The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-12-13

General Piled with Questions by
tho Democratic SIcmDers of the
committcc-They Attempt to Give
the Hearing Political Twist.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12.-Major Cen
eral Miles appeared to-day before the
house committee on military affairs for
hearing relative to the proposed reor-
ganlzatlon and increase of the army.
Two bills for this purpose are pending.
one drawn by General Miles and intro
ducsd In the senate as the Huwiey bill
and another Introduced in the house by
Chairman Hull of the military commit
tee. At the outset General Miles ad-
dressed himself to the general need of
increasing the army without reference
10 either bill. He said he had always
favored the establishment of a fixed
standard for the army. The experience
OF the last year, he said, had demon
started that our present military estab-
llshment was inadequate to maintain
our position as a first-class power 1t
was necessary now to consider both our
military requirements at home and
those in our new colonial dependencies
abroad. and also the rapidly increasing
demands made by our sea coast fortih-
cations. The latter, as far as completed,
REQUIRED some 1856 batteries of artillery.
and when the entire increase in coast
defEnses was completed 365 batteries
would be required. The war with Spain
had shown pretty clearly how many men
would be required. General Miles said
the war had required $1,000 men for act
ual field operations at various points. OF
these 1900 men went to Manila, 10000 to
Cuba and 10000 to Porto Rico. These
were men actually in the presence OF the
hostile enemy. Since then there had
been re-enforements for garrison and
other purposes. At the same time the
general pointed out that the necessities
at home must not be overlooked, the en-
tire frontier had been stripped OF troops
during the late war, and complaints
were coming In that the lives, families
and property of those along the frontier
were jeopardIzed by this condition. In
particular there were fears of an out
break in the Sioux country because OF
the absence OF troops. 1t was not de-
sirable therefore 50 to draw our forces
from the frontier as to leave them de-
fenceless or to inYiie disorder,
These considerations, said General
Miles, had led him TO recommend
standard Of one soldier for 1000 popula-
ton a. home, with native troops on
basis OF two native soldiers for every
1000 population.
Must Have Adequate Army.
"If We are to be first class power In
the world" proceeded General Miles,
1--WE must have a military system ade-
auate to meet our responsibilities the
world over. / believe in making that
system so small that 1t will not be a
menace to tho American people. and
at the same time large enough to make
1t adequate for any emergency"
He believed one soldier to 1000 popula-
,lon would give an army entirely ade-
uuate for every need 1t would give an
army OF $1,000 according to the last CEN
sus and about 5000 on the estimated
population OF to-day. In addition to
this force, the use of native troops,
would make an effective body in the sew
eral colonies,
And II we are to keep the Philippines
and / have no more idea that we VIII
give up Manila than we will give IN
Bunker Hill or any other place immor-
tallEed in our hlstory-then this native
force will largely augment our own
troops there and I understand the ma
tlvcs are ready to enter upon this SER
vice"
General Miles then explained in detail
the bill drawn by him.
The hearing took quite spirited turn
when several of the Democratic mem
bers OF the committee began cross ques-
tioning General Miles. When Repre-
tentative Cox, OF Tennessee, asked that
the minority have an opportunity TO ask
some questions. Chairman Hull express
cd The hope that the committee would
not divide on political lines, as It had
never before separated into majority
and minority.
In response to questions, General Miles
eaid at least 1000 native troops and 1000
OF our troops were required to maintain
order In Porto Rico At least 10000 were
required for western posts exposed 10
indian uprislngs. When asked how
many troops wer required in Cuba, Gem
eral Miles said that as troops were mov-
ing there now, he would not go into de-
tails on that point as II might be errO-
neously construed as comment on his
siperfors In Office. He expected that
most OF the troops would be on for Cuba
within thirty days,
"When will the Cuban government be
organiZed?" asked Mr.. SulZer DEM, Of
New York.
81 do not know; that Is n political
question" answered the general He
went on to say that probably 10000 men
would be sufficient for Cuba In the near
future The officers in the Philippines
estimated they would require %, 900 men.
possibly more Altogether about 10000
men were needed abroad and $1,000 at
home.
At the afternoon meeting, General
SchOheld, who preceded General Miles In
COMMAND Of the army, devoted his chief
attention 20 the friction inevitably
arising between the secretary Of war
D - auas u =