The herald., 1898-11-11
GENTLE ART
HIS PHENOMENAL SUCCESS IN
MAKING ENEMIES
Generals Miles, Merritt and Breckin-
ridge Arrayed Against the Secre-
tary-Congress Will Act

| WASHINGTON, Nov. l0.-The action of
Secretary Alger during the war with Spain
has arrayed against him three of the most
prominent and able officers of the army
Major General Nelson A. Miles, Major Gen
eral Wesley Merritt and Brigader General
John {. Breckenridge, inspector general
| General Breckenridge was removed from
the head of the inspector generals office at
the beginning of the war to hamper General
Miles. General Brcckinridge's department
is looked upon by army officers more as an
adjunct OF the headquarters OF the army
than otherwise. Not satisfied with this,
Secretary Alger removed the oldest officers
in point of experience from the inspector
generals department and put in their places
inexperienced civilian appointees. This
was regarded as a most extraordinary pro-
cedure, and to the fact that the inspector
generals Office was without experienced
men is directly traceable many OF the camp
horrors.
General Breckenridge was returned to
duty in the inspector generals department
without notice to himself. He had been
elevated to major general of volunteers,
and it is customary to consult these high
officers before changing their assignments.
General Breckinridge's friends assert that
his ISluIl " tHc ltlSlSctOi SShtlul QC-
partment was in the nature of punishment
for an interview given out in Lexington,
Ky, purporting to detail converse ton be-
tween himself and General Shafter, i'll which
the latter desired to turn over the command
of the forces at Santiago to him. 1t has
been demonstrated that General Breckin-
ridge did not give out the interview, but the
secretary of war holds that he inspired it.
General Breckenridge is now permitted to-
sit around his office with apparently nothing
to do Instead of reports complaining of
conditions in the army being referred to him,
they are, at the direction of the secretary of
war, sent direct to the commission appoint
ed to investigate the conduct of the war
department. He is now practically figure
head in the department, with no duties to
perform.
Army officers charge that the admin
istration of Secretary Alcer is disorganiz
ing the army and creating discomfort and
The subordinate officers
of the army are as much disgruntled as are
those of high rank. These men all have
warm friends in congress, and at the COM
ing session will make Il strong effort to show
some of tie mismanagement of the war de-
partment by bringing about a congressional
While General Shafter has never denied
that he contemplated retreating before the
Spanish at Santiago, all his published utter
ances have been such as to lead to the i'm
preston that this was not even considered. |
Yet it is known that in one of his dispatches
he distinctly stated that he would in all
be compelled to retire, and that
"by prompt action he hoped to save his ar
tillery" Officers who were in the campaign
assert that General Shafter had even pre-
pared the orders for the retreat, and was
only prevented from issuing them by Gener-
ais Wheeler and Lawton, Chaffee and others,
who insisted upon remaining.
1t is the intention of the dissatisfied Off
GERS to bring out these points to show that
General Shafter is not entitled to the credit
for the victory at Santiago.
The officers who are opposing Secretary
Alger hope to be aided in their efforts to
bring about congressional investigation by
Generals Miles, Merritt and Breckenridge. |
Officers are reticent regarding their plan
of operations, but it is well known that all
possible influence will be exerted to prove
that the secretary of war was guilty of mis-
management and to secure his reprimand.-
New York World.