The times., 1898-11-11

Santiago, we can take the place within
a few hours. Under these conditions
believe the town will surrender. II the
army is to take the place / want 1900
troops speedily, and 1t Is not certain that
they can be landed as 1t is getting
stormy. Sure and speedy way Is through
the bay. an now in position TO do my
part. SHAFTER, Major General"
TWO communications in the report are
couched In terms so strained as TO indi-
cate that Gems. Miles and Shafter were
not on the most cordial terms. The COM
munications follow:
"siboney. July II. 1sss-s:4s p. m.
"Received July IS, 1881
Gen. Miles. on Board Yale:
Letters and orders In reference to
movement of camp received and will be
carried out. None is more anxious than
myself TO get away from here. IL seems.
from your orders given me. that you re-
gard my force as part of your COM
mand. Nothing will give me greater
pleasure than serving under you. general,
and l shall comply with all your re-
quests and directions, but / was told by
the Secretary that you were not to super
sede me in command here. l will furnish
the Information called for as 20 condition
OF command to Gilmore, adjutant general,
army headquarters.
ohAt Elk, MAJOR General.
Headquarters of the Army,
Playa del Este, July IS, 1888.
'(Sent about 1885 a. M
Gen. Shafter:
Telegram received. Have no desire and
have carefully avoided any appearance OF
superseding you. Your command is a
part of the United States army, which 1
have the honor to command, having been
duly assigned thereto. and directed by the
President to go wherever / thought my
presence required, and give such general
directions as l thought best concerning
military matters. and especially directed
to go to Santiago for a specific purpose
You will also notice that the order OF the
Secretary Of War of July l3 left the mat
ter 10 my discretion. / should regret that
any event would cause either yourself
or any part of your command to cease to
be part of mine. Very truly yours.
NELSON A MILES.
Major General, Commanding L. S. A"
Praise for American Army
In concluding his report Gen. Miles
says:
IT Is gratifying to record that during
the war not a single defeat has been met.
and not prisoner, color, gun, or rifle has
been captured by the enemy. In this re-
and, perhaps. unparalleled. Under all
circumstances and in spite of many most
trying difficulties the troops have main
tanned the fortitude of the American
character and the honor of their arms.
His Recommendations
For several years 1 have urged the
Importance of the Governments adopting
| a standard of strength for its military
forces that should be commensurate with
the interests of the Government in its
growth and development. and proportion
ate to its population and wealth. Spas
modic vibration from a weak and inef-
fective army TO one OF gigantic proper
I tions does not seem 10 be Dest for the
welfare and safety of the nation and 1
think it more judicious for the Govern
ment TO fix certain percentage Of train
I ed military men in proportion to the pop
4 ulatiou-
THE army would thereby have more
| healthy growth as the nation develops.
/ In fact this system. il once adopted,
| would be as practicable for one hundred
\ years as for a single decade The art
| OF war was never so much ar exact
| science as at the present time. The ap-
| pliances used in modern warfare are con-
/ stantly changing. and are steadily in
! creasing in effective force; so that IL Is of
/ the utmost importance that the Govern
| ment should have the :aos: skilled and
| efficient forces practicable
! u therefore renew my former recon-
| mendatiOn that the Government authorize
enlistments in the army at the rate of
| one soldier to every 1.of9 of the popula-
| tion. This would practically continue
in service the same number as does the
act OF Congress approved April 26. 1898.
authorizing the increase OF the regular
army. provided for, viz: 62,5l9 men; but
unfortunately there was a provision in
that act which required the army to be
reduced TO its former peace basis. which
was entirely Inadequate 10 the needs and
interests of the Governmnt-
Garrisons for the Possessions.
Il also recommended that Congress
authorize an auxiliary force of native
troops. to be officered principally by United
States army officers. for service in Porte
Rico. Cuba and the Philippine Islands
not to exceed two soldiers TO every ons
thousand of the population of those isl
ands This would give the United State.
a most valuable auxiliary force. IT woulC
paeify the native elements of the Islands
and would be in the interests of econ
omy and good government This force
| could be used in a way similar to th'
mounted police in Canada and the Brit
ish forces in Egypt and India
Il recommend that Congress be re
quested to take immediate action upol
this question of increasing the army. a
consider it of vital Importance II tn
system | have suggested is adopted /
would give us very nearly an availabi
force of 100000 men, and would enabl
the volunteers who enlisted for the wa
to be returned TO their homes without de
J Law"