The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-11-11

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1O.-Tho report
of Major General Miles, commanding
the United States army. was made pub
ltc to-day by direction of Secretary Al
ser. The keynote of the report Is found
none OF the opening sentences where
it said: ''The military operations DUR
ing the year have been extraordinary,
unusual and extensive" a statement
which is fully borne out by the long re-
citai Of important events which General
Miles shows have made the military
history Of the year 1898 the most re-
marlable since the end of the civil war.
In point Of interest the document di-
vides naturally into four chapters, for
while brief allusion is made to such mat
ters as the military expeditions to, Alas
ka, interest naturally centers in that
portion which treats OF the war with
Spain.
Under this general head, the report
deals with the plans of campaign and
war preparations: with the Santiago
campaign; with General Miles opera
lions In Porto Rlc0 and lastly with the
important changes in existing organlZa-
tion, which are in General Miles opinion
necessary to make the army an effective
weapon for the defense Of the country.
There Is an entire absence Of any evil
dence Of direct criticism, though certain
sentences in the report are italicized, in
an apparent desire to justify previously
expressed plans of details OF the CAM
paigns, and, where It deals with events,
the document is largely made up Of a
quotation of official dispatches.
Treating OF the war, General Miles be-
gins with a statement Of the unprepar-
edness OF the country, showing the vast
equipment left by the million soldiers OF
the civil war had been dissipated or had
become obsolete until the tentage, trans
portation and camp equlppage was in-
SUFFICIENT for any important military
operation. He recuunts the legislation
of Congress Just prior to the war looking
to the increase Of the army and cites his
own Recommendation on April 9th that
40, 900 men be provided for coast defense
and reserve; that the regular army be
increased and 10000 immunes recruited,
making O force of 1857 men, which
with 5000 native auxillaries he consid-
cred sufficient. Such a force properly
equipped. he believed to be better than
a large force partly equipped.
He further asked for $4,000 volunteers
to make UP an army Of 10000 soldiers
for offensive operations in Cuba, the
whole force to be fully equipped, leaving
the state troops TO defend the coasts and
for reserve"
April 18th he wrote Secretary Alger e.
follows:
II have the honor to submit the fol-
lowing: That in my Judgment the avail
able force Of the regular army should
be mobilized in the best and most avail
able heaithfui position in the department
of the gulf. I suggest Chiclsamauga
Park on account OF its altitude and adj
vantages for preparing command for
the serious requirements OF actual war
fare"
the most perfect equipment in all
branches, artillery. engineering and
medical. with supplies for six months
and equipment for $4,000 native Cuban
soldiers,
PUrsIy Naval Problem.
General Miles says in his report that
in the beginning the war problem was
purely a naval one and he was con-
WINGED that should our navy prove su-
perior, the position Of the Spanish army
in Cuba would be rendered untenable
with q minimum loss Of life and treasure
to the United States He says:
There were two most serious ooSta-
cles TO be avolded-one was placing an
army on the Island of Cuba before our
navy controlled the Cuban waters; and
the other was putting an army ON the
island at a time when n large number
of the men must die from the diseases
that have prevailed In that country. ac-
corddng to all statistics for the last 100
years"
He pointed out in letter to the sec
retary of war these dangers enclosing
a. conlmunIcation from Surgeon General
Sternberg and urged that the Spanish be
merely 1larTassed and damaged during
the rainy, unhealthy season, while the
navy was demonstrating It's superiority
ana the volunteers were being equipped.
In that letter ne says:
"I also assert the belief have enter
tained from the first, THAT WE
COULD SECURE THE SURRENDER
OF THE SPANISH ARMY IN THE IS
LAND OF CUBA WITHOUT ANY
GREAT SACRIFICE"
ute to the brilliant exploits Of Lleuten-
ants Rowan and Whitney in secretly ex-
ploring Cuba and Porto Rico and ascer-
tanning the military situation. he re-
sumes the report with an account OF the
dispatch Of General Skaters expedition,
saying:
Wanted to 60 to Cuba.
81 desired to go with this command"
HIS exact request on this point as tele-
graphed from headquarters at Tampa,
was as follows:
This enterprise is 50 important that
desire 10 go with this army corps or TO
Immediately organize another and go
with It to Join this and capture position
number 2. Now that the military is
about to be used, believe It should be
continued with every energy, making
the most 1udicious disposition Of It to
accomplish the desired result"
He also stated this expedition has
been delayed through no fault OF any
one connected with Il. II contains the
principal part Of the army which for I'm
telllgence and efficiency Is not eNcelled
by any body OF troops on earth"
The telegram was dated June 9. The
day following Secretary Alger tele-
gruphed In reply.
"ThG President wants to know the
earliest moment you can have an eXpe-
dluonary force ready to 50 to Porto
Rico large enough to take and hold the
Island without the force under General
Shafter."
General Miles response was: I'm ten
days"
He next speaks of the unslitability of
the trlnsports which were but merchant
freight steamers; and Of the Rccumula-