New-York tribune., 1899-07-18
STA TE1TENT FROM GEN. MILES
NO CONTROVERSY OVER THE NUMBER
OF TROOPS TO BE SENT TO MANILA.

NO CONTROVERSY OVER THE NUMBER
OF TROOPS TO BE SENT TO MANILA.
washington, July 17-The following state
ment was prepared at Army Headquarters to-
day and given out for publication:
There has been some discussion in the press
recently relating to an alleged dinerence ol
opinion regarding the number OF troops 10 De
sent to the Philippine Islands In the hrst III
stance. Immediately Upon receiving the news,
through press dispatches, of Admiral Dewey
victory at Manila, General Miles recommenueu
the dispatch of a military force to the fhinp-
pine Islands. The following is his letter
Headquarters Of the Army
Washington. ID: c., May B. lS9S
The Honorable the Secretary Of d Waf that General
Thomas NJ Anderson be sent 10 oecnpy me roops
Two battaiions 14h Infantry. two troops 4h GAY
airy. regiment Of Infantry California Holnh V
!HS5s 9U one oS'er eriment oregon yoqn
teers one regiment OF infantry Wasnngton pr
snRan''S snIy. supplies ana SETsoS S9sYTsA A 4ILgs,
Major General Commanding u 3 a.
The force above designated was approximate
ly five thousand men, and the accommodation
was approved by the President as follows:
Executive Mansion, Washington Nay. Nay T. lS's an
The troops designated by General Mhes' LAP II ap-
bled at San Francisco. CAL for such service as may
be ordered hereafter. W. Mch'
Up to this time no communication had been
received from Admiral Dewey, his nrst dls-
patch, dated May /. not reaching Washington
until May {. Later the folio wing dispatch was
received from him:
Secretary ry"e ef Hoet s6e Navy, Way Washington
by sea. and believe rebels are hemmlns in by land.
although they are inactive and making no deihUn non
l believe the Spanish Governor General viii be
obliged 70 surrender soon l can take Mania az az
Philippine Islands would require. in my best judg-
ment. well equipped force of FIVE thousand men 1,
be very useful to relieve the Olympia of guarding
Cavite. United States troops should make pro, pro,
force is estimated ten thousand men. The rebels
are reported thirty thousand men, ;,,r,,,v
THE SECOND RECOMMENDATION.
patch from Admiral Dewey. General Miles made
the following recommend Ntion:
Headquarters Of the Army.
Washington, May 16. 1898.
The Honorable the Secretary Of War ,.,,.,u.
SIR m has a se the tS force one %
and effective as possible with view TO It's man, man
pine Islands and at the same time relieve our
Navy as speedily possible tS fusgss5 s ana ndt @
United States Infantry, two squadrons Of the An
Cavalry. one battery of heavy artillery from the the
7th. and, in addition 1885 volunteers from Calf
fornia. Colorado. Kansas. Montana, Nebraska.
Dakota, Idaho, Wyoming and Minnesota, already
designated. 1 also recommend that two Pinch
guns two 10-nch guns. with disappearing carriages.
and eight mortars to be dismounted; also two s,
inch guns now at Bepica Barracks all all be place PLACED
there to be mounted speedily as possible for the
defence Of that a an6 cn be b from e
feet now at that place When this IS accompnshed
ce he The can guns ee and referred to should be
replaced as soon as possible by others sent to San
Francisco from the gun foundries and arsenals on
'"' NELSON A. MILES.
Major General commanding
The troops designated in the above communi-
cation numbered 15,425 men, which over
10000 more than Admiral Dewey had asked for.
but notwithstanding this 1t was General Miless
opinion that in view of the Admirars statement
that the Spanish force was estimated at 10000
men. It would be advisable for us to have pre-
ponderating force.
In the mean time General Merritt had been
selected to command the expedition to the
Philippines, and in a letter to the President
dated May 13, 1898. he submitted an estimate
of troops necessary to constitute such an ex-
pedition, comprising II, 400 men. Of which num-
Der G. 900 were Regulars. on May 10 he supple
mented this by an estimate for a siege battery
and a small ordnance detachment.
GENERAL MERRITTs ESTIMATE
General Miles had not seen General Merritt's
estimate when he wrote the letter of May 16,
given above This letter was referred to Cen
eral Merritt for remark and was received back
with the following Endorsement:
Headquarters Department OF the East.
Governors Island, May II, 1893
Respectfully returned 10 the Adjutant General OF
the Army.
consider the composition of the force outlined by
the Major General commanding the Army as un-
suited 10 the ends to be accomplished and Insult
Acient in efficiency for the expedition TO the Philip
pines
Two regiments Of Regular Infantry two-thirds
Of a regiment Of Regular Cavalry and two light
batteries very small proportion OF the forty
two Regular regiments in the Army when the work
TO be done consists OF conquering territory seven
thousand miles from our base, defended by a regu-
lary trained and acclimated army Of from ten thou
sand TO twenty-five thousand men and inhabited by
fourteen million people. the majority Of whom will
regard with the intense hatred born of race and
religion.
Besides, II I am not greatly mistaken the sug-
gested command is only on paper as the 14th In
fantry is only partially available. My letters Of
May IS and Is give the composition and minimum
strength Of the Regular force deem necessary.
w. MERRITT,
Major General commanding.
GENERAL MILESS REPLY.
It was then referred to General Miles for