Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-09-01

AUTHORITY = GENERAL MILES
HAS TAKEN CARE THAT THESE
RECORDS BE WHERE THEY NAY
BE REACHED-HE is READY FOR
THE FIGHT, AND THE WORD
TREASON" WILL FIGURE IN
PROCEEDINGS TO BE HAD LATER.
MILES WILL NOT BE ON THE
DEFENSIVE, AND WILL FORCE
THE FIGHTING.
Special to the Register.
Philadelphia, August 31-The Phila-
delphia Times whose editor, Col. A. X
Mcclure. through his official connec-
ton with the War Department during
the civil war, was placed in close touch
with several martial, has the fol-
lowing from Washington, bearing upon
the big fight between General Miles
and the Secretary of War, which every
one expects will begin as soon as Gen
eral Miles returns from Porto Rico:
THE ARTICLE.
III dill lHleINieW IotCItldIy Anger says.
Il do not believe that General Miles
gave that interview in Porto Rico. He
would not be so foolish as to do a
thing which would subject him to ar
rest and punishment"
This statement shows a faulty mem
DRY On the part of General Alger, be-
cause he surely must remember that
certain officers ran away from battle
and impending battle during the civil
war, thereby doing "a thing which
would subject them to arrest and pun
ishment."
But for his faulty memory General
Alger would be able to recall certain
instances where officers were court
martialed for cowardice in the presence
of the enemy Moreover, he would
know that the War Department files
contains the records OF those court
martial until this day.
Further, if he were fully advised, he
would know that there are photo
graphed copies of the proceedings of
two courtmartial proceedings within
reach of General Miles or his friends,
the photographs having been taken be-
cause of the apprehension that certain
parties in power in the War Depart
ment might lose or suppress the orlgi-
mails
TWO OTHER COURTJAIART1ALS.
1t may be news to General Aiger, but
it is a statement Of fact that photo
graphs exist, reproducing the original
papers in the case Of at least two court
martial cases. One OF them occurred
in Virginia and the other in Tennessee.
The officers who were so foolish as TO
do "a thing which would subject them
to arrest and punishment are stalking
abroad In the land to-day clothed with
official authority, and they are intent
upon the destruction OF the brave sol
der. General Nelson A. Miles, who
never lost a battle during thIrty-seven
years of continuous service in the army
from the ranks to supreme command.
1t is strange that such creatures
should have attacked General Miles,
even though they temporarily held van
tage ground. They were encouraged
with the false hope that President Nc
Kinley would sustain them. They VIII
live to bitterly rue that fatal error.
President Mckinley personally knows
that General Miles on July saved
General Skaters army from destruc-
ton. President Mckinley WI not con-
sent to the destruction of the i,an who
saved that army, thereby saving thou
sands of human lives, and also saving
this country from national humlila-
tan.
General Miles will not deny the inter-
view which was sent from Porto RICO
by the correspondent Of Kansas City
paper. That
INTERVIEW WAS GENUINE,
authentic and General Miles will stand
by il. He has simply stated some dis
agreeable truths concerning the con-
duct of the war.
The War Department officials need
not assume that he will deny anything
or permit himself 10 be put upon the
defensive.
The published interview which has
caused so much Of a stir and has plac-
ed the War Department upon delen-
sive footing and in an explanatory at
titude Is merely a mild beginning 81
the hand to hand conflict which vii
take place soon after General Miles ar
rives in Washington, unless two gen
tIemen who were court martiaied FOR
cowaTdice in the presence Of the enemy
during the civil war find il convenient
10 run away from the outraged soldier
whom they have unsuccessfully tried
TO destroy.
That there need be no nisunder-
standing Of the situation by the War
Department. it may be stated that be-
fore General Miles has been here ten
days he will utter
THE WORD TREASON"
Some newspapers in denouncing the
mismsuagement wh.rh resulted in the
sacriice IF the lives # our soldiers who
we're s,aughtered in their tents and
on hospital ships. after General Miles
had endeavored 10 saw their lives,
have used the terrible word Murder"
and have denounced the -espon.-ble
parties as NJ rderers. while they
have echoed the original demand Of
the people that the responsibility shall
be fixed
But the word Treason" has even a
more ugly sound than the word "Nnr-
der II carries with it lasting place
in history for the gull party. TIE
people need not Re surpris 81 when
General Miles assumes the position
that the man who prevented the Presi-
dart of ,he I-piYed gates from rprd