The times., 1898-11-18
GEN. MILES SERENE.
II There Is IA Congregational Investi-
cation He VIII Testify.

prominent army official yesterday, in
speaking of the treatment accorded Gen.
Miles by those in the War Department
who are hostile to the commanding gen
eral. said:
THE Bureau of Defamation. of the War
Department. recently gave publicity to
baseiess attack upon Major General Miles,
through the columns of its chief organ.
This was done probably to give the pub
lie TO understand that. from time to time,
the Bureau OF Defamation Will issue its
brutal bulletins. and continue its manifes-
tations of hostility TO the soldier who
never turned his back upon a foe, and
never lost battle during his thirty-seven
years of continuous service In the army
of his country.
This attack called forth the declaration
that Gen. Miles defes his enemies in
the columns of a newspaper which has
always consistently defended Gen. Miles
from the malicious attacks which have
been made upon him by the Bureau Of
Defamation.
This latter statement does not correct
Iy define the situation. Gen. Miles does not
defy his enemies. He simply endures.
Gen Miles will not seek a Congress
sional investigation on the conduct Of the
war He will not attack Aiger nor COrbin.
! He will not make reply to any inspired
criticisms of himself No subsidized organ
In this city or in any other city. can
provoke Gen. Mics to the point Of talk
ing back for publication. He will say
no more than he said in the Porto Rican
Interview. But. If there should be spon-
taneous Congressionai Investigation.
brought about solely by public sentiment.
Gen. Miles will prove TO be willing wit
ness. and an interesting one.
The public wrongs and The private
wrongs which have been committed: the
crimes perpetrated which caused death in
| many cases. disease and the permanent
| grecking of so many thousands OF lives;
will take their place in history. and be
I read of all men in all time. But Gen.
Miles will not now undertake to exploit
those wrongs and crimes. The Lv 5
| wasted and wrecked cannot now be re-
stored by controversy. The criminals
| have thus far escaped without other pun
| ishment than universal condemnation
! continuing Iurliler upon the subject,
| the speaker also remarked:
Mai Gen Miles never issued an order
on May 9, nor on any other date. direct
| ing that the entire army should be sent
TO Cuba The Secretary of War desired
| that such a movement should be made.
| Gen Miles opposed the insane PROPOSE
ton; and opposed 1t successfully. The
| commanding general made many plans
and outlines of plans. covering every con-
tingency which might arise. One of his
plans covered the ground for the move
| ment of the entire army. provided that
such a movement should at any time be-
come a military necessity. But he issued
| no order for a movement of that nature
Very soon these matters will be dis
missed as ancient history. because there
| is reason now to believe that potential
efforts are being made 10 prevent a sim
cere and genuine Cong ressional investiga-
ton of the conduct of the war 1t was
| learned yesterday at army headquarters
| that Chairman Hawley. of the Senate
| Committee on Military Affairs. and Con-
| gressman Hull. Chairman of the House
Committee on Military Affairs. have been
| approached with the proposition that in
vestigation resolutions be smothered or
| long delayed in their committees. If this
| can be done, the criminals will go un-
scathed, except by their scared con-
sciences: and by their consciousness of
| popular condemnation. and of unenviab,e
places in the pages of history.
Gen Miles is doing nothing aggressive
| He is simply looking on as the procession
! of mud singers pass slowly into OBJ
| livion.''