The age-herald., 1898-12-13
MILES EXPLAINS
 HIS ARMY BILL DllateS on the Increasing Need Oi a
 Stronger Military Arm. GEN. SCHOFIELD ALSO TALKS DRelt on ths Shortcomings Of tte
 Present System of Rank.
FRICTION NECESSARILY ARISES
Between the Secretary of War and the Commanding General Gen. Miles Thought Authority Shouldbe
 Commensurate With Rank.

relating to the proposed reorganization and increase of the army. Two bills for this purpose are pending, one drawn by General Miles and introduced in the senate as the Hawley bill, and another introduced in the house by Chairman Hull of the military committed At the outset General Miles addressed himself to the general need, n- creasing the army without reference to either bils He said he had always favored the establishment of fixed standard for the army. The experience of the last year, he said, had demonstrated that our pres ent military establishment was inedaquate to maintain our position as first class power. It was necessary now to consider both our military requirements at home and those in our new colonial dependencies abroad, and also the rapidly increasing de- mands made by our seacoast Qualifications. The latter far completed, required some 1855 batteries of artillery, and when the entire increase in coast defenses was completed, 365 would be required. The war with Spain had shown pretty clearly how many men would be required, General General Miles said.
 The war had required 52 000 men for ac tual field operations at various points. Of these 22000 men to Manila, 20,o00 to Cuba and 10000 to Porto Rico. These were ac- tually in the presence of the hostile enemy. Since then there had been endorsements for garrison and other purposes. At the same time the general pointed out the me- cessities at home must not be overlooked the entire frontier had been stripped of troops during the late war, and complaints were coming in that lives, families and property of those along the frontier were jeapordized by this condition. In particular there were fears of outbreak in the Sioux country because of the absence of troops It was not desirable. therefore, to withdraw our forces from the frontier and to leave them defenseless, or to invite dis order.
 One Soldier for 1000
 These considerations, said General Miles, had led him to recommend a standard of one soldier for 1000 population at home, with native troops on a basis of two native soldiers for every 1000 population.
 'If we are to be first class power in the world" proceeded General Miles, i've must have military system adequate to- meet our responsibilities the world over. l be- lieve in making that system so small that 1t will not be menace to the American people and at the same time large enough to make 1t adequate for any emergency
 He believed one soldier to 1000 popula- tion would give an army entlreiy adequate for every need. It would give an army of 64 OO0 according to the last census and about 75OO0 on the estimated population Of today. In addition to this force the use of native troops would make an effective body in the several colonies.
 And if we are to keep the Phiippines- and I have no more idea that we will give up Manila than we will give up Bunker Hill or any other place immortalized In our history-then this native force will largely augment our own troops there, and under stand the natives are ready to enter upon this service"
 General Miles then explained in detail the bill drawn up by him.
 In response to questions, General Miles said at least 2,000 native troops and 2.o0o of our troops were required to maintain order in Porto Rico At least 15000. were required for western posts exposed to 1n- dian uprisinEs.
 Probably 10000 men would be sufficient for Cuba in the near future and the officers in the Philippines say they will require 25.000 men. Altogether 10000 men are needed abroad and 35,000 at home.
 General schofcld
 At the afternoon meeting General Scho- field who preceded General Miles in com- mand of the army, devoted his chief at- tention to the friction inevitably arising between the secretary of war and the com manding general under the present sys- tenn. This had occurred under the command of himself who moved headquarters to New York to avoid differences arising with the war department.
 It occurred also during the cmmand of General Sherman, who went to St. Louis to avoid friction. 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 as commanding general. Whether he does anything depends largely on his personal relations with the secretary of war. If these relations are not close, then the secretary of war gets to ignoring the so-called commanding general. In that event the adjutant general becomes a more important official than the commanding General Schofeld stated that one of the most essential features of army re- was to give the president abso- ute power to select his own commanding officer General Schofsld urged also that the heads of all staff bureaus should be sub- ordinated to the general in chief.
 After General Schoneld had concluded, General Miles said he did not approve of the suggestion that the head of the army be an executive staff oficer to the presi- | dent. During most of the time for the last | 100 years the army had been under a gen eraI or a lieutenant general and that was l the practice the world over.
 Ready to be Retired
 General Miles said he did not speak from l a personal standpoint, as he was ready to | be retired at any time. But he believed in | the principal of rank and authority com l with the responsibility. General Miles said that he thought it | would be better for the president to have | a war minister to more particularly direct l he vast administrative work of the war As- | partment as it was manifsstly impossible | for any man to come from civil life and | 1t once become familiar with all the latest l appliances of war. If the one occupying the chief military position was net liked, | .hen let some one else be placed in military | authority. But the selection should not be | from so far down on the list as to amount 10 favoritism, for that would not be ap- proved by the people.
 General Miles pointed out that three