The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-18
MILES WELL PLEASED
Commander.ia-Chief Of Army Now 10
Washington.
WENT TO CONFER WITH sEC'Y ALGER
10 Lengthy Interview, He Gave His
Impression Of the Troops.
U. S. REGULARS UNExcELLED,
Praised the Volunteers as q Fine
Body of Men.
SOME INCIDENTS OF ARMY HEROISM.
Does Not Apprchcnd Any Long or
Serious Delay In Disembnrking
the Troops In Cuba.
Ia Z Lengthy Interview, He Gave His
Impression Of the Troops.
U, $. REGULARS UNExcELLED,
Praised the Volunteers as Fine
Body of Men.
SOME INCIDENTS or ARMY HEROISM.
Does Not Apprehcnd Any Long Of
Serious Delay In Disembnrking
the Troops In Cubn.

Washington. June l7.--Major General
Niles. commander In cb'ef OF the army.
accompanied by Colonel Maus, Major Davis
and Colonel Greenleaf OF his stan, arrived
in Washington today after having direct
ed the departure Of the first army OF inya-
sion OF Cuba.
General Miles and party. despite the
three weeks Of incessant work OF bring
Ing order out of chaos in the hurried em-
barka,ion Of the army, were In iine spirits
aud well satisfied with the propitious start.
General Miles came in response to a
telegram from Secretary Alger summoning
him here. In order TO confer with him
over the situation at the South.
General Miles said. Having spent some
time with the troops during trying period
OF hurried preparations | am glad to tay
that they are a splendid body OF men.
which you may well be proud Of.
AS to the regulars they are the finest
corps in the world without any exception
on physical development. efficiency, ex-
perience, discipline. Workmanship equip
ment and all that go.s 10 make up trst-
class soldiers.
"Of course, the volunteer army IA not
AS well equipped. Some Of the States sent
mon into the field IN very good condition
notably Massachusetts, and New York
Others Gent them without arms, equip
meht or clothing
They we're not soldiers at all, only
employed men.
st takes tirie to make soldiers OF tins
material There must be uniforms, arms,
ammunition, equipment. SIC. tent equip
age transportation and hospital supplies.
Then In addition they have TO make ord
nance, artillery, Siege trains, entrench-
ing tools. borse equipments, cnglueerlg
apparatus OF all kinds balloon appliances,
etc
After That comes tho great question OF
moving great army across the SEA with
all the dangers and yicissitudcs OF IN ocean
voyage This work, with it's infinite de-
tan has been carried out. | an. glad 10
say, with fair degree OF success and the
command OF 10 900 men under General
shafter moved away Nth an outburst Of
patriotic enthusiasm which overcame the
trials they Fad passed through"
General Miles attention was diree.ed TO
the reports coming from Tampa OF great
confusion and delay in preparing The ex-
, peditiOn ana getting IL OF for cuba.
Yes " he said. there were causes con-
tributing to this delay In the FIRST place.
the postotiice service at these points OF
army concentration Is very deficient. they
have the same facilities and no more as
the local towns have when normal condl-
lions eAist.
"Bu, when 20 900 10 sc, 900 men are added
TO the population of a small town and an
OF the met are sending and receiving let
tiers from their friends and relatives at
home, btsldes the large amount OF off,
ciai business carried on, the local postof-
fce facilities are entirely inadequate
That has been one OF the troubles at
Tampa, Chickamauga and other places and
as result. the official communications
10 and from the way department on which
depend the regularity OF movements OF all
kinds OF stores. has been seriously delayed,
Then, in gathering munitions Of war
for an army. It was necessary TO have the
service of a great number OF traps loaded
with stores, crowdine the meager railroad
lines far beyond their usual capacity How
ever, all this Is getting straightened out
now, and already most of it has been over
come.
The troops at Tampa are now In very
good health. both those who went forward
with General Shafter and those sim re-
naming. The sick list is less than psI
cent, which Is an exceptionally good rec
ord,
THE spirit of the men also is Of tho host
and this was shown In most marked
manner when the troops started for Cuba
last Tuesday They We're all anxious IN ,,o
ana there were wild scenes of enthusiasm
and cheering as the men marched aboard
and the ships got under way,
whenever the band played a Natlona,
air every head was uncovered The men
seemed to realize the Importance OF their
enterprise as well rs the patriotic respon-
sibility II involved
There have been many spicnlld xts
OF htroism. even In the bric! time thu
troops have been employed" continued Cen
erai Miles. Lieutenant schwann. now lieu
tenant colonel. and Lieutenant Wilcox, nov,
captain. In maxim their Journey to Eastern
cuba ana TO Porto Rico, gave splendid H.