The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-03
Interesting Talk with Gen. Nelson A
Miles on the Eve of His Return
to the United States.
GREAT FUTURE FOR RUSSIA
GERMANY A VAST MILITARY CAMP
AND ALWAYS READY FOR WAR.
French Troops Well Disciplined and
Not So Spectacular as the Germans
Needs of the United States.

with Mrs. Miles and Aid-de-camp Captain
Maus, sailed for the United States from
Southampton on the American line steamer
st. Louis to-day. The commander of the
United States army has been in Europe
since May on his tour of military observa-
ton, and has inspected everything in mill
tary importance from the armies of the
great powers in field action down to bal
looms and bikes" as he remarks. He has
looked over the Notifications, barracks,
camps, ordnance works of all classes and
in the intervals Of his work has written
three reports to the government covering
different features of European militarism.
After his return he will, with the assistance
of Captain Maus prepare another and more
comprehensive report in which will be era
bodied recommendations for the improve
ment of the United States army. Inciden-
tally, General Miles has met most of the
rulers of Europe, including Queen Victoria,
the Car of Russia, the Emperor of Ger
many, the Sultan of Turkey and the Pres
ident of France. The President of the
French republic, however, he considers to
be in every characteristic the peer of the
royalties of Europe. president Faure is
one of the most courtly dignified and ac-
complished men I have met in Eurepea he
said and added that the French republic
need have entertained no misgivings as TO
how it's chief magistrate would comport
himself during his recent visit of state to
the Gear, a question which at one time
deeply agitated the press of France.
General Miles talked interestingly to a
representative of the Associated Press of
his tour. and although he declined to give
any opinions on certain questions, as the
relative strength of the French and German
armies. his comments on the characteristics
of those two organizations as they i'm
pressed him while on exhibition in the field
maneuvers at Hamburg and st. Quentin,
were decidedly significant Concerning
changes which may be made in the organ
ization and equipment of the American
army as results of 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 with IN ms re-
ports and whether they would be MADE
known to the public depended on the Secre-
tary of war, to whom the reports were
made.
SAW ALL ARMIES BUT SPANS.
when l left Washington the war between
Turkey and Greece had assumed serious
proportions, and it looked as though neigh
boring provinces would be drawn into it,
and possibly one or two of the great pow
erS of Europe General Miles began. mo
one realized at that time that Greece had
assumed hostilities when she was wholly
unprepared for war; nor did any one an
ticipate that Turkey would in forty-flVe days
mobilize a great army of six hundred thou
sand men When | arrived at Constant-
NOBLE an armistice had been declared, and
the war was practically over, although the
armies remained in hostile attitude and It
has taken three months to agree on the
conditions Of peace for a war that had been
fought in five weeks. But as my mission
only partially concerned that war, ana as
the President and secretary OF war haQ
authorized me to visit such countries as |
might think advisable, for the purpose OF
military observation, continued my jour
ney looking over all the principal armies
of Europe. many of the most important
establishments, the principal gun factories
and foundries, where the material or war
is constructed, from the most minute small
caIiber proiectileS to the heaviest armOr
plate / have seen all the great armies or
Europe, except the Spanish army ana l
may possibly have an opportunity or seeing
that OF something over three million men
under arms, / have seen nearly Tour num-
dred thousand in barrack and III garrison
and in field maneuvers, BESIDES nearly one
hundred thousand men engaged in the con-
StructiOn of war material.
What have seen does not indicate that
the millennium is at hand, when SWORDS
will be beaten into plowshares. There
never was another time in the history OF the
world when so much energy, ingenuity anu
wealth were being devoted to war purposes.
The resources and industries of many peo-
pies are largely devoted to maintalning
large standing armies and formidable
nayies 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 policy oJnei of ' tbn
population fully equipped ana instructed IN
modern appliances of war. 1t so happened
that important events occurring IN europe
this wear have contributed to my oppor-
tlInities for observation, giving me chances
TO see the best of the armies OF all the great
movers The celebration of Queen VIC
toria's sixty-year reign brought together
6ftv thousand of her army and thirty-elght
thousand men of Der navy o 80,
sIshe field maneu yerS in Russia were con
drotad an large scale and were exceed
ingly interesting. Russia. for hundredS OF
years has been great mlhtaIy na1lon' I a,ed
her nonulation is so numerous and she is
so located geographically as TO De prac-
tically Independent OF the powers ol ene
world Though her government has been
antocratic and her people are behind the
age in enlightenment only per cent or
the population being able to READ, the rays
of intelIectual enlightenment are penetrat-
ing that vast region. and there Is great
future for Russia. What the headlight OF
The locomotive has done for our western
country i'm the last generation is now. to
some extent being done for that
country through the construction OF rail-
road across Siberia-one OF the greatest
enterprises of modern times. Remarkably
enoueh' If is being built under the direction
of q Self-made Russian prince, who served
his apprenticeship IN the machlne shops OF
pbiladeluhia but ike Peter the Great, has
become master of his trade and is now con-
trimming materially to the welfare OF RUS
sia The Russian army is composed Of
t~onos hardy men and IFS officers are high
" educated and skillful officials
A VAST MILITARY CAMP.
Germany is. one vast military camp. Tt
is geographically in such a position that it
is compelled to maintain a great military
force on the southeast is Austria, which
has been overrun by Germans On the
west is France which has been conquered
and a part of her territory taken away.
on the east side stands the great Russian
bear. and between the last two Germany
hnds it necessary to keep her powder dry.
The German army is kept under rigid dis
cipIine, is well drilled. makes the finest APP
pearance on parade, but it's lighting quail
tiles are no better than the English, Rus
sian or French armies.
Il saw part of the French maneuVerS
near St Quentin. The French army is not
spectacular in appearance yet ii has
solidity and earnestness of purpose which
Indicate that il is well equipped for war.
Its uniforms are not so handsome as those
If the German army, but are serviceable.
while its officers are skilled and intensely in
earnest. There were seventy thousand we'll
equipped Well-diSciplined troops, and the
review by the President was one OF the
finest displays | ever witnessed. The army
# seventy thousand passed the reviewing
tanG in q little more than two hours time.
md the entire body of cavalry, ten thou
and strong. charged across the field in one
old mass and halted but few yards from
he President in almost perfect line and
The correspondent suggested that Euro