The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-08
Gen. MILES IN NEW YORK
he Admits the Accuracy of the
Star Story.
GIVES ADDITIONAL FACTS
The War Department Refused to Permit
the Troops to Get a Glimpse of
New York Had Prepared
an Interview.

| IL form
OF a letter, in which General Miles i.
mentioned in the third person:
while at Porto Rico and during the
voyage returning on the Obdam. on
which steamer were General Miles and
staff and two battalions of the 2nd ragi-
ment of Wisconsin volunteers 1 learned
the following facts concerning the Gu
pan and Porto Rican expeditions:
In the first place, let me say that
the war has closed, after being con-
quoted largely as General Miles stated
publicly at the beginning of the war
that IL would be. The statement was
publicly made and a general order was
Issued by him as commander of th,
American army, in which the plan he
mas striven to pursue was foreshGi-
owed. namely, seeking to accomplish
results with the least possible loss of
| lire. In an interview in the latter part
or May, he said: The United States
government is too strong. too great
and too powerful to commit any foolish
act In connection with the proposed in
| vasion of Cuba
Referring to the proposed rush to
| the fever-stricken city of Havana, he
| said: No officer is fit to command
troops who, from any motive whatever
| would needlessly risk the life of a sin
| gle soldier, either from disease of the
| bullets OF the enemy. / have never
! sacrificed the lives of mon under my
| command and do not propose to sub
| Ject them to any unnecessary risks in
| the present campaign
In the order issued to the army at
an early date, he directed that: 'Ev-
cry officer, of whatever grade will so
far as may be in his power puard and
preserve the health and welfare of
those under his charge He must labor
diligently and zealously to perfect him
self and his subordinates in military
drill instruction and discipline. and
ABOVE all, he must constantly endeayor
Dy precept and example to maintain
the highest character, to foster and
stimulate that true soldierly spirit and
patriotic devotion to duty, which must
Characterize an effective army"
All are well and there was no sicknes,
or deaths during the voyage. The big
transport was decorated profusely with |
palms and draped with flags From the |
fore truck was flying the American en-
sign over large Spanish flag while
long strings of international coIored
nags We're hoating from each mast
head to the rails.
General Miles admitted to the asso-
Grated press the substantial accuracy
OF the statement attributed to him bv
the Kansas City Star correspondent at
Ponce, Porto Rico.
There are" General Miles said. "a few
minor Inaccuracies in the published re-
ports. such as usually occur in such in
terv1ews. l do not care to point out
the Inaccuracies referred to at this
time; they are unimportant.
IT is true | requested that my troon.
IN Porto Rico, on return home should
oe allowed to camp somewhere near
New York. also requested of the war
department that the troops be allowed
10 march through New York city.
never intended to parade myself as I
snall go to Washington in a few days ,
ana would not be here at the time of 2
the contemplated parade. asked that !
the Wisconsin men aboard the Obdam [
De permitted to stay in this vicinity a 4
day or two to give them a chance to see 7
the city. 1t would do no harm to let S
these western boys get a glimpse of Q
New York. Surely they need il. MANY d
)f them / think have never seen the Q
'lty and perhaps will never have an O
1ther opportunity of seeing it. To nv :
irst request l received no reply. To =
NY second l received a reply this morn 4
ng ordering the boys home forthwith
The men will go from transports direct q
o the cars. General Wilson's division n
'lll reach New York in day or two, n
tnlnk: Ihey Will come on the trans a
orts Mississippi Manitoba, Alamo and r,
,oncho. The last will carry General ! s
wilson and his headquarters" >,
General Miles gave to the represen | y,
atlVes OF the press a type written doc q
ment treating of the prosecution of r.
ne war with Spain. The paper is writ a,
EN- in the form of an interview with =,
he general IN it the general is rem ~
esented as recalling to mind that in
PUBIC statement made at the begin | s
ing OF the war. referring TO the talk 9o
! a rush for the fever-stricken city of sg
Iavana, he said: 81
mo officer is fit to command troops en-
no. from any motive whatever would al al
risk the life of a single SOL 80
Ter. either from disease or the bullets III
the enemy. / have never sacrificed a.
lie lives of men under my command W
nd do not propose to subject them TO III III
ny unnecessary risk In the present ea
Impaign." 10
Further along i'm the interview the I'M
given out to-day saws: on
Owing to the fact that the season led
llted for campaigning in Cuba has ral
'en exhausted in debates and de-
IN congress, and in necessary prep IN IN
ations, General Miles was opposad 10 | de
shing an ill-prepared, undisciplined !
! unequlpped army in movement
ainst the capital of Cuba. defended era
100000 trained Spanish troops. and Ho
TINS position he stood practically era
)ne for several weeks Havana Ma OF
mas, Santiago and few other points ter
re drawn on his military map as hot lieN
ds of disease, destructive to an army as
q places to be avoided. especially 10
ring the sickly season. gov
When finally called upon 10 submit a not
IN of campaign he did so and nut IL you
writing In substance he took the sw'
nd first that every effort should be thi.
de to equip the Cubans and thereby arm
able them to harass the Spanish the
ces. can
The cry OF on to Havana should ba has
but when the transports Of
ded with troops were out Of sight We
land they should sail as straight the
steam power could bear them TO the on
e OF the Antilles and the key of the I iiOn
ole position-Porto Rico. Then hav- Il
seized and occupied that island a to