Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-09-02
SEVERE THINGS WERE SAID.
INVESTIGATION OF CONDUCT OF
wARDEPARTMENT PROBABLE.
THE FIGHT ON GENERAL MILES.
IL IL Said Commanding Onacer Has Many
Bitter and Secret Enemies
In Washington.

publication OF an interview credited
to General Miles concerning the SAM
tiago compaign, in which considerable
irritation is shown, has excited great
deal Of comment, especially in the war
department.
General Corbin, on whom the inter-
view bears particularly hard General
Miles being quoted as saying that Cor.
bin sent secret dispatch to General
Shafter, assuring him that the pres.
ence OF Miles should make no difference
to his command) would not discuss the
matter publicly.
There is o great deal Of feeling In
the department, and thore is more or
less OF disposition to q division OF
sentiment as to the merits OF the threat
ened controversy.
The president Is considering the ad.
visibility Of having thorough 'inves-
tigation Of the conduct OF the war early
enough TO enable the department to
respond promptly to any inquiry by
congress on the subject as soon as that
body assemblies.
Allegations and suggestions such as
those made in the alleged Miles inter-
view, together with publications Of an
insinuating character without any claim
OF authority and the immense amount
Of talk which is being INDUCED in pri-
vately, strengthens the conviction OF
the department that the best possible
thing would be to have q thorough
investigation Of the conduct OF the
war.
The idea is not to make this invest
igation in the form OF q courtmartial,
or court Of inquiry based on charges
against any one, but to conduct 1t with
reference to historic accuracy for the
purpose Of o report, so as to bring out
ell the facts and let the responsibility
for the faults, wherever any are, fall
where IL will. II is regarded now as
almost certain that such an investiga'
ton will be held.
That the commanding officer OF the
army has grievance, all his friends
declare.
War on General Miles, IL is stated,
was begun by certain enemies in the
war department., and that he soon
found that instead OF being the leader
Of the armies Of the republic, he was
subjected to q campaign Of defamation
and assassination, and was forced to
defend himself against the attacks OF
ambushed Apaches at home, instead OF
leading the armies against the enemies
Of the country.
While this bureau OF defamation, it
is said, was located in the war depart.
ment, IL had no definite official status.
These deadly enemies Of Miles in CIV
ing items of news to gentlemen OF the
press would sneer OF the commanding
general OF our armies--would say that
General Miles was going to war in Q
bathtub--that he was very proud and
very conceited-that his vanity was
simply disgusting--that he was disa-
greeable, dictatorial, domineering--
that he was very unpopular with Pres.
ident McKinley-that such O grand
stand player was he that he would
rather have his picture taken and put
on exhibition than to draw his sword
against the Spaniards. :.
The investigation, 1t is claimed, will
develop the above facts, and will show
further that two OF the ring-leaders In
this outrageous conspiracy had suffer
ed courtmartial during our civil war
for cowardice in the presence OF the
enemy. One Of them, ii is alleged,
had sneaked of from an army post III
Texas to escape courtmartial for con-
duct unbecoming an officer and gen
tleman, and had tried to swindle the
late General Swain out OF $4,000.
These facts, il is said, will be laid be-
fore the senate in executive session
next winter.
It is declared that President McKin
ley telegraphed General Miles per
mission to command that army in the
Santiago campaign and that the
telegram Of the president was either
lost or suppressed, as II never reached
General Miles. On the contrary, II is
said, that General Miles got an order
directing him to return to Washington
for consultation. 1t is positively
stated that after General Miles return
ed to Washington he secured q copy
Of that telegram at the white house
and now has it in his possession. II
the investigation shall show this to
be true there will certainly be q SEN
sation.
It is further said that when General
Miles started for Santiago he was as.
sured by the president that he would
be in commapd Of the army without
interference from any source--and that
when he reached Santiago General
Shafter confronted him telegram
from the adiutant general announcing