The times., 1898-06-19
REQUESTED TO EXPLAIN
Gen. Miles Spends an Unpleas-
ant Hour With the President.
CRITICISED HIS SUPERIOR
Rumors OF n Disagreement Between
the Ranking General md the Sec
retary OF War Apparently Veri-
hed-Report That Miles Will lie
by Gen. Corbin.

From time TO time during the past few
weeks there have been oft-repeated and
persistent rumors of a coldness between
Major General Miles. commanding the
Army. the President and the Secretary of
War.
The President has now taken the posi-
ton of defending the attitude of Secre-
tary Alger and while it cannot be said
that their differences have reached
point where the Secretary of War and
The commander of the armies openly an
tagonize one another, there is no longer
any doubt Of the personal feeling hither-
70 rumored TO exist between the two high
Pst officials Of the War Department.
After the lapse OF nearly thirty-six
hours since his return from the South,
Gen. Miles was ushered into the presence
Of the President by Secretary Alger at
n:30 yesterday morning.
The conference between the general, the
Secretary and the President continued for
more than an hour but what took place
has not transpired. Secretary Alger had
previously had an interview with the Presi-
nent before breakfast and it is under
stood that his early call was concerned
with the immediate future of Gen. Miles.
The entire affair was significant from
the fact that after Gen. Miles had been
closeted with the President and the Sec
retary Of War for over an hour, Secretary
Long. Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn,
Admiral Sicard and Capt. Mahan, the last
TWO named being members of the STRAIT
egy Board, were called into the confer
ence, which was then prolonged for an
Dther hour.
termined the exact status of Gen.
Miles in the presence Of Secretary AL
ger, the President called in the partici-
patton OF the second conference to advise
them OF a newly arranged condition OF
affairs.
II was very evident that Gen Miles
left the conference chamber in anything
but a happy frame OF mind and sorely
displeased with the results OF his inter
view. Ii was with a display OF consid-
cradle I'll humor that he declined TO give
out any statement concerning the signifi-
canoe of his call or why il had been de-
layed so long.
II is said that while in the South, not
anticipating his recall Gen. Miles took
occasion TO severely criticise Secretary
Alger on several scores. and his reports TO
the Administration were a trifie arro-
CANT and presuming in text.
Ii is positively known that the recall Of
Gen. Miles was ordered by the President
he being greatly annoyed by the friction
between the Secretary OF War and the
ranking commander Of the army. In the
interest Of the army. il is said, the Pres
ident decided to call Gen. Miles back, hav-
ing concluded that the differences be-
tween him and the Secretary could be bet
ter controlled here in Washington.
To the best intelligence available con-
cerning the conference yesterday, Gen.
Miles was called upon 10 make a general
explanation Of things he had done TO the
displeasure Of the Administration since
leaving for the South Among other
things he was asked TO explain from
military point of view a certain famous
message sent from his Southern rendez-
vous in convenient hotel wherein he
set forth that there was an abundance Of
provisions on hand 10 feed the troops,
but the provisions We're locked up in
freight cars, awaiting the arrival Of bills
OF lading Hence the complaints Of hard
camp mess.
The Secretary of War wanted 10 know
why Gen. Miles should sit down and see
&c 600 soldiers go hungry because Of the
absence Of formal bills of lading.
Just what more took place at the con-
ference is not definitely known, but il is
common talk in Administration circles
that Gen. Miles viii not again be sent
South. Il is further rumored that Adjt Gen.
Corbin will be ordered South 10 take up
the work OF personally directing prelim-
mary operations where Gen. Miles left
on
A very significant fact is that Gen.
Miles has not accomplished a single Off
cisl act since his return. He has not even
made the official report Of his investiga-
tions in the South, which was expected
10 govern future operations to some eX-
tent. Criticism of him in his own depart
ment is mere free and unguarded than
ever
Another development of Gen. Miles's
recall is that his opposition 10 an imme
diate Cuban campaign will no longer be
considered. He has failed TO convince the
Administration why western Cuba cannot
be invaded with the same success as
Porto Rico and eastern Cuba, when there
IS practically no difference in climatic
conditions. 1t has been Gen. Miles's idea
10 postpone the invasion of Cuba until
October J. but IL is evident that his advice
has lost a great deal Of its weight with
the Administration
Simultaneous with his recall renewed
zest has developed in the work at the
War Department.
IT was learned today that the Ordnance
Department is expecting early results
from telegraph orders dispatched yester-
day for equipments for the Eighth Ohio,
Sixth Illinois and Sixth Massachusetts
Regiments. These regiments comprise
the First Brigade Of the Second Division
under the command Of Gen. Garrison,
and will be hurried TO Fernandina, Fla,
as soon as their equipments arrive. The
Porto Rican expedition is mobilizing at
Fernandina, and ii is expected that the
First Brigade from Camp Alger will en-
bark for the South 10 join the invasion
early next week
Other events all point TO the fact that
another head VIII be placed in immediate
charge Of military activities 1t is not
known yet what viii be the exact future
status of Gen. Miles in the War Depart
ment. Technically. OF course il Will re-
main unchanged. but there will probably
be a tacit understanding that the rank
ing commander is 10 yield TO another in
active executive affairs. He will remain
nominally at the head Of the Army.
The present state OF affairs is very
regrettable al this time, and is deplored
by the Administration. Gen Miles has
a following in his department, which is
outnun5ered however, by his enemies
il would naturally follow that friction
viii result and eventually spread
throughout the entire department, to the
serious inconvenience OF the conduct Of
SITS affairs.
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