The times., 1899-02-14

tary divisions of the army, orders to the
various districts and commands being
transmitted through the so-called army
headquarters. In other words, the General
Commanding is the tactical head of the
establishment and. in theory at least, is
the Presidents representative at the head
of the army in camp, barracks, fortifica-
tions and in the field. Persons like
DENLY, who wrote the report, and Beaver,
who looked on and drew his per diem dur
ing the operation. may not be aware of the
deductions which will be made by
military and other sensible men from the
argument. We are ashamed that profess
sional members OF the Commission like
General McCook and General Wilson should
have signed their names to a report which
makes them ridiculous in the eyes of the
American and every other civilized military
service
The point does not need elucidation.
General Miles. although the real fighting
leader of the army, was promptly shelved,
ignored, and Systematically insulted by the
War Department from the declaration of
war against Spain. and only and grudging-
ly allowed a share in it when the ineftl-
cheney of Alger's pet general made ii nee
essary to put a real soldier in the field, to
save our forces from disgraceful failure and
retreat in the face of the enemy. Hav-
ing been used of necessity for this service.
the credit of 1t was cooly denied him.
What the Alger Relief Commission seeks
TO show is, that General Miles was fifth
wheel 10 the army coach. and of no value
whatever. What it does unconsciousiy
show is that the General in Chief was the
rightful leader of our forces under his as
signment, and the history of the war is
sufficient evidence that he was denied his
rights. Why, it is not necessary for any
body to tell us at this late day. The whole
country knows Of the sentiments with
which AIger has always regarded Generals
Miles and Merritt, and General Phil. Sheri-
dan while he was alive, on account of their
action and public expressions concerning
AIger's alleged conduct at the Battle of
Charlottesville. Indeed. it would almost
seem as if Mr.. McKinley's Secretary OF
War had largely conducted his operations
against Spain with a view single 10 the
satisfaction of revenge upon one of the
chief participators in disciplinary move
ment which was nipped in the bud,
through influence, before it had chance
TO endanger life, liberty. or the pursuit
OF politics.
The Alger Relief Commission-tha is,
Denby-considers that the Office of Gen
eral of the Army should be reformed. Its
incumbent should be made simply the
General in Chief" l. e., the chief of staff
to the President Commander Chief.
We know exactly what that distinction
without difference would mean in a mod
ern army free from the taint and deals of
Algerism. In such a position General
Miles would be to President Mckinley eX-
actly what Field Marshal Count Won
Moltke was TO the old Kaiser Wilhelm
chief of staff in name, but the responsible
commander of the whole army in fact.
But that is not the idea sought 10 be con-
veyed by the essayist who, probably under
the misunderstood dicta of an ancient and
muddled military fossil holds that a chief
of the general staff should be an officer
without power or command, the real con-
troll and initiative being vested in Secre-
tary of War who should run the entire
business through the staff departments.
Poor Mr.. Mckinley! He ought to have
stopped that report before it could be
added TO the literature of American
humor He should have ordered Dodge,
DENLY, and Beaver-the lighting Nc
Cook and the submissive Wilson, to take
it and wear it on their heads. Chinese
DENLY had some perception of fitness
when he wrote ii on foolscap.