The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-12-13
GENERALS OPINIONS
Expressed Before the House Com
\ mittee on Military Affairs. .asy
THE FRICTION IN HIGH PLACES.
General Schofield Criticlzcs the system
(which Makes the Commanding Gem
eral Subordinate to War secretary.
Miles on Civilian Incompetency.

(which Makes the Commanding Gem
eral Subordinate to War secretary.
Miles on Civilian Incompetency.
Z Washington, Dec. 13.-Before the
house committee on military affairs
yesterday General Miles declared that
10000 soldiers were needed abroad ana
81, 900 at home. When asked when
will the Cuban government be organ
ized?" he replied: Il do not Know;
THAT is a political question:
General Schofield. who preceded Cen
eral Miles in command of the army,
devoted his chief attention to the fric-
tion inevitably arising between the Soc
retary of war and the commanding
general under the present system. The
trouble arose out of the system which
gave the head of the army the name
of commanding general, when in fact
he had little or no authority, or even
influence, as commanding general.
Whether he does anything depends
largely on his personal relations with
the secretary of war II these rela-
tions are not close then the secretary
of war gets to ignoring the so-called
thought the army should consist Of
about 10000 for the Philippines. l5,00o
to 10000 for Cuba. 5000 to 5000 for Porto
Rico, 15,00) for manning and caring for
Notifications, 10000 for the Indian
country and $1,000 as a"reserve.
:, After General Schofield had conclud-
ed General Miles spoke briefly on what
had been said as to the commanding
general He said the laws now clearly
recognized this position as commanding
general. and one Of these laws made
The general commanding the army
member, ex-offlcio. of the fortiiications
board He did not approve the sug-
gestion that the head of the army be
an executive staff officer to the presi-
dent. During most Of the time in the
last 100 years the army had been under
the command of general or lieutenant
general, and that was the practice the
world over. General Miles said he did
not speak from a personal standpoint,
as he was ready to be retired at any
time But he believed in the principle
of rank and authority commensurate
with the responsibility.
; General Miles said in reply to a ques-
tion that he thought it would be bet
her for the president to have the war
minister more particularly direct the
vast administrative work Of the war
department, as it was manifestly i'm
possible for any man to come from civil
life and at once become familiar with
all the latest appliances of war If
the one occupying the chief military
position was not liked then let some one
else be placed in military authority.
But the selection should not he from
SO far down the list as to amount to
fayoritism, for that would not b" ap-
proved by the people. General Miles
pointed out that three major generals,
Merritt, Brooke and himself, had come
Through the recent war without hope Of
recognition. He cared nothing as to
himself, but he urged that the services
Of General Merritt and General Brooke
had been such that the rank Of leu-
tenant general for them, as would be
given under his bill, would be emil
tnently fitting. In this connection he
1e{erred to the cruel working of the
system by which Meade, Hancock and
Thomas had never received the rank
ard recognition due them for eminent
hearted to their graves.
| General Schotield strongly endorsed
what General Miles had said in giving
fha amplest recognition and rank to
Il ue"alS for heir services