The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-13
ONE MAN OUT OF A THOUSAND.
IS WHAT GEN. MILES WANTS TO
MAKE Up THE NEW ARMY.

a
the Retention of the Philippines.
Had Ready Answers for All Cues
tiOns Put 10 Him.
Washington, Dec. 12-MaI. Cen Niles
appeared to-day before the House com
mittee ON military affairs for a hearing
relative 10 the proposed reorganization and
increase of the army.
Two bills for this purpose are pending.
enc drawn by Gen. Miles and introduced
in the Senate as the Hawley bin, and an
other introduced IN the House by Chair
man Hun OF the military committee.
At the outset Gen. Miles addressed him
self TO the general need OF increasing The
army without reference to either blli 10
said he had always favored the establish
ment Of a fixed standard for the army.
| The experience Of the last year. ne saiI
| had demonstrated that our present nnli-
taIy establishment was inadequate TO
maintain our position as a first-c.as5
power.
The science of war had undergone a COM
plete change since the days of our fore
| fathers, Cen Miles said. and now smoke
less powder long range rifles and machine
guns were the decisive elements. With
this changed condition he believed one soil
der TO one thousand population would give
an army tluIRlN adequate Tor any need.
IL would give an army Of 5000 according to
the last census ana about 75, 900 on the esd
mated population of to-day. In addition
10 this force the use Of native troops would
make an effective body in the several coio-
| MES. Gen. Miles said we now have a great
| er number of men abroad than any other
| country except. perhaps Great Britain.
IF we are 70 keep the Philipplnes-and
| ] have no more idea that we win give up
Manila than we win give up Bunker Hill.
| or any other place immortalZed In our
| history-then this native force viii largely
augment our own troops there, and l un-
derstand the natives are ready TO enter
upon this service"
Gen. Miles then turned his attention TO
the bill drawn by him. He had prepared
this, he said, simply in order TO express
his views in definite form. He explained
| in detail the provisions as to cavalry, ar
tilery. infantry and STAFF.
In response 10 questions, Gen. Miles said
| that az least 1000 native troops and 1000 OF
| our troops were required to maintain or
| der in Porto Rico At least 1900 were
| required for Western posts exposed to In
| dian uprisngs When asked how many
troops were required in Cuba, Gen. Miles
! said that as troops were moving there
now, he would not go into details on that
point, as IL might be enormously construed
as comment on his superiors In Office. He
expected that most OF the troops would be
off for Cuba within thirty days
when viii the Cuban government be
organized?" asked Mr. Sulzer OF New
| York, Dem.
Il do not know; that is a political ques-
| ton" 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 Philip
pines estimated they would require $500
possibly more. Altogether about 10000
men we're needed abroad and 5000 at
| home.
when Cuba Is independent the 10000
can be withdrawn ana the army reduced"
suggested Mr.. Sulzer.
Il would wait until that time comes
and then consider the question" answer
ed Gen. Miles.
Whatever IS the status OF Cuba, It will
be necessary to maintain strong force
there for a number of years.
The general answered Mr.. Hay Of Vr-
| ginia that there should be no delay be-
cause the peace treaty was not ratified.
The proper equippng Of the army was es-
sential as a safeguard a pillar on which
the country could rely, whatever came.
At the afternoon meeting Gen. Schoteld.
who preceded Gen. Miles in command OF
the army, devoted his chief attention to
| the friction inevitably arising between the
| Secretary 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
he had little or no authority, or even in
fiuence, as commanding general.
Concerning the size of the army under
! present conditions Gen. Schofield said he
| estimated a need Of about 5000 for tho
| Phuippines 1900 to 5000 for Cuba 5000 20
| 5000 for Porto Rico, 1900 for manning AMI
caring for fortihcations, 1000 for the In
dian country and 1900 as a reserve. He
did not believe in Understanding The seri-
BUSINESS Of our task in the Philippines. and
the only thing 20 do was to meet the condi-
tions in the best possible manner.
When Mr. Cox asked what would be lone
if the Philippine natives were whipped
but would not stay whipped" Gen. scho-
| field replied, amid laughter, that he would
advise whipping them Til they stayed
| whipped"
After Gen. schofeId had concluded, Gen.
Niles spoke briefly on what had been said
as to the commanding general He said
the laws now clearly recognized this posi-
ton as commanding general, and one OF
these laws made the general commanding
the army a member, ex-otiicio. of the forti-
hcations board lie did not approve the
suggestion that the head of the army be
an executive staff officer to the President
During most of the time for the last 100
years, the army had been under command
OF a general or a lieutenant general and
that was the practice the world over
Gen. Miles said he did not speak from
a personal standpoint, as he was ready
to be retired at any time. But he be-
lieved In the principle OF a rank and au-
thority commensurate with the RESPONSE
| blity.
Gen. Miles said In reply TO a question
| that he thought 1t would be better for the
| President TO have the war minister more
| particularly direct the vast administrative
work Of the war department, as was
manifestly impossible for any man 10 come
from civil life and al once become IA
miliar with all the latest appliances OF
war.
Gen 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 SER
..ll AID.rlla n