The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-24
THEY IGNORE MILES
HE SEEMS TO "CUT NO ICE'' IN MILL
TARY DELIBERATIONS.
NO PART IN DISCUSSIONS.
WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCES GO ON
WITHOUT HIM.

His Part a Minor One in the Chinese
War Drama-This Despite His Po-
Sition as Commanding General OF
the Army-Washington Talks OF
ThiS-NiIes' Dress BetOkens Rather
the Dandy Than the General.
Washington. d. c., Aug. 23.-In military
and social circles the question is repeated
ly asked: What part does Lieut.. Gen.
Mics, commanding general of the United
States Army play in the war drama now
being enacted in the Philippines and in
Chna?" The complete elimination of Gen.
Miles from the military and diplomatic
conferences held at the White House, and
in the executive departments relative to
the handling of the American forces at
home and abroad, is one of the unexplain-
ed mysteries of the present day. The
closest enquiry at the war department,
fails to disclose any satisfactory explana-
ton of the total eclipse of the dfstin-
guished-looking commanding general.
Before he came to Washington Gen.
Miles predecessors, especially Maj. Cen
the White House to confer with the
President and cabinet on all matters per-
tanning to the movement or disposition
of United States troops, either at home or
abroad. For while Gen. Miles enjoyed
similar privileges and seemed to share
the confidence of Mr.. Cleveland and the
then Secretary of War, Col. Daniel s.
Lamont.
Miles as "A Campaigner.
Prior to his elevation TO the rank of
commanding general of the army, Gener-
al Miles had the reputation of being one
of the grandest types of American sold
lery known to this generation. His rec
ord in the Civil War, together with his
achievements as an Indian fighter, made
MIN the envy of many of his military as
sociates. When attired in his military uni
form. he presents a commanding and adj
mirable appearance. Gifted with a mag
niticent physique, clean-cut features and
graceful and dignihed bearing, 1t would
DE difficult to conceive a more striking
military commander than General Miles.
In addition to his long, active and eff
Client service in the field especially
against savage tribes in the West, the
experience and information he derived
from visits to Europe to witness the mill
tary maneuvers of international troops,
would seem to especially fit him to give
practical advice and counsel to the ad-
ministration in carrying out its policy in
connection with the Chinese complica-
tons.
Received Shabby Treatment.
When Secretary Root took charge of the
War Department is was announced semi
officially that in the future Gen. Miles
would receive such considera ton as his
high rank entitled him to and that he
would be the military adviser of the Sec
rotary of War. 1t was said In this connec-
ton that personal jealousies. tinctured
with politics, was in a large measure re-
sponsible for the shabby treatment Gen.
Miles is alleged to have received at the
hands of the Cleveland administration I'M
der Secretary Lamont, and that the same
condition of affairs continued during the
period when Gen. Alger presided over the
destinies of the War Department. It was
also charged that Adjt. Gen. Corbin was
largely responsible for the ignoring of
Gen. Miles, because the former entertain
ed aspirations not calculated to please the
commanding general.
These subjects have been gossiped about
and threshed over in military and social
circles until they have become too stale
and Improbable for further speculation.
The fact remains, however that Gen.
Miles has been practically ignored in all
of the important deliberations bearing up
on the American campaign in China.
There must be some valid and substantial
reason for the treatment he has been sub
jected to. 1t is not rea sonable to suppose
that in view of all the complex questions
involved in the Chinese situation that the
administration would refuse any valuable
suggestion from Gen. Miles or any other
reliable source.
Officials Are Evasive.
Those who might throw some valuable
light on this subject, when Intercepted,
become suddenly silent or evasive and in
innate that no good can come of the dis
cussion OF such a delicate subject. 1t is
whispered that although Gen. Miles pos
sesses an unblemishing record as a SOL
der when in the field, he is
deficient in some of the requireme nts of
a successful and efficient commanding
general 1t is alleged that he has griev-
ance either real or imaginary, against
his military associa es who are graduates
of the West Point Military Academy. He,
it will be remembered, las r.sen prac-
tically from the ranks OF the volunteer
branch of the service to the most exalted
position in the army of his country. This
grievance appears to have not only i'm
paired his judgment in mil tary affairs,
but to have by no means improved his
personality. He permits it to permeate.
not only his personal. but his official ut
terances, and the result is that he fire.
ouently finds himse antasonizing the
wishes and the policy of his official SUI
periors. without being able TO furnish JUS
tihable re asons for 30 doing.
Recently Gen. Miles has evinced an in
difference to the peculiar position he oc-
cupies in official circles, and is apparent
ly determined to derive ell the pleasure
and profit OF his high rank without be-
ing harrassed by the responsibilities which
might otherwise rest upon him. Attired
in a white duck suit wearing a straw hat
with an extremely broad brim, surround
ed by a gaudy hat band, patent leather
CATERS with white duck "spats," twirl-
ing a slender cane, he suggests an elder
". but well preserved. dandy on grand
pi omenade, rather than the commanding
general of the United States Army.
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