The times., 1898-09-05
TO ROB Miles OF GLORY
Alger NetOes a Parade of the
Porto Rican Army.
MUST DISBAND AT ONCE
The Troops VIII Not BE Allowed TO
Even Stop I'm New York. Much
Less Participate I'm the Proposed
Demonstratfon-The Alleged AMI
mus Which Prompts the Action.

The breach between Secretary Alger
and Gen. Miles has been widened and
made deeper. army officers say, by the
action of the Secretary in vetoing Gen.
Niles's proposed spectacular display in
New York of his army from Porto Rico.
Before sailing for this country. Gen.
Miles requested by cable that a camping
ground be selected near New York,
where his soldiers could rest for several
days before being sent to the Sta-e
camps 10 be mustered out While in
camp near New York. it was proposed,
and the same met favor with Gen. Miles.
that the troops be paraded through the
city and reviewed by the commanding
general
On September Gen. Miles sent the fol-
lowing cablegram to Col Kimball:
-Four thousand six hundred troops sail
on the OLDHAM, Concho, Chester, Alamo,
Mississippi and Manitoba. Have asked
that camp be selected at or near Brook
lyn Heights, where organizations can be
gotten together and troops rested for
few days before going home. All field
transportation and nearly all the horses
are left in Porto Rico. sail on OLDHAM
today. MILES,
AIger's Move-On Orders.
Acting in accordance with this message.
Col. Kimball was arranging for the use
of Forest Park, Brooklyn, or Sea Girt, n.
J., as a camping place for the Porto Ri
can army, when Secretary Alger put a
Quietus the arrangements He in
formed Col. Kimball Saturday that he
need go no further in providing camp,
as the troops from Porto Rico were not
-
any other purpose, but that they would
be at once transported by rail to their
State camps or armories to be mustered
out. The Secretary added that only the
sick who were too weak or Ill TO travel
would be allowed to stop in New York or
vicinity. He also stated that eight COM
panies of the Second Wisconsin Regiment
had been mustered out while the trans
ports were at sea. and those soldiers win,
OF course, be sent Immediately to their
homes.
His Alleged Reasons.
The animus of Secretary Alger in re-
fusing to grant the request of Gen. Miles
is apparent. Gen. Shafter and his troops
ere in such condition that they cannot be
given any public reception in New York
City. Gen. Alger. it is argued. therefore
declined to permit Gen. Miles to appear
paign, in advance of Gen Shafter.
Michigan man, and the special protege of
the Secretary Of War.
The reasons assigned by Secretary
Alger for his refusal to permit Gen.
Aiies's troops 10 parade are not consider
ed valid by at least two War Depart
ment officials These say that Miles's
troops, coming from as severe climate
as that where Shafter fought. are en-
titled TO a rest in camp, and that either
Sea Girt or Forest Park would have been
desirable spot for this purpose.
There Is No Appeal.
The order of the Secretary. however.
permits OF no appeal, and Gen. Miles.
considering his expressed desire to have
the New York parade, will undoubtedly
be disappointed when orders are handed
him TO the contrary on his arrival in this
country.
Some army officers say that considering
the attack made by Gen. Miles already
on the War Department, he will be likely
20 again openly criticise the Secretary for
this open snub.
An Army Officers Opinion.
Another army officer, referring to the
episode, said:
Gen. Miles will not be court-martialed
for his alleged criticisms of his superior
officers. for the reason that every ac-
cused man must be tried by court COM
posed of his peers. Now. q court requires
eleven members. and there are only four
major generals in the army.
''The President is commander-in-chief.
and has the power to slelye Gen. Miles
by assigning him to inspect the fortifica-
tions of Honolulu or any other duty that
hi h. of
war. Something of this kind may be done
if the matter is carried much further.
Gen Miles may not relish the way he has
been treated from the beginning of the
war, but it is difficult to see how ne can
help himself.
A Systematic Plan.
There has been a systematic plan from
the first to prevent Miles from getting
any more glory out of the war than could
be helped. Whether or not this is due to
q fear that Miles might get into politics
II he carried off the principal honors of
the war may be conjectured.~
Certain It IS Miles cannot be court
martialed, and he cannot be retired, as
NE lacks five years of the age limit His
situation may become similar to that of
Sherman during the civil war, when il
was made so uncomfortable for him in
Washington that he went off TO St Louis.
in Sherman's case an Attorney General
who was anita gonistic had the ear of the
President Pretty nearly the same thing
may be found to exist if Gen. Miles opens
up his batteries upon his return
According TO calculations made here,
the first Of Gen. Miles's transports should
be in port next Wednesday and the others
within day or two later.