Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-12-26

tration to absolutely terminate any
further discussion of the Sampson
Schley controversy took shape in the
publication yesterday of some remark
able correspondence that has passed
between Secretary Root and Lieuten-
ant General Miles relative TO the lat
ters' interview, published in a Cincin-
natl paper, commenting upon the
Schley case. 1t is seldom so severe
reprimand is administered to an OF
ficer of high rank in either service.
What the result will be cannot be
foretold, although it is assumed that
General Miles will submit without fur
Their comment. That Miles appre-
ciates the situation is shown by the
deep concern he manifested yesterday
and his frequent visits to the office of
Secretary Root. 1t was necessary
for him to write two letters to meet
the demands of the department and
even then there was no expression or
satisfaction on the secretary's part at
the second explanation. However,
Root does not propose to take any
further action unless obliged to do so.
December 10Th, Root wrote to Miles
saying he was instructed by the presl-
dent to call Miles attention to the re-
ported interview with him and inquire
whether the observations made were
as reported, and if SO, to afford Miles
an opportunity of explanation. The
interview referred to contains the fol
lowing in reference to the finding OF
the Schley court Of inquiry
Il ain willing to take the Judgment
of Admiral Dewey in the matter.
think Dewey summed it up in clear,
concise manner and believe his con-
illusions to be endorsed by the patriot
iC people of the United States. |
have no sympathy with the efforts
which have been made to destroy the
honor of an officer under such cir
cumstances.
To the secretary's letter Miles re
piled saying his observations, sub
stantially reported, were merely his
personal views and in no sense in
tended as a criticism of any action
taken by the coordinate branch of the
service. Miles supplemented this let
ter with another in which he says:
when | said / had no sympathy
with those who endeavored to destroy
the reputation of a high officer i
referred to those assaults against
which the admiral appealed for pro
lection and justification and certainly
not to the coordinate branch of the
government"
The reprimand is contained in the
following letter from Root to Miles.
War department, Washington, Dec.
z:-Sir:-By direction of the presi-
dent | communicate you his conclu-
sion upon your course in the inter-
view to which your attention was
called by my letter Dec. 10. Your eXs
PLANTATION of the public statement
made by you is not satisfactory. You
are in error il you suppose you have
the same right as any other citizen to
express publicly your opinion regard
ing official questions pending in the
course of military discipline. The
established invariable rules of Of
fetal propriety necessary to the effect
i've discipline of the service imposed
limitations upon public expressions
by military officers, with which your
long experience should have made you
familiar. Your duty Is to express
opinion on Official matters when
called upon by your official superiors
or in due course of official reports and
recommendations and not otherwise.
The first article of the regulations
governing the army of the United
States provides: deliberations or dis
cusslons among military men convey
ing praise or censure, or any mark of
appreciation, toward others in the
military service is prohibited"
This provision has been part of the
army regulations for at least half a
century, and the highest obligation to
observe it rests upon the officers
whose high rank should make them
examples to their subordinates. Any
other rule of action in the military
service will be subversive of discipline
1t would not be tolerated in a subal-
tern and it will not be tolerated in
any officer or rank whatever. The
present facts are that for several
years there has been an unfortuna, e
and bitter controversy in the navy de,
partment. The controversy is gener-
ally deplored even by the participants.
as tending to bring he service into
dis-esteem at home and abroad, and
to destroy those relations of mutual
Conscience and friendship between
naval officers which the interests of
effective service require. In this con-
troyersy the army has not been in
yolved. No bar has been raised to-
that good feeling of friendly relation
between all officers of the navy and
all officers of the army which is essen
tal to successful and harmonious CO.
operation of he two eIvices in pre-
paratlon and action. court of in
curry has been held on the matters in
controversy and the report made in
Whioh one member of the court dis
seated in some particulars from the