor OF Germany. the sui
tan of Turkey and the president Of
France. The president OF the French
republic he considers to be one of the
most c0urtly, dignified and accom-
plislled men he met while in Europe.
He says tIla French republic need have
entertained no rniseIvings as TO how IS
chief magistrate would comport HIM
self during his recent visit Of state TO
the car, question which at one time
deeply agitated the press of France
CHANGES IN OUR ARMY.
General Miles talked interestingly of
his tour, and although he declined 10
give any opinions as TO the relative
strength of the French and German
armies. his comments upon the char
aCteristics OF those two examinations
as they Impressed him While OF eThi-
bIticn in the field maneuVers at Ham
burg and San Quentin We're decidedly
significant. Concerning changes which
may be made in the organization and
equipment OF the American army, as
results CT his observations, General
Miles would not speak. Certain changes
might be made by executive action,
others would have to be authorized by
congress Those matters were dealt
would be made known 10 the public de-
pended upon the secretary Of war, to
whom the reports we're made.
WHAT HE SAW ABROAD.
when left Washington the war be
tween Turkey and Greece had assumed
such proportions that il looked as if the
neighboring provinces would be drawn
into it, and possibly one or two of the
great powers Of Europe" General Miles
began. No one realized at that time
that Greece had assumed hostilities
when she was wholly unprepared for
war: nor did any one anticipate that
Turkey would. in 10 days, mobilize
great army of GOO coo men When 1 ar
rived at Consfanunople an armistiee
had been declared and war was Drac-
tically over, though the armies have
remained in hostile attitudes and it has
taken three months to agree upon the
conditions Of peace for a war that had
been fought in five weeks and. as the
president and secretary Of war had au-
thorized me to visit such countries as I
might think aGNisa bic for the purpose
of military observation. ! continued
my journey, looking over all the prin-
cipal armies Of Europe, many of the
most important military establish
ments, the principal gun factories and
founGrieS where the material OF war is
constructed. from the most minute cali
bre projectiles to the heaviest 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, ! may possibly have
an opportunity Of seeing that OF some
thing over 100000 under arms have
seen nearly 100000, in barracks and in
garrisons and in field maneuyers, be-
sides nearly 100000 men engaged in the
construction Of war material.
SOME EUROPEAN ARMIES
What ! have seen does not indicate
that the millennium IS at hand. There
never was a time in the history Of the
world when such energy, ingenuity and
wealth has been devoted TO war pur-
poses The resources and industries of
many people are largely devoted TO
maintaining standing armies and for
midGble uavies Fortunate are the
people Of the United States that they
are walled in by two great oceans. yet
this fact would not warrant them in
any other policy than keeping a reason
able percentage of the population fully
equipped and instructed in modern ap-
pliances and methods Of war.
The celebration of Queen Victoria's
6o-year reign brought together $4,000 of
her army and 600 men Of her navy.
The field maneuVers in Russie were
conducted on q large scale and were
exceedingly interesting. The Russian
army IS composed Of strong, hardy men
and its officers are highly educated and
sl1illful
Germany is one vast military camp.
1t IS aphlcahy in such 4 position
that IL is compelled to maintain Srsat
military fCrce. The German army is
kept under rigid discipline. IS web
drilled, makes the nest appearance On
parade, bus lis fighting qualities are
no better than the EngliSh. Russian c.
French armies. l saw a part of the
French maneuvres near San Quentin
The French army is not spectacular il
appearance, yet it has a soNdlty and
eaTuestness of purpose which indicate
that it is wen equipped for war. There
were 10000 web equipped troops and the
review by 5he president vas one of tae
finest displays | have ever witnessed.
The army OF 10000 passed the reviewing
stand in a little more than two hours
time and the entire body OF cavalry
5000 strong, charged across the field
IN one solid mass and halted but a few
Yards from the PRESIDENT. in q perfect
Lire and splendid order"
THE BENEFITS OF DRILLING.
The correspondent suggested that the
European military men held the Of
ticers of the United States army were
at disadvantage IN being without
opportunities 10 drill large armies
Yet great field maneuVreS simply
simulate war was the comment Of
General Miles. The Hognburg snaneuY-
res were practically a great drill but
there is no school of war except war.
What might seem to be practical in ma
neuvres might be wholly impracticabIe !