The times., 1898-05-24
Success Versus strategy.

If the report be true, that the So
called Naval Board CT Strategy is about
to be abolished, as Admiral Bermejo
remarked we "can with difficulty re-
press our joyful emotions" and the
Administration is to be heartily con-
graduated upon its returning good
sense. From the days of the Aulic
Council to the tea party in the .Ameri-
can Navy Department that kind of
thing has been fatal to success in war.
From the time of Alexander to Dewey,
there has never been an hour when it
was not better to leave campaign de-
tails to the general of the army and the
admiral of the fleet.
We sincerely hope that Mr.. Mckinley
has learned a lesson from Admiral Ger
vera that he will not soon forget There
are other lessons which We are glad to
believe he is taking to heart, TO the
great advantage of the country. The
sum of them may perhaps be stated in
the proposition that, war having been
declared, the conduct of the war ought
to be left to the military heads of the
Army and Navy, and they should be
protected against instead of being nam
pered by paretic bureaucracy.
1t is within the power Of the Com
mander-in-Chief TO do this. A line from
him will override all the foolishness OF
| boards and barnacles. If he is the
right man in the right place, he Will
not allow subordnates to hamper the
action Of himself or his natural and
legitimate military advisers. All OF US
who are old enough TO remember the
civil war. also remember the criminal
blunders, resulting in frightful loss Of
life, which were the rule until President
Lincoln turned over the absolute COM
mand of field and sea operations 10
Gen Grant and Admiral Farragut.
Then we got action and a fight to
finish.
The Times is not willing to believe
that Miles and Sampson, If left 10
themselves, are not able to clean up
war with such a despicabIe adversary
as Spain, in short order and to the sat
isfaction Of the country. If they are
not they ought to resign and go into
some retail business of a peaceful kind.
AS TO the late and perhaps present
Board of Strategy. it has not filled the
future pages of history with glory ever
| lasting. 1t has established pacific
blockade of Havana which has given
BIancO an opportunity to fortify HIM
self against US splendidly; whereas it
ought 10 have insisted upon the demoli-
ton of his defeuses faster than he could
construct them. II is suspected of hav-
ing interfered with the movements Of
Admiral Sampson and compelled that
commander to make a fool instead OF
hero of himself. Whether rightly or
wrongly il is thoroughly discredited.
and the sooner il is forgotten the bet
ter
Very likely there have been some mi
nor reasons for criticising Gen. Miles.
but give him chance. If he has shown
disposition to fill the staff of the
Army with the sons of millionaires and
politicians. we still remember that he
was hard fighter in the Civil War, and
the terror of wild Indians. He has
never commanded a large army in
chief. but there is no just reason to say
that he is not competent to. He is
enthusiastic and, as likely as not, able.
Give him a show! Do not tangle him
up with obstructive instructions, and
let him have his head until he can
demonstrate what is in him.
Do the same for Sampson, and relieve
the gallant officers and men of both
branches of the service Of the idea that
their operations and lives are in the
hands Of bombproof bureau officials
safely at their desks in Washington.