The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-06-18

MILES RETURNS
TO WASHINGTON
Telegram from AIgers Summon
ed Him to the Capital.
TELLS OF HIS RECENT TRIP
Some of the States Sent Men Into the Field
in Very Good Condition Others Sent
Their Quotas Without Arms
or Clothing.
TELLS OF HIS RECENT TRIP

Washington, June 17.-Major-G
Miles, general-in-chief of the army, ac-
companled by Colonel Maus, Major Davis
and Colonel Greenleaf, of his staff, arrived
in Washington today after having directed
the departure of the first army of invasion
to Cuba 1t had been his intention to
main in the field, directing the succeeding
expeditions, which will follow rapidly from
this time forward, all of which it can be
stated are part of a well matured Of
fensive campaign. General Miles looked
hale and hearty, despite the three weeks
incessant work, bringing order out of chaos
in the hurriedly concentrated army, COM
prising regulars and volunteers, many un-
armed, unequipped, with thousands of tons
of stores assembled by inadequate railway
facilities, hundreds of pack trains, droves
of horses and mules and the vast minutia
of war movement beyond sea.
General Miles conferred with Secretary
Alger for half an hour before the cabinet
meeting, and then had a long talk with
General Luddington, quartermaster-gen-
eral, on the condition of quartermasters'
supplies. He came in response to a tele-
gram from the secretary of war summoning
him here and who desires to go over certain
phases of the campaign with him.
Splendid Body of Men
Speaking in a general way of his OBJ
servations, General Miles said:
Having spent some time with the troops
during trying period of hurried prepara-
tions, / am glad to say that they are a
splendid body of men which we will be
proud Of As to the regulars they are the
finest corps in the world without any ex-
ception in physical development efficiency,
experience, disciplin, craftsmanship, equip
ment and all that goes to make up first
class soldiers. OF course, the volunteer
army is not as well equipped. Some of the
states sent men into the field in very good
condition, notably Massachusetts, and New
York; others sent their quotas without
arms, equipment or clothing. They were
not soldiers at all; only employed men.
1t takes time to make soldiers of this ma
terial There must be uniforms, arms, am
munition, equipment, camp equippage, tent
equippage, transportation and hospital sup
pliets. Then in addition they have to have
ordnance, artillery, siege trains, entrench-
Ing tools, horse equipments. engineering
appliances of all kinds, balloon appliances,
etc. After that comes the great question
of moving an army across the sea, with all
the dangers and vicissitudes of an ocean
voyage. This work, with it's infinite detail,
has been carried out. I am glad to say,
with fair degree of success, the COM
mand of 5000 men under General Shafter
moving away with an outburst of patriotic
enthusiasm which overcame the trials they
had passed through"
General Miles attention was directed TO
the reports coming from Tampa of great
confusion and delay in. preparing the ex-
pedition and getting 1t off for Cuba.
Causes of Delay
ba caid Htharo urara oaueae oo,,
tributing to this delay :. In the first place
the post Office service at these points of
army concentration is very deficient. They
have the same facilities and no more, as
the local towns have when normal condi-
tions exist But when 10000 to 80, 900 men
are added to the population of the small
towns and all of the men are sending and
receiving letters from their friends and
relatives at home, besides the large amount
of official business carried on the post office
facilities are entirely inadequate. That has
been one of the troubles at Tampa, Chicka-
mauga and other places and as a result
the official communications to and from
the war department on which depends the
regularity of movements, had been serious
ly delayed. Then in gathering the muni-
tions Of war for army 1t was necessary
to have the service of a grgeat number of
trains loaded with stores crowding the
meagre railroads far beyond their capacity.
However. all this is getting Strengthened
out now, and already most of it has been
overcome.
"The troops at Tampa are in very good
health, both those who went forward with
General Shafter and those still remaining
The sick list is less than one per cent,
which is an exceptionally good record
The spirit of the men is also of the best
The departing troops were all anxious to
go and there were wild scenes of enthusi-
asm and cheering as the men marched
aboard the ships and got under way. When
ever band played the national air every
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