The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-05-06

tnat the boys who enlist to 20 on a pic
mic may as well take their knapsacks
and haversacks with them. He believes
that the camp at Chattanooga will be
maintained. and the troops will not be
sent to Cuba until some time in the
faii-after the Cuban rainy season Is
over. That will be some time during
the latter part of September or early
In October. Miller is a close friend Of
Secretary Alger
Warned by Consul Brice.
Consul Brice, who recently returned
from Matanzas. Cuba, was at the Cap
itol today, and said:
When / left Matanzas there were
800 Americans there who did not be-
lieve there would be war. / warned
them and urged them to leave, but they
entertained the opinion that diplomatic
negotiations would result in peace.
apprehend that all of them will be as
sasssinated. do not believe that the
reconcentrados will be killed, but do
believe that the brutality Of their treat
ment will be accumulated today, or as
soon as II Is known there that HOSTILE
ties must begin.
1.-THE harbor of Matanzas was not
mined until recently. Several days be-
fore left there 1 observed Spanish off,
GERS surveying the harbor, particularly
in the channels leading to the buoys
/ am satisfied that now mines have
been placed so that 1t will be danger
Gus for our warships or for our ships
carrying food supplies to enter the har-
Dor.
There are now more than 600 tons Of
food supplies in Matanzas, and they
have been distributed to the reconcen-
trados by the British consul OF course,
now that the war is on, the Spaniards
will confiscate all that food and will use
it for their own soldiers instead Of CIV
ing it to the starving people, Therefore,
except for the purpose of showing to
the world that humanitarian philan-
thropy actuates our people, 1t would be
useless to send another ship loaded with
provisions at this time.
Easy of Access.
1.-THE harbor Of Matanzas Is open and
easy of access, and is not so land
locked with a narrow entrance as the
harbor at Havana. 1t Is eleven miles
from the harbor entrance to the city
Of MatanZas, and the long distance
power Of our rified guns will be thor
oughly tested in order to prove their
accuracy and destructibility."
Now that the war has begun a great
deal of public interest centers in the
commander of the army AT the begin
ming of the civil war Lieutenant Gen.
eral Scott was in command of the fed
eral army. General Scott was a self
made soldier, never having received
military education.
Although there are many West Point
ers in our army, the senior major gen.
eral is a self-made soldier, never hav-
ing received military education. Gen.
eral Miles comes Of a fighting stock, be-
ing descended from that race which has
participated in the battles of the world,
always on the side of freedom and lib
erty, and achieving those boons for all
races other than that which today
clamors for home rule at the hands of
Great Britain. His mother, Miss Cur
tiss came from English ancestry. Gen.
eral Miles Is descended from Rev. John
Miles, who came to America in 1862 and
settled in Swansea, Mass. The revered
gentleman commanded a company of
frontiersmen who fought against King
Philip the Indian chief, who became so
celebrated as a successful leader of the
aborigines against the encroaching
Caucasians. General Miles GRANDPA
ther was a soldier in the war of 1912.
Wounded Three Times.
General Miles was. wounded three
times and received the brevet Of briga-
der general of volunteers for gallantry
in action at Charlottesville, May ga,
1863. One year later, almost on the
same ground, when the army Of the
Potomac crossed the Rapidan and en-
gagged in that terrific grapple with the
army of northern Virginia in the Will
derness, he rendered conspicuous serv-
ices and was promoted to the full rank
of brigadier general for gallantry in
that action. He fought in the Wilder
ness, at Pc river, Spottsylvania Court
House, North Anne and all the way to
Cold Harbor, a battle which continued
day and night for more than q month.
He attracted the attention of General
Meade and Of the entire army at Ream's
Station, and for that gallantry he was
breveted major general Of volunteers
Aug. %, 1864. Oct. Fl, 1865 he was COM
missioned full major general of volun-
teers and remained in the service with
that grade until Sept. l. 1866, when he
was mustered out of the volunteer
service. That, in brief, is the history
of General Miles during the five years
which he spent in the volunteer armies
of the country, and it is unparalleled
for gallantry and successful achieve
ment in the field. He was without
scholastic training, his original infor-
nation concerning military affairs was
probably less than that Of many men
in the ranks of the volunteer armies,
for there were cultured, educated men
in every company that went forth to
battle for the Union. But he was a
constant student, keen, alert and pat
rotic, and such q man was bound to
rise and command the attention of his
superior officers. On March 2, 1867, he
received the brevet of brigadier general
and major general in the regular army
in recognition of his services at Cham
cellosville and Spotsylvania.
General Miles an Athlete.
General Miles is a hard rider. He
is an athlete. He is tall, erect, soldier
ly in appearance, a splendid horseman,
and a perfect marksman either with a
rifle or a revolver. He rides a bicycle
and rides II well. He is a swimmer,