The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-04-27
ARMY PEOPLE
HOSTILE TO MILES
~ JAY F. DURHAM.

bitter warfare going on in the department
Of war between many OF the ranking Off
GERS. There is a feeling of more than ordi-
nary hostility to General Miles. This ex-
tends throughout the entire army. and in
a way reaches UP to the white house. Tt is
not at all improbable that Miles will suffer
the fate of General Scott at the break
ing out of the civil war. Old Fuss and
Feathers" as the head of the federal army
was then called, was soon relegated to the
past, and General Haleck promoted in his
place. The feeling strongly prevails that
Miles is not big enough military man to
be at the head of the army when action
in the field is needed, and not drawing
room and pink tea receptions the battle
ground. Miles is the most despised man
that ever occupied position at the head
of the army. If he is able to retain his
place he has got to fight for 1t. The sec
rotary of war is by no means friendly to
him, and this. with other influences, has
had more or less effect on the president.
General Miles is already showing great
deal of hostility toward General Lee.
Miles is afraid Lee is going to get too
much credit out of the war. Miles seems
to realize that he is now in position
when military ability and not a handsome
uniform is to be the test of supremacy.
Miles could fight Indians on the frontier,
and made fairly good record, but as an
Indian fighter he never ranked with Crook.
Miles was very much put out when the
citizens here gave General Lee the recep-
TI.x re-
garded this as a usurpation and it was then
he saw that in the event of war Lee would
go to the front as one of the commanders
of the army of invasion.
General Miles has already protested
against Lees being given a major-general-
ship, but it is not within the scope of i'm
agination to believe that his protest will
avail him much Miles has taken up the
cause of General John S. Mosby, of guer-
lila fame. Mosby has asked for commits
sion, and General Miles has promised him
that his request will be respected. While
Miles can not issue a commission, he will
no doubt have sufficient influence with the
president to provide for General Mosby.
General Mosby may be made brigadier-
general, but that he will rank up with Lee
is not at all probable.
General Merritt who is regarded by those
well informed in military affairs as the
ablest man in the army is to be another
victim of the hatred of Miles. This is the
man Miles is most afraid of when measur-
ing the capabilities of those now in the
army. General Merritt has splendid rec
orr nd 10 xubi1a
Miles is unpopular. If Miles should be
turned down after war opens in earnest,
Merritt will be the most likely man to go
to the head of the army. All this and
more, Miles very much fears Miles is nat
urally the sufferer when West Pointers
open their batteries. He went up from the
ranks. and never saw inside the military
school until after the close of the civil
war.
AT the close of the late war Miles was
made a member of the regular army, he
having entered the service as a volunteer.
His first commission in the regular army
was that of a colonel of colored regiment.
He was fortunate in marrying a neice of
General Sherman and while the latter was
at the head of the army he promoted Miles
with unusual rapidity and it was not long
until Miles was well to the front. Thus it
will be seen Miles has achieved much of
his advancement through political influ-
ences. Since the death of General Sher-
man. Miles has been the beneficiary of the
influence of his wifes other uncle, Senator
John Sherman. The Sherman influence has
about spent it's force so far as Miles is con-
cerned. The bend in the road has been
reached. War is now actively on and po-
litlcal pulls will not count for so much as
they have in the past
Miles has been for some years a candi-
date for the presidency though few people
outside of his own family ever gave the
subject much if any attention. He be-
lieved that his conduct during the Chicago
riots in 1893 was sufficient to entitle him
to the nomination. He now believes that
he is yet destined to occupy the white
house chair, and seems impressed with
the belief that Providence has done much
toward bringing about the war that the
opportunity may be given him to make
himself president Miles has had the pres
idential bee in his military hat for the past
few years or more and unless he wins new
honors out of the war with Spain he will
have lost all. This is his last chance and
If public feeling toward him can be regard
ed as an index to what may be his proba-
BILE future he is nearer the presidency now
than he will ever be. 1t is extremely
doubtful If Miles will be retained at the
head of the army for three months after
the fighting begins in fact.
MAKE 1T SHARP AND SHORT