The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-22
MILES GIVEN
HARD REBUKE
Censured For Interview on the
Schley Case.
HARSH REMARKS BY Mr.. ROOT
SAYS LIEUTENANT GENERAL
SHOULD HAVE BEEN QUIET.
WASHINGTON. Dec. IA determi-
lAj nstiop on the mart Of tba admin

WASHINGTON. Dec. IA determi-
w nation on the part Of the admin
istration absolutely to terminate
further discussion of the Sampson
Schley controversy took. shape in the
publication of some remarkable CORE
.spondence that has passed between Sec
Rotary Root and Lieutenant General
Miles relative to the latters interview.
published in a Cincinnati paper, Dec.
16, commenting upon the schley case.
When the interview appeared it at
tracted much attention omcially. but
after the lapse of two days without any
sign Of official action the conclusion
became general that the interview
would be ignored. Therefore the pub
LEGATION this afternoon of the full cor
respondence on this subject created a
Sensation in army and naval circles. Tt
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 foretold. although it
/ is assumed that General Miles viii sub
nit without further comment.
But One rarallel.
The nearest parallel Of this case OF
recent years, excluding the incidents
connected with the celebrated beef in
quiry, was that Of Rear Admiral Rich
ard Meade, who upon returning from
a cruise in Venezuelan waters with the
white squadron. accorded an interview
to a New York newspaper severely
criticising the administrat ton for its
lack Of vigor in dealing with the Vene-
zuelan question. The outcome of that
case was the early retirement Of the
rear admiral from active service
That General Miles appreciates the
situation is shown by the deep concern
he manifested today and his frequent
visits to the Office of Secretary Root. It
was necessary for him to write two
/ letters to meet the demands of the de-
partment. and even then there was no
expression of satisfaction on the secre-
tary's part at the second explanation.
However, Secretary. Root himself re-
CARDS the incident as closed At least
he does not purpose to take any further
action unless obliged to do so.
The Several Missives.
The text Of the correspondence which
passed between the secretary of war
and General Miles follows:
war department. Washington, Dec.
10. 1901.
''Sir. I am instructed by the pFesi-
dent to call your attention to the en-
closed report Of an interview with you.
appearing in the Associated Press
newspapers Of Tuesday, Dec. II, and
to inquire whether the observations
upon the action of a coordinate branch
of the service in a matter now pending
in the navy department were made as
reported, and, If so, to afford you such
opportunity for explaining in writing
as you may desire. Very respectfully,
"ELIHU ROOT,
Secretary Of War
Lieutenant General Miles. headQuar-
tiers Of the army
General Miles Replies.
To the secretary's letter General
Miles made this reply;
Headquarters of the army, Washing
ton, Dec. 20, 1901.
THE honorable, the secretary Of war,
Washington, D. G.
Sir: Replying to your note Of the
18th inst, 1 have the honor 10 state
that my observations, as substantially
reported, had no reference to the action.
pending or otherwise. of coordinate
branches of the service; they were
merely my personal views, based upon
matters set forth in various publica-
tons which had been given to the
world, and concerning which / conceive
there was no improperly in expressing
an opinion the same as any other cit
iZen upon a matter of such public in
/ terest. Ny observations were in no
sense intended as a criticism Of any
action taken by a coordinate branch OF
{ the service. and the statement that I
had no sympathy with any efforts tend
ing to disparage a distinguished and
gallant officer likewise had no such
reference. Very respectfully,
NELSON A. MILES,
Lieutenant General
General Miles supplemented this let
( ter with the following, handed to the
! secretary today:
! Headquarters of the army. Washing
ton, y. -, Dec. p. 1901.
1.-THE honorable, the secretary of war;
"Sir: Referring to my note Of yes
/ terday, and IN order that there may be
/ no misunderstanding I 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 appealed against such as
saults to q coordinate branch of the
4 government. That coordinate branch Of
/ the government granted him a court
/ of inquiry, and, as 7 understand it.
they unanimously eXOneTated him from
such epithets as coward pOltrOOn,
etc, and their opinions were given TO
the public for the information of all
citizens. When 7 said that I had no
sympathy with those who had en-
/ deaVored to destroy the reputation of a
! high officer who. like all other officers.
/ regards his honor more sacred than
/ life / had in mind and referred to
/ those assaults against which the adj
miral appealed for protection and iusti-
! ficatiOn, aud certainly not to d co-or-
dinate branch of the government.
I request that this note be laid be-
I fore the president, and have no objec-
/ ton TO it being made public. Very re-
! specially, NELSON A. MILES,
Lieutenant General"
Reprimanded, Just the Same.
The reprimand Is contained in the
/ following letter Of Secretary Root to
( General Miles:
War Department. Washington, Dec
I II, i90l.-Sir: BY direction of the pres
/ ident. I communicate to YOU his con-
/ clusiOns upon your course in the inter
/ view TO which your attention was
/ called by my letter of the 19th
Your explanation Of the public
statement made by you is not satisfac-
/ tory. You are in error when you say
| that you have the same right as any
other citizen to express publicly an
/ opinion regarding The questions pend
H.raa aa a7f q rrnI
/ The established iuvsriable rules of otti-
cial pr0prietv necessary to the effective
/ discipline of the service impose uall-
| tations upon the public expression 81