The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-09-16

New York, Sept. 8. = The United
states transport OLDHAM, having on
board Maj. Gen. Miles and his staff.
Maj. Greenleaf, Capt. Whitney, the
Second regiment of Wisconsin volun-
teers, consisting of thirty officers and
500 men, and the hospital corps from
Porto Rico. have arrived here
Gen. Miles admitted to the Associ-
ated Press reporter who interviewed
lin while the OLDHAM was lying off
Liberty island, the substantial accur-
a:y OF the statement attributed to him
by the Kansas City Stars correspond
ent at Ponce, Porto Rico. '"rhere are"
Gen. Miles said. "a few minor inaccur-
acies in the published reports, such as
usually occur in such interviews. l
don't care to point out the inaccuracies
referred to at this time; they are unim-
portant."
The following statement, emanating
from Gen. Miles, was given to the re-
porters on board the OLDHAM. 1t is in
the form of letter. in which Gen.
Miles is mentioned in the third person:
"While at Porto Rico and Auring the
voyage returning on the Obdam, ON
which steamer were Gen. Miles and
staff. two battalions of the Second reg
inent of Wisconsin volunteers, 1
learned the following facts concerning
the Cuban and Porto Rican expedi-
tons. In the first place let me say
that
The War Has Closed
after being conducted largely as Gen.
Miles stated publicly at the beginning
of the war that it would be. The state
ment was publicly made and general
order was issued by him, as command
order was issued by him, as command
er of the American army, in which the
plan he has striven to pursue was
foreshadowed. namely, seeking to ac-
complish results with the least posi-
BILE loss of life. In an interview in the
latter part of 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 invasion 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 Il
single soldier. either from disease or
the bullets of the enemy. I have never
sacrificed the lives of men under my
command, and do not propose to SUBJ
the present campaign
''In order to use the army at an
early date he directed that Every Of
iicer of whatever grade will. so far as
may be in his power. guard and pre-
serve the health and welfare of those
under his charge. He
Must Labor Diligently
and zealously to perfect himself and
his subordinates in military instruction
and discipline. and above all, he must
constantly endeavor by prc"ept and eX-
ample to maintain the highest charac-
ter, to foster and stimulate that true
soldierly spirit and patriotic devotion
to duty which must characterize an eff
fective army The principles thus
enunciated have been Zealously OBJ
served from the first.
Owing to the fact that the season
suited for campaigning in Cuba had
been exhausted in debates and delay
i'll congress and in necessary prepare
tons, Gen. Miles was opposed to
rushing an ill-prepared, undisciplined
and unequipped army in movement
against the capital of Cuba, defended
by 100000 trained Spanish troops, and
in this position he stood practically
alone for several weeks. Havana,
Matanzas. Santiago and a few other
points were drawn on his military
map as hotbeds of disease, destructive
to an army, and places to be avoided
rJuri,,o tho cioI-lv cooe.ou