The state herald., 1898-06-24
ARE HARD TO SUIT.
PRESIDENTS ADVISORS DIsA-
GREE.
General Miles Disapproves of Big Camp
at Fernandins-Opp to General
CoppinEer-No Expedition to spain.

General Miles Disapproves of = Big Camp
at Fernandins-Opposlti to General
CoppinEer-No Expedition to spain.
Chicago June 19.-A special to the
Record from Washington says:
In n multitude of counselors there
may be wisdom, but there Is usually
good deal of confusion also, and
President Mckinley has learned by ex-
perience. He IL a man OF abundant
caution, and while he may be too de-
liberate to suit many people he takes
the advice Of Davy Crockett and Is
sure he is right before he goes ahead.
For that reason he summoned General
Miles from Tampa, much against the
latter's wishes, although the general
should consider 1t compliment to be
called 900 miles back to talk with his
commander-in-chief. As stated In
these dispatches last night, nothing has
been definitely determined about the
expedition to Porto Rico. The secre-
tary of war and his subordinates had
formed pretty plan, with all details,
but the President declined to approve
1t until he had consulted General Miles.
The latter arrived this morning In his
private car, with its porcelain bath
tub and other luxurious appurtenances
that have been the cause Of criticism
and comment, but instead Of settling
the open question In. q speedy manner
he threw the whole game in confusion
and upset the calculations of the rest
of the department by the objections he
raised to their plans.
There has been n good deal Of fric-
ton between General Miles and the
secretary of war from the beginning,
as l have frequently stated in these
dispatches, and there was never more
than at present The Alger plan in
brief Is to mobolize 10000 or $4,000
troops at Fernandina, Florida, and ship
them to Porto Rico from that point un-
der command of Major General Cop
pinger.
In the first place, there has been con-
siderable objection to COppinger. He is
n foreigner; he Is not a graduate Of
West Point; he was not a citizen Of the
United States until he became a briga-
der general, and even then took out
naturalization papers only for the pur-
pose of joining the Loyal Legion; he
is a Catholic, and it is argued he
should not be sent In command Of
troops to Catholic country like Porto
Rico. But General Coppinger has
strong friends, who contend that the
objections raised contain the very best
reasons why he should be selected. He
has the strong backing Of General
Miles and Adjutant General Corbin,
and, although when he was appointed
a brigadier general four or five years
ago, he did not stand very high profes
sionally, 1t is claimed at the War De-
partment no man in the list Of depart
ment commanders has made a better
record than he. 1t is almost certain
that the President will accept the rec
concentrations Of Miles and Corbin and
let Coppinger lead the Porto Rican ex-
pedition.
General Miles. however, will not al
low himself to be drawn into the rail
road fight, and has made n recommen-
dation which, although 1t upsets the
plans of the War Department, seems
to be practical and sensible. He rec
ommends that the troops and supplies
now at Tampa be shipped from that
place, where temporary facilities have
been provided and the experience OF
the Cuban expedition has taught many
valuable lessons. He sees no reason
why these facilities should be aban-
doned and the troops and supplies
to another point simply for
the purpose Of loading them on trans
ports. He suggests that the troops and
supplies mt Jacksonville be started
from Fernandina, those Mt Chickamau-
ga from Brunswick and those at
Washington from Newport News or
Baltimore or equally convenient ports.
General Miles argues that II Is use
less expense to take troops out Of one
camp and establish them In another
unless they are to remain permanent
ly at the second place. Nothing can be
gained, for example, In taking troops
from Chickamauga to Fernandina and
allowing them to remain there until
they are ready to go TO sea. He urges
that they be retained at Chickamauga
until the transports are ready to re-
ceive them, 80 that they can march
aboard from the cars rs soon as they
arrive. Nor does he see any advantage
In sending the entire expedition from n
single place. II will save long and
journey to ship the troops
now at Washington from Newport
News or Baltimore instead OF taking
them to fernandina or Tampa, and at
either of the former places better In
cilities exist for handling men, live
stock and supplies.
General Miles has been spending the
afternoon trying to convince Secretary
Alger OF the advantages Of his plan.
The President and Cabinet regard II
very favorably and II will probably be
adopted.
There Is no Intention OF sending
fleet across the sen. The matter has
not even been seriously considered.
Several persons have suggested at DIFF
fcrent times that II would be n good
idea to lombard Cadiz or some other
of the Spanish ports. The capture OF
the Canary islands has also been nd
vocated In various quarters, but tho
president thinks our nrmy and navy
have plenty to do nearer home at pres.
ent. and that they will be kept busy
on this side Of the water until the
Spanish flag Is removed from Ameri.
can soil and the United States II In
posscssIop Of all the Spanish Amcri.