The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-04-28

A Cause Of Contention Between v
and Army Oflcers-Lass session OF the
Beef1C0urt

A Cause Of Contention Between Naval
and ARM Ofacers-Lass session of the
BeerCourt
Washington, April 24.@aptain G. +.
r. Wilde. United States navy, OF he
United States steamer Boston, has pro-
tested against the promotion OF Colonel
Miller, to be a brigadier general as a
reward for the capture of Iloilo.
1t appears that this capture was ef-
fected emit ely by naval forces under
command Of Captain Wilde, and that
1t was not until after the capture had
been effected that the place was turned
over to Colonel Miller, who up to tina,
time had nothing to dc with its cap
ture.
This action is endorsed by Admiral
Dewey.
Captain Wilde's protest comes too
late TO be effective, as Colonel Miller
was promoted a brigadier general Feb
ruary 18th In recognition Of his SER
vices In the capture OF Iloilo and was
retired in that grade March 9th by OPP
Grafton Of law IN account OF g He
was in command Of the expedition sent
from Manila for the capture OF Iloilo
and the cruiser Boston and Petrol were
sent with him to rende assistance.
While the vessels of the expedition
were lying OF the port the natives be-
gan 10 strengthen thei defences and
fired several shots at b Petrol, which
vessel was anchored nearest the shore.
The commander OF hat small warship
asked and received permission OF Cap
tain Wilde OF the Boston 10 respond.
At this time, according to naval ad-
vices, Gen. Miller's army transports
were far out in the roadstead. Without
communicating with General Miller.
the two warships opened fire on h
shore batteries and soon silenced them
Lieutenant Niblack, OF the Boston,
landed with a battalion OF marines and
sailors and took possession OF n
town. They captured the insurgents
flags On the governors house and on
the batteries and turned the city over
TO General Miller on his arrival, an
hour or so later. They kept the cap
tured flags, however, in spite Of General
Miller's demand for them. This is the
naval story of the battle of Iloilo.
The official report Of hat engagement
UTSL TcCGlN6u III WdouiubNOu was LhdAc
by General Miller to the war depart
ment and simply announced the surren-
der of that city to the American forces
under his command without going into
p~orticulars. Acting upon this report
and in view { the fact that General
Miller had but a few weeks more TO
serve on the active list, he president
appointed him to a vacancy hen exist
ing in the list OF b~rigadier generals.
He is now on his way home from Ma
Mia, and is expected to reach San Fran
cisco in a few days.
The president has appointed Colonel
James F. Smith, of the First California
volunteer regiment, a b~rigadier general
Of volunteers. The regiment Is now in
the Philippines. General Smith will
be assigned to one Of the brigades OF
General Otis army.
LAST SESSION OF THE BEEF
COURT.
The Wade C Irt of inquiry appointed
to investigate the allegations made by
Major General Miles in his testimony
before the ws-r investigating commits
sion, concerning the meat furnished the
army during the late war with Spain,
held its last open session today n Is
o engaged upon the preparation Of
it's report.
The court has been in session al
most ten weeks and, in addition TO the
daily hearings given In this city for
several weeks, sessions have been held
in Chicago, Omaha and Kansas City,
to afford the members Of the court an
opportunity to personally inspect the
canning houses. Several hundred wit
uncrnr hnxn hnnn n~nwnnI vnA~ 80
whom have been officers and enlisted
men in the regular, or volunteer SER
vices, and over four hundred pages OF
testimony have been submitted.
This morning the court decided not
to accept a report made by Lieutenant
Colonel Darlington, Of the inspector
generals c1ice. This deport had been
transmitted to General Miles through
Inspector General Breckenridge. The
report goes extensively into the report
Of men without drawing any general
conclusi
The board in explanation OF their re-
fusal to accept this report in evidence,
gave out the following statement:
The report Of the investigation con-
Quoted by Lieutenant Colonel CARING
ton, inspector general, under the order
OF the major general commanding, CON
tains the result Of an inquiry carried ON
for the most time at the same time and
in the same places as this court"
In the afternoon session, before Ma
jor Lee, who has been Major General
Miles representative, summed UP for
his side he read a brief statement
from Inspector General Breckenridge,
Major Reid and Lieutenant Colonel
Darlington as to their individual OBJ
CARNATIONS