The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-19
CAPT. HOWELL ON GEN. MILES.
DOESN'T TAKE MUCH STOCK IN THE
COMMANDEH-IN-CHI

/ Prominence Out of the War Was
Responsible for His Charges He
fore the Investigating Commits
siOn-MiIes Selected shafter and
Located the Camp at Miami-Presi-
dent Mckinley Had No Confidence
in MiIes-Capt. Howell Thinks the
Country Got on Light
Capt. Evan p. Howell spent yesterday in
the city. He was here to attend the meet
ing the board of directors OF the Central
of Georgia Railway. and left at night for
Tampa.
Capt. Howell was a member of the war
investigating commission, and was the
only member on the commission from the
South The commission sat for four months
and its findings have recently been pub
lished The verdict of the commission
was not satisfactory to those who hoped
for a wholesale condo mnation OF the ad-
ministration and all its methods in the
conduct of the war. The report. in fact.
approves the conduct of the administra-
ton, although 1t criticises Secretary AIger
and makes some severe structures upon
Gen. Miles. The report OF the commits
sion thoroughly represents Capt. HoweiFs
views. OF President Mckinley and his
conduct of the war he spoke highly. OF
Secretary Alger he spoke less highly.
"Ager is a good man. He means wel,"
said Capt Howell "and he endeavored to
do right. but he is lacking in force He
did not show sufficient strength. He should
have displayed more force"
Capt. Howelrs opinion of Gen. Miles is
the reverse of favora BILE. Miles Is full of
mud" to use the captains graphic express
sion.
The trouble with Miles" said Capt.
going TO get sufficient prominence from
the war and he proceeded to kick up a
rumpus. He let off steam through the
newspapers and attracted the attention of
the public in this manner. He made his
charges about the beef business purely to
bring discredit upon the war department.
In his published interviews he criticised
the actions of the department, yet the evil
dence shows that he recommended the APP
pointment of Gen. Shafter TO command the
Santiago expedition and that he was the
man who selected the camp site at Miami,
which was by far the worst of all the army
camps"
Capt Howell was very emphatic in his
criticism of the camp at Miami, which he
said was Gen. Miles own selection
The trouble was that Miles did not have
the confidence of the President" said Capt.
Howell. 1.-The President is vested with the
power and the responsibility of The COM
mand of the army of the United States and
he should have the right to select his own
commander-in-chief The Secretary of War
is the representative of the President and
this causes a confusion of authority in
army affairs
Did not Gen. Miles conduct a successful
campaign in Porto Rico? Capt. Howell
was asked
He did because 1t was very
easy thing to do. The people in
stead of opposing him, rose up en- masse
In his favor. He was received with open
arms and had practically unopposed
march across the island"
While Gen. Shafter was perhaps not the
best equipped for the work of the generals
who might have been selected for the San
tiago expedition" said Capt Howell He
was very successful. There were various
things for which Gen. Shafter could not be
held responsible, such as the shortage in
transportation facilities and commissary
supplies. The transports, which were esti-
mated by the quartermaster' department
proved barely sufficient for 1900 He had
supplies only for IT, 900 men, but on arriv-
ing at Santiago he had to feed 5000 of
Garcia men, and later 1900 refugees who
came cut from Santiago. Naturally there
was lack of supplies for the time.
The lighting a Santiago was really di-
rected by the division commanders" said
capt. Howell. Wheeler, Chaffee, KEN,
Lawton and others. 1t was a case where
our men would really have won the fight
had there been no leaders. We made
some criticisms on account of deficiencies
in the commissary and medical depart-
ments. We found that one trouble was
| that the commissary and medical depart
ment have to depend upon the qua rter-
masters department for transpcrtati ton.
and We recommended that they should be
authorized TO provide their own transpor-
| tation. We found that in some cases
| troops were not promptly supplied with
| provisions, and that there was DELAY in
furnishing clothing and equipment These
Things were 70 be expected in hurriedly
| organizing an army of 275.OOO men.
great deal of the hardships of the troops
was due to the inexperience of the voiun-
| teer officers. Gen. Merritt. In his camp
| at Preside, near San Francisco Cal
adopted the plan of instructing his Officers
! first in their duties as to making reouisi-
| tons and securing supplies and caring
| for their men. Schools for the officers
! were held four or five hours each day until
| they thoroughly understood these duties.
| He held that drilling was something that
| could he taught at any time, and that
these other duties were more important"
| Taking it all in all" said Capt Howell,
the results OF the war are remarkable
The suffering was comparatively small.
| Out of 10000 men enlisted less than 300
were killed in battle, and less than 5000
| died from all causes. The mortality was
about per cent. We got off much easier
than we had any right to expect"