The Springfield herald., 1898-06-24
ARE HARD TO SUIT.
PRESIDENTS ADVISORS DISA.
GREE.
General, Miles pisapproves of Big Camp
at rnandinn-Opposition to Generni
CoppInger-No Expedition to spain.


CopplnEer-No Expedition to Spain.
Chicago, June ia special to the
Record from Washington says'
In n multitude of counselors there
NAV be wisdom, but there Is usually
n good deal of confusion also, ana
President Mckinley has learned by ex-
pcricnce. He is n man of abundant
caution, and while he may be too de-
libernte to suit many people he taxes
the advice of Davy Crockett and is
sure he is right before he goes ahead.
For that reason he summoned General
| Miles from Tampa. much against the
| latter's wishes, although the general
should consider 1t Il compliment TO be
called 800 miles back TO talk with ms
commander-in-chicf. AS stated IN
these dispatches last night, nothing mas
been definitely determined about the
cXDedition to Porto Rico. Inc secre
tary of war and his subordinates had
formed pretty plan, with nll detalls,
but the President declined TO approve
II until he had consulted General Miles.
The latter arrived this morning in his
private car, with Its porcelain path
tub and other luxurious appurtenances
that have been the cause OF criticism
and comment. but instead of setting
the open question in speedy manner
he threw the whole game in confusion
and upset the calculations of the rest
of the department by the objections ne
raised to their plans.
rhere has been n good deal of fric-
t,on between General Miles and the
secretary of war from the beginning,
as | have frequently stated in these
dispatches, and there was never more
than mt present The Alger plan in
brief is to moboliZe 10000 or 35,Ooo
troops at Fernandina. Florida, and ship
! them to Porto Rico from that point un-
der command of Major General Cop
pinger.
In the first place. there has been CON
siderable objection to Coppinger. He is
n foreigner: he is not graduate OF
/ West Point; he was not citizen of the
United States until he became briga-
der general. and even then took out
naturalization papers only for the pur-
nose of Joining the Loyal Legion; he
is Catholic, and it is argued he
should not be sent in command OF
troops to n Catholic country like Porto
Rico. But General Coppinger has
strong friends, who contend that the
objections raised contain the very best
has the strong backing of General
Miles and Adjutant General Corbin,
and. although when he was appointed
a brigadier general four or five years
ago, he did not stand very high profes-
sionally, it is claimed at the War De-
partmeut no man in the list OF depart
ment commanders has made better
record than he, 1t is almost certain
that the President will accept the rec
concentrations of Miles and Corbin and
let Coppinger lead the Porto Rican eX-
pedition.
General Miles, however. will not al
low himself to be drawn into the rail-
road fight, and has made recommen-
dation which, although 1t upsets the
plans of the War Department, seems
to be practical and sensible. He rec
ommends that the troops and supplies
now at Tampa be shipped from that
place, where temporary facilities have
been provided and the experience OF
the Cuban expedition has taught many
valuable lessons. He sees no reason
why these facilities should be aban-
doned and the troops and supplies
transferred to another point simply Tor
the purpose of loading them on trans
ports. He suggests that the troops and
from Fernandina, those at Chickamau-
GA from Brunswick and those Mt
Washington from Newport News or
Baltimore or equally convenient ports.
General Miles argues that it is use
less expense to take troops out of one
camp and establish them in another
unless they are to remain permanent
ly Mt the second place. Nothing can be
gained, for example, in taking troops
from Chickamauga to Fernandina ana
allowing them to remain there until
they are ready to go to sea. He urges
that they be retained Mt Chickamauga
until the transports are ready to re-
ceiye them, so that they can march
aboard from the cars as soon as they
arrive. Nor does he see any advantage
in sending the entire expedition from
single place. 1t will save long and
expensive journey to ship the troops
now at Washington from Newport
News or Baltimore instead of taxing
them to Fernandina or Tampa, and a,
either of the former places better ia
cilities exist for handling men, live
stock and supplies.
General Miles has been spending the
afternoon trying to convince Secretar!
Alper of the advantages of his plan
The President and Cabinet regard i
very favorably and it will probably b'
adopted.
There is no intention Of sending ;
fleet across the sea. The matter ha
not even been seriously considered
Several persons have suggested at diff
ferent times that it would be a goot
idea to lombard Cadiz or some othe
of the Spanish ports. The capture o
the Canary islands has also been ad
vocated in various quarters, but th'
president thinks our army ana nav.
have plenty to do nearer home at pres
ent, and that they will be kept bus.
on this side of the water until tn
Spanish flag is removed from Ameri
can soil and the United States is II
possession of all the Spanish-Ameri
can colonies.