Omaha daily bee., 1899-09-21
ECHoEs or THE WAR.


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Lieutenant Colonel John d. Miley, one
OF the most efficient young officers In the
regular army, is the latest sacrifice offered
to the moloch OF war and tropical climate.
lie died at Manila last Tuesday OF typhoid
fever.
Lieutenant Colonel Miley entered West
FONT from Illinois In 1888 and graduated in
1887, He served as second lieutenant In the
Fourth and Fifth artillery up to 1894 when
he was given a first lieutenaucy and at
tached to the Second regiment. When The
Spanish war began opportunities came to
render effective and efficient service. He
was chosen chief of staff by General Shafter
in the Santiago campaign, and so gaflantly
and we'll did he perform his arduous duties
that he earned the warm commentator OF
the commander and associate officers. He
was, in fact, General Skaters strong right
arm In the critical stages Of the invasion OF
southern Cuba, and not a little of that tri-
umph was due to his military skill and ag-
gress1ve courage. He was one Of the com
missioners to formulate the terms for the
surrender OF General Toral's army, and
later went into the country district to re-
ceive the surrender of the fragments of the
Spanish army. After a few months rest he
was sent to Manila as inspector general and
was hCtlng as COlleCtOr OF the port Wnen
stricken with deadly fever.
Some OF the new volunteers bound for
Mapila do not permit the fires of patriotism
to burn out all regard for number one. In
deed, the warmth Of the welcome rendered
the returning volunteers inspires in new
recruits a desire to be enrolled in the list
of heroes and enjoy the plaudits and emolu-
ments thereof. One of the prospective
heroes had this in view when he inserted
the following personal in a New York
paper: Bachelor 1851, sound health, char
acter above reproach, abstainer from liquor,
tobacco and profanity, with university edu-
cation, is now an officer in American-Fil-
ipino war, desires acquaintance of very
wealthy maiden lady, or un~encumbered
widow of good character, with view to
matrimony and European travel when war
is over"
Soldiers of the Cuban war who served
under Brigadier General Fred d. Grant at
Chickamauga will rejoice to learn that the
general is idolized by his troops in the
Philippines. The Manila Freedom of August
2 says: "Brigadier General Fred d. Grant,
who was seriously injured by the stumbling
of his horse at Bacoor the other day, is an
officer who is worshiped by his men.
'In camp, along the picket line and on the
march, wherever he may be, the general Is
always looking out for his men. He has a
kindly way of asking questions and the fol-
lowing little incident, which occurred while
General Grant was at San Fernando, will
illustrate his method of doing things:
lone hot afternoon the general observed
a little squad come marching slowly into
camp. The men seemed almost exhausted,
their tagging gait and brown clothes, soaked
with sweat, betokened a hard march under
the hot sun, but General Grant wanted to
know a little more about it.
1.-THE squad halted and the men told him
that they had been out on a scout since early
morning. They were almost too tired to walk,
but were anxious to get to their quarters,
some little distance further on.
"When asked the cause OF their hurry
when they were so tired, the sergeant ex-
planned that they had eaten but a scanty
breakfast and had missed their dinner.
"'Then 1 suppose you are hungry enough
said General Grant. Come with me- They
went. In a few minutes the squad occupied
seats at the table and the boys were being
served with the best that the generals COOK
could dish up for them"
Here is another Dewey story, vouched for
by the Washington Post: Dewey once at
tended a wedding breakfast at WHICH Inc
afYable Baroness de Strive, wife of the Rus
sian minister at that time, was present.
Dewey had met this famous woman several
times before. The facial plainness OF the
baroness was quite beyond belief, but she
was one Of the most brilliant, lovable and
kindly women ever elected to guide the social
affairs of the diplomatic corps in Washing
ton. A lady who overheard it tells r an
amusing passage which the baroness and
Dewey (who, If memory serves, was then
a commander) had at this particular we'd
ding breakfast.
'Referring to leather" eaid the baroness,
amiably, after some playful remark as to the
spick and span polish Of Dewey's sword
belt-he was in dress most
remarkable bit of Russian leather In the
world is my face"
Dewey was as quick a thinker then as ne
is now, but this stalled him.
Madame" he said, after a pause, Il am
but q rough sailor man, and this Is a heavy
demand which you make upon me. l am not
equal to the emergency"
"Of course" said the baroness, tapping
him with her fan, 81 should have to consider
you hopelessly rude were you to agree with
me. But you can preserve your neutrality
naval officers are taught to do that, are they
not?-by telling me what really fine eyes l
have. They are fine, are they not?"
Thus assisted, Dewey rose to the occasion.
The baroness eyes were, in truth, magnih-
cent.