New-York tribune., 1901-10-06

required. and many of the shortcomings of the
army severely criticised at the time were not
due to the officers the department, but to
the impossibihty Of doing on short notice what
should have been prepared for by Congress
years before.
The book does not refer directly TO the attacks
made upon General Alger personally, give
any account OF his relations with the admins
tation, or the events leading to his retirement.
II defends the army appointments and declares
that no favorttism was shown In selections;
that the greatest was taken to choose fit
men, and that many regulars were taken
for volunteer service as could be spared from
The army establishment without impairng its
esdency.
STRUCTURES ON GENERAL MILES.
The substance of General Alger's- chapter on
the army beef controversy was published IN
The North American Review" OF last January.
and the public is already familiar with his de-
fence Of General Eagan's administration, though
not of the language for which the latter was
court-raartialled and also with his structures
on General Miles. In other respects he is also
severe on General Miles. After recounting what
be calls the generals Impossible and imprac-
hcable" plan to move an army from Nuevitas
westward to Santa Clara, building roads with
he aid Of prisoners, he says:
This proposition. however. was only one o. nu-
% 9s WhS wePe s1s
ncable and not infreouently absolutely lnpossIDe.
Key West. where ali drinking water. would have
% be brought in tank ships; with our hands fun at
send "a battery Of artillery and 1s Teggqf r pinss 81
a " as an expeaon 10 ths rse He
insisted sending to Cuba, for use with infantry
fng IN to F2gisa s snse sheds each
Weighing 1000 pounds and each occupying as mucn
ecommended S 1 the abandonment Of Santiago after
Seryera's feet had been destroyed. thereby HIting
7eaping the fruits Of victory then practically in
,nr hands ne wanted 800 marines 0t ne ehe oninion
hat proposed force Of l6 452 men. mostly xoi9n IN
General Merritts Philippine expedition, and while
n Porto Rico he cabled TO the War Department a
Held rifles 45-caiibre ammunition all white can
vas tentage and black leather equipments OF every
and should not be a part Of the army equipment"
n answer TO this last recommendation the 1olio"-
war Department. August 3, 1888.
General Miles, Porto Rico: ,,,
AS you ought to know. the last .4o-caHnre I
Springfield rife manufactured in ninety-three
actared and viii be forwaFded suggest
get along with what the gevesGnment has s On WAN
During the week in which war was declared rdre ne
Eensen rifles "be reduced to the minimum II noe tSe
entirely suspended" advising at the same TINE & tie
the adopted type OF gun then in the hands OF our
proved recommendations none dernonstrateaa nitS
scE OF judgment more than this e ,peaSt mo also
change in the machinery and methods OF the Se sSt
ernment armory. where these arms are Iiiaue.
Even If his Recommendations in this respect en-,
M 1ogeo The advantage Of some reason OF h time to
ehange the type Of arms or the machinery loF liei
Moreover. the law making appropria951s ,1r or
manufacture OF arms at the Sprngnetla @ 10 be IA r
ass the MODEL 81 e ef the @ Board Of
ordnance and Fertilization and the ohcer M pea ~ s
me highest rank in the army certainly shouu nav
1t was decided that General shafter should com
The Fifth Corps and after sailing orders had been
issued TO him General Miles was directed az 10 a.
Of Santiago which it was then believed would b- Te
force were to rendezvous at Nipe, and there loln
me army for Porto Rico. to be organized py botb
forces when thus united ,,,as
III soon developed, however that Seneaa eatr i'm
30Ttance than the expedition 70 Sanriago grdered
70 sa the e DAY 6ef9re General es Mes
,ns abandonment OF the movement to sarrlaso rrans
lated plain English this plan proposed an n1 I
yssion OF No porto Rco). leaving No SSantaEpos p
occupation Of Porto Rico having been accom- pisneo'
guard ssg then to to & ren e Of Porto Rico and
p5opty crush the Spanish power In fS SMpa Of this
posositon IS neentiy apparent TO for
the emphatic dsapproval of General Mics p.'i''
made known 10 him in the following dispatch:,o
~, war Department June g. 1880
aaaa,tor-Gensral Major Miles. Tampa. Fla; n-ss. the ut
The President says no. He urges ..is ao
%sost poet haste in departure OF No l5he sanI,ads
utonl. Indicated by you. but that NO nus. nus ;"
nen zen first. r. A. ALGER. Secretary OF rH n AFTER
ISsHneral shafter had been ordered TO SAIL "ene'
@nes was thus instructed: .,,e ,o ~
~, washington, Juno T. 1S9S-O p. M
aae,or-G General Miles. Tampa, Fla .. PORTO
eco with 80 boo troops) be ready IN ten oMys cc
~ are directed TO assemble such tfoopI .,esdy
A. you in ten days or sooner II you can DO ''"N'
On 1u]y s. mora than thirty days after the 9sos1 On
~e hsued General Miles sailed from Cnafie'