The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-11
MILES, VIEWS
On the War With Spain and the
Conditions
And Requirements of the United
States Army.
GIVEN in A REPORT
Which AIger Has Ordered Made
Public.
The General Refrains From All
Direct Criticism.
GIVEN IN A REPORT

keynote of the report is found in the
opening sentences. where it is said:
1.-The military operations during the
year have been extraordinary. unusual
and extensive" a statement which is
fully borne out by the long recital OF
important events which General Miles
shows have made the military history
of 1898, the most remarkable since the
end Of the civil war.
In point OF interest the document
divides naturally into four chapters,
for while brief aIlusiOn Is made to such
matters as the military expeditions to
Alaska, interest naturally centers in
the portion which treats OF the war
with Spain.
Under the general head, the report
deals with the plan of campaign of the
war preparations, with the Santiago
campaign with General Miles opera
tons in Porto Rico and lastly with the
important changes in existing organi-
cations, which are, in General Miles
opinion necessary to make the army an
enect1Ve weapon for the defense Of the
country. There is an entire absence
of any evidence in direct criticism
though certain sentences in the report
are ttalicised in an apparent desire to
justify previously expressed plans or
details of the campaign, and where it
deals with the events the document is
largely made OF a quotation of official
dispatches.
Treating of the war, General Miles
begins with statement of the unpre-
paredneSS of the country, showing how
the vast equipment left by the million
soldiers of the civil war has been dissi-
pated or had become obsolete until
the tentage, transportation and camp
equipage was insufficient for any i'm
pOrtant military operation. He re-
counts the legislation of congress, Just
prior to the war looking to the increase
OF the army, and cites his own recon-
mendation on April 9, that 10000 men
Qzt f71
serve; that the regular army be in
creased and 10000 immunes recruited
making a force Of 1852, 597 men, which,
with $1,000 native auxiliaries he con,
erly equipped he believed to be better
than a large force partly equipped. In
the letter containing this recommended
ton he said:
Il also recommend that at least twen-
ty-two regiments Of infantry, five reg
iments of cavalry and the light artil-
lery be mobilized and placed in one
large Gang. where they can be carefully
and thoroughly Inspected, fully equip
ped, drilled, disciplined and Instructed
IN brigades and divisions, and prepared
for war service"
He further asked ''for 80, 900 volun-
teers to make up an army of 150, 900 soil
dters for offensive operations in Cuba,
the whole force to be fully equipped,
leaving the state troops to defend the
coasts and for a reserve"
April Is, he wrote Secretary Alger as
follows: Il have the honor to submit
the following: That in my Judgment
the available forces Of the regular ar
my should be modified in the Uest and
most available healthfuI position in thu
department of Gulf. I suggest Chick
aTnauga park on account OF its altitude
and advantages for preparing a COM
mand for the serious requirements OF
actual warfare"
He also dwelt upon the Importance of
the most perfect equipment in all
branches, artillery, engineering and
medical, with supplies for six months
and equipment for $4,000 native Cuban
soldiers.
General Miles says In his report that
in the beginning the war problem was
purely a naval one, and he was con-
WINGED should our navy prove superior,
the position of the Spanish army in
Cuba would be rendered untenable with
minimum loss OF life and treasure to
the United States. He says: There
were two most serious obstacles to be
avoided-one was placing an army on
the island OF Cuba before our navy con-
trolled the Cuban waters; and the 9TH
er was putting an army on the island at
a time when a large number of the men
must die from the diseases that have
prevailed in that country, according to
all the statistics for the last 100 years."
He pointed out In a letter to the sec
rotary Of war these dangers, enclosing
a communication from Surgeon General
Sternberg and urged that the Spanish
be merely harassed and damaged dur
season,
the navy was demonstrating it's superb
GRITTY and the volunteers were being
equipped. In that letter he says:
4 also assert the belief have enter
tanned from the first, that we could Sc
cure the surrender Of the Spanish army
in the island of Cuba, with no great
sacrifice"
In this letter which Is attached DR..
Guiteras is cited in support of the rec
ommendation to delay the army move
ment in Cuba, and it is said that aside
from disease the United States troops
would have to cope with $4,000 Spanish
troops, the remnant Of 1874 900, which
troops had become acclimated, and were
equipped with 1873 guns. There was
still time, he said to put 1900 regular
troops into healthy camps until they
could be used in Cuba with safety. In
order that the volunteers should be
speedily made efficient, on April 26, Gen.
Miles wrote the secretary of war that
they should be encamped for so days in
their respective states and disciplined
and equipped and their officers instruct
ed; all important, he said, to health aqd
efficiency.
This preliminary work should be
done before the troops leave their
states, wrote Gen. Miles, who in his re-
ports adds this: ''Congregating tens of
thousands of men, many Of whom were
not uniformed, and scarcely any pro-
perly equipped In great camps away
from their states, rendered it difficult
for them to be properly supplied with
food, cooking utensils, camp eQuipange,
blankets, tentage, medical supplies,
transportation, etc, and was to a great
extent the cause in my judgment OF the
facilitating effect upon the health and
strength of the men, who were other
wise in good physical condition. The
material necessary to clothe and equip
large armies was not even manufactur-
ed at that time and the consequent con-
dition Of the troops for weeks and
months was injurious to the COM
mands in many ways"
The report cites orders made by him.