The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-09-14
Miles Discusses Big Plans.

WAsmlNGroN, Sept ?.-Gcn. Miles,
accompanied by Col. Mjchlcr, Of his
staff, called at tho White House short
ly before the Cabinet meeting today.
The general wore fatigue uniform.
showing the two starred epaulcttS Of
major general. At the time Of his ar
rival the President was comforting with
Justice Harlan, Senator Allison and
other callers. Gen. Miles and colonel
Michler were shown into the cabinet
room, and there tho President joined
them, cxcusing himself from the other
callers. The meeting between the
President and commanding general was
paratively brief, lasting about five
minutes, as the cabinet meeting was
about to begin. 1t was not in the
nature of conference. during which
questions relating to the war were dis
cusscd, but was slia. formal call of
respect usual on the return Of high
official. The conference for more cx-
tended discussion Of war affairs doubt
less will come later, although it was
said after the call that no exact time
had been fixed for further meeting.
Gen. Miles had nothing to say before
or after the call. He was greeted with
round of applause as he left the
White House, pushing his way through
the dense crowd awaiting the review
of returning District of Columbia
troops
Gen. Miles came to the Far depart
mcnt at 10 O'Clock to-day, and after
spending short time in his room at
arny headquarters, went to the Off ce
of the Secretary Of War. Acting Sec
rotary Meiklejohn was at the desk Of
Secretary Alger and was talking with
Governor Atkinson, of Georgia, and
Adit. Gen. Corbin when Gen. Miles
entered. The latter was accompanied
by member of his staff. After the
gentlemen had shook hands and the
business with the Governor was trans
acted, Mr. Mciklcjohn and Gen. Miles
chatted for some time on general topics
vi tic campaign 0f Porto Rico aia &c
turn trip of the commanding general.
Speaking Of the future of the army,
Gen. Miles said that there were q num-
Der of matters which required careful
and deliberate consideration with re-
spect to the army organization, and
that undoubtedly steps in that direc-
tion would be taken as soon as practi-
cable. The matter of mastering out
the volunteer general officers, to cor
respond with the general reduction of
the army by mastering out, he said,
would have to be taken up at an early
date, and that, undoubtedly, would
cause lcarrangement of the depart
ment commanders.
With respect to the reorganization
of the army, Gen. Miles said that the
experience Of this war had very clearly
demonstrated what military authorities
we'll understood before, that the es-
tablishment of a standard was necessary
to efficiency of the army: He said it
was his intention to recommend plan
of reorganization 20 Congress, and
that he believed the necessity for it
would &c recognized e; :.h:c public ed
by Congress.
The acquisition Of territory obvious
iy made it necessary that there should
be large army, and the experience Of
the war had demonstrated tho neces-
sity Of establishing o standard and
having the troops thoroughly trained
to the military service. 1t was desir-
able, he said, that the army should
be organized on the basis of one SOL
dier to every certain number of in
habitants. 1t was recognized by mill
tary authorities even before the close
Of the war of the rebellion that the
establishment of q standard was dcsir
able, but that, from time to time, the
army had been reduced, until it had
reached number disproportionately
small to the size of the country and
its population. He thought that one
soldier to every tne-thousand popula-
tion probably would be found TO be
about the right ratio for standard