, 1898-09-08
miles CONFIRMS IT
SAYS HE MADE THE STATEMENTS
ATTRIBUTED TO
HIM.
His Request to Locate the Troops in
the Vicinity Of New York Ignored
and a Parole Suggestion Was Not
Heeded-Opposed Sending the
Army to Cuba.

New York, Sept. General Miles
today admitted the substantial accu-
racy of the statements attributed to him
by the Kansas City Stars correspond
ent at Ponce, Porto Rico.
There are" General Miles said to
the newspaper men about him, "a few
minor inaccuracies in the published
reports, such as usually occur in such
interviews. do not care to point out
the inaccuracies referred to at this
time: they are unimportant.
st is true that l requested that my
troops in Porto Rico. on their return
home, should be allowed to camp
somewhere near New York, preferably
Brooklyn Heights, Fort Wadsworth or
Governors Island. 1 also requested
OF the war department that the troops
be allowed to march through New
York city.
II never intended to parade myself,
as I shall go to Washington in a few
days, and would not be here at the
time OF the contemplated parade.
81 asked that the Wisconsin men
aboard the OLDHAM be permitted to stay
in this vicinity for a day or two, to
give them a chance to see the city. 1t
would do no harm to let these western
boys get a glimpse Of New York. Sure
ly they merit It. Many of them, l think
have never seen the city, and perhaps
will neve have another opportunity
to see it.
ITO my first request, namely, that my
troops be permitted to camp hereabouts
in the netghborhood Of Brooklyn
Heights, and that they be allowed to
parade, l have received no reply. To
my second request I received a reply at
quarantine this morning, ordering the
Wisconsin boys home forthwith. The
men will go from the transports direct
ly to the cars.
81 shall stay in the city a day or two
to transact some business. and will
then proceed ITO Washington. General
Wilson's division will reach New York
in a day or two, I think. They will
come on the transports Mississippi,
Manitoba, Alamo and Concho. The
last will carry General Wilson and his
headquarters"
General Miles said that he did not
desire to criticise the conduct OF any
officer engaged in the late a He
expressed the opinion that there had
been too much criticism, complaint M
condemnation published already, and
that the public had lost sight of the
success and glories of the war. He did
not ARE to enter into any general dis
cussion of the events of the war beyond
the written statement which he had
prepared during his voyage on the OBJ
dam, and which he has given out for
publication. He will go to Washington
tomorrow morning.
General Miles declared that the
health Of the troops still in Porto Rico
is good. He said that he considered
the island a most charming country.
but that he is greatly pleased to return
to the United States.
General Miles gave to the represen-
tatives Of the press a typewriter docu-
ment treating Of the prosecution OF the
war with Spain. The paper Is written
in the form OF an interview with the
general. In it the general Is represent
ed as calling to mind that in a public
statement made at the beginning OF the
war, referring to the talk of a rush for
the fever-stricken city of Havana. he
said:
mo officer is fit to command troops
who from any motive whatever. would
needlessly risk the life Of . single SOL
der, either from disease or the bullets
of the enemy. I have never eacrihced
the lives Of men under my command
and do not propose to subject them to
any unnecessary risk in the present
campaign"
Further along In the interview the
document says: Owing 10 the fact
that the season suited for campaigning
in Cuba has been exhausted IN debates
and delay In congress and IN necessary
preparations, General Miles was op-
posed ito rushing an i~ll-prepared. unds-.
ciplined and unequipped army In q
movement agaipBt the capital OF Cuba,