The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-04
MILES HEAVY CANNoNADING.
NE ALREADY ATTACKS HIS Enc
NILES AT WASHINGTON.

observation-disclosures Favored Miles
Tn His Operations at Santiago and
1orto Rico and He Returns Home
More Popular Than Ever His
Ureotment of Gen. Shafter Gener-
ally commended - Disarmed His
rnemies by a Cool FOrethought.
washington, Sept. 3.-Gen. Miles is blaz-
,ng his way back to Washington from
porto Rico by a fierce attack upon his
enemies in the war department. His
beavv cannonading is again heard in his
favored newspapers and some of his care
fuIlv primed shots have taken effect In
seereary Ayers office.
While Secretary Alger and those who
co-operated with him in the alleged at
tempt to suppress Gen. Miles are on the
defensive the latter is pursuing an aggres-
sivf campaign which must eventually re
splt in a board of inquiry to determine
under what circumstances Gen. Miles was
committed to go to Santiago and Porto
Rico.
Those who are familiar with the status
If Cen. Miles in the war Office during the
early Stages Va tAlC wal hiAOW N44N-N eN-N-N
was a studied and determined effort to
ignore the commanding general of the
army in the consideration of great mill
tarv problems. He made no attempt TO
conceal his modification and chagrin at
the treatment he received at the hands
of the Secretary of War. and he venti-
lated his grievances freely among his
friends and acquaintance in and out of
the military branch of the service. He
was hungry for an opportunity to display
his personal valor and military genius
against hte Spanish foe. At the secretary
office he was put off from day to day with
vague promises and soothing intimation
that his services would be employed
where they would do most good to the
army and the nation.
Important military movements were con-
sdered without the knowledge of the com
handing general and when conclusions
we're reached and official action to be
taken, he was formally notified by the
general or special orders in the most per-
mnctory manner through the regular bus
mess channels of the department.
The pride of Gen Miles was desperately
wounded by the persistent and consistent
Efforts OF MS OlllCldl GIlGulLCS " OCiANAAAhS
him in the eyes of the army and his
eountrymen.
At the White House he received but
scant considera ton, and various reasons
we're given out indirectly in explanation
Of the putting aside of Miles. His alleged
egotism, vanity. fondness for display in
the public prints, were but tame accusa~
tons made against him, compared with
some of the whisperings passed around
uit sacred circles of high official
society II was intimated that he is vic
tim to a weakness which might incapaci-
tale him for effective service under GER
tain conditions. II was repeatedly assert
ed unofficially, in connection with Miles
that "a man who could not control him
self could not be trusted to assume con-
trol of his fellow men,"
If the Miles controversy is honestly and
thoroughly vestigated, as 1t is apt to be,
it will probably be shown that this was
one Of the principal reasons why a pre-
judlce against Gen. Miles existed in the
Office Of Secretary Alger, and to GER
tain degree extended to the White House.
The ingenuity and tact of the war de-
paItment was taxed to extreme limits to
find plausible excuses for the inaction of
Cen Miles during those days. Important
councils of war were held at the war de-
partment and at the White House, to
which Gen. Miles was never summoned.
Confusing statements as to his future
movements were given out by authority
which only tended to darken the clouds
Of mystery that surrounded the impatient
and ambitious commanding general of the
army.
In the meantime Gen. Shafter was sent
to Santiago in command of an invading
army. 1t was soon apparent that the
Santiago campaign was languishing eth
er for the want of an adequate force or
from lack of efficiency on the part of the
commanding officer. When the inside his
tory of the Santiago campaign is faith
fully written, it will be demonstrated that
while Gen. Shafter may be a brave SOL
der and a winner, he is woefully deficient
IN the art of transmitting comprehensive
communication to his superior officers
during the excitement of a campaign In
the tropics.
Some of the dispatches he sent to Wash
inston Just before the surrender of San
uago were so conflicting and unsatisfac-
tory to the President and the members
OF the cabinet that he was repeatedly
Ieprlmanded in mild terms and appealed
70 be more explicit in his official reports.
il cannot be successfully denied that on
more than one occasion the President was
thoroughly veXed at the eXasperating in
deliniteness of some of Gen. Skaters Off
cal communications concerning the San
uago campaign.
The Whole world remembers the doleful
dispatches Gen. Shafter sent to Washing
ton July g. which We're not given to The
public until Sunday morning, July 4. 1t
VIII be recalled that he made a frantic
appeal foT reinforcements and confessed
ms weakness-an almost fatal weakness
IN a commanding oficer-by admitting that
he had underestimate the strength of the
enemy Some of the comments upon Gen.
e1alter, at that particular period, by per-
sons high in authority, would not be agree
aole reading to that officer and his Admir-
eFS Just now. Cons formation prevailed at
Ue war department, and the excitement
spread to the White House, and thence
throughout the country. The result was
series of hurried councils of war on that
etenIui Sahbah morning of July 4.
9en. Shafter was not the only command
ing officer severely arragned for the sad
condition of affairs at Santiago, which
threatened 10 result so disasterously to the
american forces ON land and sea When
"Ilaln members of the administration had
tAh"usted their supply of denunciation of
zen Shaftcr, charging him with lack Of
!1oSmenS, ineficiency and timidity, they
onened their vituperative batteries upon