Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-12-17
MILES And SCHOEIELD)-
Before the House Committee on
Military Affairs
THE FRICTION IN HIGE PLACES.

General Schofield CriticIzes tAe system
Which Makes the Commanding GEN.
eral Subordinate to War Secretary.
Miles on Civilian IncompeteScy.
Washington. Dec. 13.-Befoia the
house committee on military sffairs
yesterday General Miles declared that
10000 soldiers were needed abroad and
$4,000 at home. When asked When
will the Cuban government be origin
ized?' he replied: II do not know:
that is a political question"
General Schofield, who preceded Gen.
eral Miles in command of the army,
devoted his chief attention to the fric-
ton inevitably arising between the sec
rotary of war and the commanding
general under the present system. The
trouble arose out of the system which
gave the head of the army the name
OF commanding general. when in fact
he had little or no authority, or even
influence as commanding general.
Whether he does anything depends
largely on his personal relations with
the secretary OF war. If these rela-
tions are not cl-se then the secretary
Of war gets to ignoring the So called
commanding general. General Schofield
thought the army should consists OF
about 10000 Cor the Philippines. $1,000
to 10000 for Cuba. 5000 TO 5000 for Porto
Rico. 1900 for manning and caring for
Notifications. 10000 for the Indian
country and 1900 as a reserve.
After General Schofield had conclud-
ed General Miles spoke briefly on what
had been said as to the commanding
general. He said the laws now clearly
recognized this position as commanding
general. and one of these laws made
the general commanding the army a
member. ex-oficio. Of the Notifications
board He did not approve the sug-
gestion that the head of the army be
an executive STAFF officer to the presi-
dent. During most OF the time in the
last 100 years the army had been under
the command of a general or lieutenant
general. and that was the practice the
world over. General Miles said he did
not speak from a personal standpoint
as he was ready to be retired at any
time. But he believed in the principle
OF rank and authority commensurate
with the responsibility
General Miles said in reply 20 a cues
ton that he thought it would be bet
ter for the president to have the war
minister more particularly direct the
vast administrative work OF the war
ONB~At NihCHtt Dis IL was 1n4nlICSttY I'M
possible for any man to come from civil
life and at once become familiar with
all the latest appliances of war. IL
the one occupying the chief military
position was not liked then let some one
else be placed in military authority.
But the selection should not be from
so far down the list as TO amount to
favoritism, for that would not be APP
proved by the people. General Miles
pointed out that three major generals.
Merritt. Brooke and himself, had come
through the recent war without hone of
recognition. He cared nothing as TO
himself, but he urged that the services
Of General Merritt and General Brooke
had been such that the rank of lieu
tenant general for them. os would be
given under his bin. would be emf
nently fitting. In this connection he
referred to the cruel working OF the
system by which Meade. Hancock and
Thomas had never received the rank
and recognition due them for eminent
services, two Of them go,SS broken
hearted TO their graves.
General Schofield strongly endorsed
what General Miles had said