Evening star., 1897-06-14
GEN. MILES IN GREECE
The American Commander at Prince Con-
stantinss Headquarters.
After n Brief Stay at Athens He Hur-
ricd ON to Lamia-Paft Taken In
War by French and Germans.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
LAMA. Greece, May 20. 1907.
Maj. Gen. Nelson A. Miles and his aid
de-Camp, Capt Marion P. Maus. arrived
hsre from Athens last evening. coming to
Santa Marina, eight miles from here. on
the Greek steamer Nauplion. 1t was ex-
pected that a troop Of Prince Constan-
tines cavalry would be there to escort
them to the princes headquarters, but the
cavalry did not materialize. There was.
however. a provision train of three fiat
cars, loaded with sacks of meal for the
army, and upon one of these sacks the
head of the United States army took his
seat and thus rode into Lamia-
Gen. Miles said to me: I'VE came to
Athens from Constantinople yesterday
morning. 1 called upon Mr.. Alexander. en-
voy extraordinary and minister plenipo-
tentiary of the United States to Greece.
Afterward we visited the minister of ma
rine, Who Is also acting as prime minister
and minister of foreign affairs. and upon
the minister Of war. The minister of ma
rine offered to send one of the Greek men
of-war to Lamia for our transportation, as
Admiral Selfridge had previously offered to
do with one of the big American ships, but
these courtesieS l declined, because l pre-
ferred to go on the steamer with the
troops. that might study their character
istics. 1 could also save days time"
There is reason to believe that the gen.
eral regretted his zeal in declining the ser
vices of the men-of-war. for the provisions
for his comfort on board were few, al
though the steamer captain turned over
his own cabin to his distinguished passen-
ger. The next day Gen. Miles said that
he would rather sleep on the ground in his
blanket than stay on the steamer another
night
Referring to his trip to Constantinople,
he said:
.J mat apd bad on audjenca with the
sultan and with the Turkish minister OF
war and Osman Pasha, hero of Plevna.
During my eight days stay in Turkey
every courtesy was extended and every op-
pcrtunity was offered for Investigating the
condition of the Turkish army. 1 was
given very fair idea of the strength, mill
tary organization, movements, discipline
and drills Of the army. The supplies for the
Turkish army, from the smallest Dullet or
most delicate surgical instrument to the
great guns, are furnished by the Ger
mans, and they have practically adopted
the German tactics, under the management
Of several skillful German officers, who
have assisted all through in the organiza-
tion Of the army"
This confirmation Of a much disputed
report by an unprejudiced neutral will be
Of especial interest to many.
In the same way" he goes on to say,
the Greeks are related to the French, en-
ploying their tactics and assisted by French
officers. Thus are the plans of the Franco
German war initiated to such an extent
that the Turks would undoubtedly have
marched on to Athens. as the Germans did
on Paris, unless they had made change
In their mode of warfare or were stopped
by the greater powers"
When asked If he thought the Turks
would yet march on to Athens, the general
said: The war may be already ended or 1t
may be only the beginning of a great strug-
gle.'
General Miles, dressed in his undress uni
FORM and black campaign hat, rode out
to Prince Constantine's camp this morn
1rg, accompanied by Capt. Marion p. Maus
OF the 1st United States Infantry and Can't
j. II. Dorst of the 4th United States Cav
airy, military attache to the United States
embassy at Vienna. The party were re-
ceived by Prince Constantine in a cordial
manner and luncheon was served them at
his headquarters. After about an hours
stay with the crown prince, the American
military party was escorted by Prince Mich
olas, a captain of artillery, to the rear OF
the camp, where 5000 reserves, that had
just come in, were formed in the Greek
phalanx, and reviewed the troops After
inns they returned to the princes house
ana soon after rode away to inspect other
brigades.
The next day the general turned his
hcrses head in the opposite direction, visit
ing the troops on the side of LAMA nearest
the turks, whereas the princes camp is on
the opposite side of the city. These troops
We're in the brigade commanded by Col
Christos N. Soliotes The polite colonel did
everything in his power to show the honor
ne felt at the visit. He escorted the officers
as far as the neutrality line, from which
place the Turks could be plainly seen
marching to and fro on picket duty.
CYRUS THORPE.