The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-12-23
GENERAL MILES CBNSURED
STERNLY TAKEN TO TASK FOR HIS
SCHLEY INTERTJEW

SCHLEY INIERVJEW.
No Right 4" Express Amy Opinion 81
the Findings of the Court of Inquiry
Violated RuIes of Official ProprIety-
The President Directs That Mnclay
the Naval Historian, be Dismissed
| Washington, Dec. 22.-Lieutenant Gen
eral Nelson A. Miles, the commanding
| sured by the secretary of war for the
sentiment expressed by him in his pub
lished interview on the verdict of the
Schley court of inquiry The censure
was delivered by direction of President
| Roosevelt, who in this and another in
stance demonstrated that he was COM
mander-in-c chief of the army and navy
in fact as We'll as in name, and was de-
termined to maintain discipline without
regard to the feelings of individuals.
| The other instance mentioned was the
action of President Roosevelt in direct
| ing the secretary Of the navy to call for
the resignation from the public service
of Edgar Stanton Maclay who charged
Admiral Schley with cowardice in his
History of the Navy"
In view of the opinion Of the court of
inquiry that Admiral Schley did not
display coWardice in the battle with
Cervera's ships President Roosevelt
felt that it would be improper to retain
in the government service a man who
had publicly accused Admiral Schley
of turning sin catiff flight on that &C.
casion, Friday the president told
Secretary Long that Mr.. Maclay must
resign his position under the navy de-
partment. and Mr.. Long accordingly
sent the following brief but pointed let
ter to Rear Admiral A. s. Barker, the
commandant of the Brooklyn navy
yard:
Navy Department, Dec. 90 1901.
Rear Admiral Barker Commandant.
New York Navy Yard:
Sir-I am directed by the president to
ask Edgar Stanton Mac1ay, special la
borer, general storekeeper's office navy
yard, to'send in his resignation. Very
respectfully,
John d. Long, Secretary.
The interview With General Miles was
had with him in Cincinnati on Decem-
Der 16. President Roosevelt and Sec
rotary Root read it in the newspapers
of the following day. This was the in
terview:
Cincinnati, Dec. 1G.--General Nelson
A
States army, arrived here to-day ac-
companed by Mrs. Miles. The are
guests of Mr.. and Mrs Frank Wiborg
at Clifton, Mrs. Wiborg being relative
of Mrs. Miles. In speaking of the find
ing Of the Schley court of inquiry, Gen
eral Miles said:
Il am willing to take the judgment
of Admiral Dewey in the matter. He
has been a commander of a fleet and as
such has known the anxieties and re-
sponsiblities which rest on a man un-
der these circumstances. He was in 4
in the destruction of one
Spanish fleet and knows and realizes
the feelings that encompass an officer
under such conditions. I think Dewey
has summed UP the matter in a clear
and concise manner, and I believe his
will be Endorsed by the pat
riotic people of the United States. I
have no sympathy with the efforts
which have been made to destroy the
honor of an officer under such circum-
The president and secretary of war
lost no time in calling General Miles
to account Mr.. Root addressed an Of |
fetal letter to that officer and the en-
suing correspondence eliminated in the |
following severe admonition which was |
to General Miles yesterday af- |
.ernoon:
Sir: BY direction of the president I |
to you his conclusions up
IN your course in the interview to
which your attention was called by my
etter of the 10Th inst
Your explanation of the public state
nent made by you is not satisfactory.
You are in error il you suppose that
rou have the same right as any other
itizen to express publicly an opinion
egardng official questions pending in
he course of military discipline The
established and invarable rules of Off
ial propriety necessary to the effective
josephine OF lHe service impose llfllti- |
ions upon the public expressions of
officers, with which your long
experience should have made you ia
niliar. Your duty is to express your
pinion on officials matters when called
pom by your official superiors or in the
ue course of your official reports and
and not otherwise.
he first article of the regulations gov
rning the army of the United States
rovides:
Deliberations or discussions among
men conveying praise or CEN
ure, or any mark of appreciation, to-
ard others in the military service
are prohibited"
This provision has been part of the
rmy regulations for at least half
antury, and the highest obligation to
bserve it rests upon the officers whose
ish rank should make them examples |
, their subordinates
ANY other rule of action in the mill
Try service would be subversive of ,
iscipline IT would not be tolerated in !
subaltern, and will not be tolerated in ,
nv officer of whatever rank. The pres | ,
ut facts are that for several years c
lere had been an unfortunate and bit ,
r. controversy in the navy depart !