The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-22
SECRETARY ROOT SEVERELY
CRITICISES AND DISAPPROVES
RECENT INTERVIEW
GENERAL OUGHT NOT TALK
lions of President Roosevelt, and
He FIatIy Refuses to Allow
an Explanation
ADMITS BITTER FEUD IN NAVY

WASHINGTON, Dec. PA determine
ton on the part of the administration to
absolutely terminate further discussion of
the Sampson-Schley controversy took
shape in the publication today Of some
remarkable correspondence that has pass
e.. between Secretary Root and Lieut..
Cen Miles, relative to the latters inter-
view, published in a Cincinnati paper
commenting upon the Schley case.
When the interview appeared it attract
ed considerable attention officially, but
after the lapse of two days without any
sign of official acton, the conclusion be-
came general that the interview would
be ignored Therefore the publication
this afternoon of the full correspondence
on the subject created a sensation in
army and naval circles. 1t is seldom that
so severe a reprimand is administered to
an officer of high rank in either service.
What the result will be- cannot be fore
told, although it is assumed that Gen.
Miles will submit without further COM
ment.
The Generals Explanation.
That Gen Miles appreciates the situa-
ton is shown by the deep concern he
manifested today and his frequent visits
to the office of Secretary Root. 1t was
necessary for him to write two letters to
even then there was no expression OF
satisfaction on the secretarys part at
the second explanation. However, Secre-
tary Root himself regards the incident
as c,osed At least, he does not propose
to AXE any further action unless obliged
to do so.
Secretary Roots first letter was an in
quiry as to the correctness Of the inter-
view. To the secretary's letter Gen.
Miles made this reply:
Replying to your note of the 10Th inst,
I have the honor to state that my
observations, as substantially reported,
had no reference to the action, pending
or otherwise, Of a coordinate branch Of
the service. They Wero merely my per-
Eonal views based upon matters set forth
in various publications which had been
given to the world, and concerning which
4 conceive there was no improperly in
expressing an opinion, the same as any
other citizen upon a matter Of such pub
1ic interest My observations were i'll no
sense intended as a criticism Of any &C
ttion taken by a coordinate branch Of
Ehe service, and the statement that
had no sympathy with any efforts tend
ing to disparage a distinguished and gal
aant officer likewiGe had no such refer
Nnce"
h Miles Supplementary Letter.
7 Gen. Miles supplemented this letter with
the following, handed to the secretary to-
hday: "Referring to my note of yesterday
and in order that there may be no mis-
understaE cling, / desire to say that for
several years a distinguished and gallant
officer has been assailed by parties who
have endeavored to write him and other
high officials down, until finally he ap-
pealed against such assaults to a CO.
y, - ~
coordinate branch of the government
granted him a court of inquiry, and, as
] understand 1t, they unanimously exon
Grated him from such epithets as cow
ard, poltroon, ETC., and their opinions
were given to the public for the informal
ton Of all citizens. When l said that I
had no sympathy with those who had en-
deavored to destroy the reputation of
high officer, who, like all other officers,
regards his honor more sacred than his
life, l had in mind and referred to
those assaults against which the admiral
had appealed for protection and justifca-
ton, aad certainly not to a coordinate
branch of the government"
Mr.. Roots Reprimand.
The reprimand is contained In the fol-
lowing letter of Secretary Root to Gen.
Miles:
w DIT OSpdi lILGIll, washington, II. u,
Dec. 81. 1901.-Sir: BY direction Of the
president l communicate to you his con-
illusions upon your course in the inter-
view to which your attention was called
by my letter of the 18th inst.
Your explanation of the public state
ment made by you Is not satisfactory.
You are in error if you suppose you have
the same right as any other citizen to
express publicly an opinion regarding
official questions pending in the course
of military discipline.
The first article of the regulations gov
erninS the army of the United States pro-
yides: Deliberations or discussions
among military men conveying praise or
censure, or any mark of appreciation, to-
ward others in the military service, are
prohibited
Any other rule Of action in the military
service would be subversive of discip-
line. 1t would not be tolerated in a SUBJ
altern, and 1t will not be tolerated in
any officer, of whatever rank
The present facts are that for several
years there has been an unfortunate and
bitter controversy in the navy depart