Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-09-03
ALGER-MILES MIDDLE.
The Charges Made by the General
of the Army.
WAS PLACED IN FALSE LIGHT.


ments Made by General Miles, and
Declares Them a Matter OF Record.
Kansas City, Mo-. Aug. 30.-The
Star prints an exclusive dispatch
from Mr.. J. ID. Whelpley. its spec
ial correspondent who has just re-
turned from Porto Rico. bearing upon
the Miles-Alger controversy. Mr..
Whelpley takes occasion to deny the
statement that his recently published
interview In Porto Rico with General
Miles, wherein the latter was quoted as
casting reflections upon the war de-
partment, was not genuine, and In sup
port OF the statement already made by
1t The Star prints interesting kilograms
that passed between the war depart
ment and Generals Miles and Shafter
| on the points at issue.
doubt is expressed by some" says
Mr.. Whelpley, las to whether General
Miles ever said these things 1 credit
him with. Others suggest he may have
said them in confidence which was be-
trayed. I feel confident General Miles
will stand by the interview referred to.
my talk with him was not conf
Dental 1 went to him as a newspaper
reporter. for the avowed and express
purpose Of securing an interview. There
was no reservations from publication
/ In the conversation. This is proved by
| his refusal to answer some questions
| which he would have answered had this
been so. There was no hint OF conf
| dence.
I'm this instance, however, no
| question OF veracity need arise. Gen.
eral Miles himself even IL he so de-
sired, could not conceal the proof OF all
| he said. 1t is written in the records of
the war department and it not only
needs a clearing away OF inconsequen-
tial matter to tell the story clearly and
In full.
General Miles In his interview in
The Star makes several distinct state
ments, one to the effect that he was
commanding general OF all the Ameri-
can armies. first, last and ali the time,
In Washington, In Tampa. in Cuba, In
Porto Rico. or anywhere else he might
be.
HE charges General Corbin with
sending a secret dispatch to General
Shafter contrary to this. He charges
the war department with mutilating
and even suppressing parts or the
whole of certain messages IN their
transmission to the public. thus putting
| -
false light to the people at home.
NE charges that his recommended
lions In regard to moving the troops
from Santiago was disregarded. this
disregard leading to grave consequent
ces. He recites the fact that General
Ehafter tiSobeyed orders IN occupying
fever infected houses and allowing
! Cuban refugees to mix with the Ameri-
can troops.
Finally he claims that Washington
allowed the plans of his Porto Rico
campaign to leak out to such en- ex-
tent as to render them useless and
dangerous.
cit needs only a glance at the official
records OF the war department to show
each and every one of these charges to
be truth, and to throw much additional
light on the situation
ION the fourth of July General
Shafter sent dispatches to Wash
ington showing the depiorable con-
dition of affairs IN and about San
tiago. 1t was this situation which
determined General Miles to go to
Cuba The day he sailed with rein
forcements. July z. he sent a telegram
OF instruction to General Shafter, and
on July IL he arrived and assumed
charge OF the forces, the dispatches
1
being sent to Miles. Shafter not being
mentioned.
In the face OF this situation, Eecre-
tary Alger, through General Corbin,
! sent a dispatch to General Shafter as
surfing him that General Miles did not
come to Cuba to supersede Shafter in
J any way. This dispatch General Miles
refers to as secret for he says he
did not know 1t had been sent, not be-
Ing notified from Washington and Gen.
eral Shafter saying nothing about It
} After the surrender General Miles still
: retained control. He authorized Shat.
and Judging from Skaters report
, that az was over he instructed him a.
10 the disposition OF the troops.
= ION July IT. after the surrender OF
+ Santiago was completed General Shat
ter wired General Miles that was
told by the secretary OF war that you
! were not to supersede me In command
here To this Miles responded that y
{ have no desire and have carefully
7 avoided any appearance of supersedins
? you. Your command is a part OF the
United States army. which have tn,
l honor to command
~ Secretary Alger discussed the matter
with me yesterday, saying he did mo-
propose to enter into any controversy
Z. NY cableSram to General Shafter.
S he continued. was simply due to m,
D desire to assure him that intended t
I be absolutely fair. Before his departure
from Washington General Miles and
had talked the matter over, and h.
:, started for Cuba knowing that he wa
? not in any way to interfere with tn
i operations which were under the con
:, troll Of General Shafter. That Their
could be no doubt whatever. cables
9 70 General Shafter informing him tina
General Miles had left for Cuba wit
j instructions not to In any manner sup
J. ersede him az commander OF troops &
the held-'"
The Cars Peace Proposal.
81. Petersburg, Aug. 29.-By order {
v Emperor Nicholas, Count Muravief