Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-12-23
GEN. MILES REPRIMANDED.

o1tbNoCton
Schley matter.
First came the official announcement
that Secretary Long had approved the
fiudings Of the court, and had declared
that Admiral Dewey went outside OF
the precept to give Schley the credit for
the victory at Santiago. Where there
was divided opinion among the men,
bers OF the court be approved the ma
iority report. He also refused the sp.
plication OF Admiral SIMPSONS counsel
to inquire into the QUESTION OF com
mand, and informed Admiral Schiey's
counsel of the fact.
Then came the information that the
ommsoding general OF the army had
been publicly and officially reprimsnd.
| ed for his comment on the verdict OF
the court of Inquiry. While 10 Cinoin.
natl last week, General Miles expressed
his vlews, endorsing the opinions OF
Admiral Dewey and declaring that he
had 'no sympathy with those who
sought to destroy the reputation OF 8
brave naval officer" In dong this IT
| has been held that he violated the
regulations OF the army, and after
several letters upon the subject hao
passed between him and the Secretary
| Of War, and a conference had been
| held by the President and Secretary
| Root, it was decided that notWithstand-
| ing his high position the commanding
| general of the army should be censureu.
| The letter of reprimsnd says, In part
"You had no business 10 the contro.
versy, and no right. holding the Office
which you did, to express any opinion"
Closely following the announcement
OF this action came the Information that
| the resignation OF Msclay, the author oil
the naval history, and who had accused
Schley OF cowardice, had been called
for, and that Secretary Long had been
requested to take this action by the
President. The Secretary OF the navy
declined to make the announcement
himself, and, contrary to all precedent,
the CODY OF the official letter directing
Admiral Barker, by order Of the Presl
dent, to ask Maclsy to send 10 bis
resignation was made public by Secre-
tsry Root. This unusual feature lie
said to indicate q rupture between the
President and Long and to foreshadow
the Secretsry's early retirement from
the Cabinet. Msolsy Is on the rolls OF
the Bureau of Equipment OF the Navy
Department as special laborer, and
draws a salary OF s1.67 a day. Mac
lays resignation Is requested" be-
cause the department could not, prob
ably, "dsmiss" him without cause.
| Secretary Long later in the day Is
sued the formal order dissolving the
Schley Court of Inquiry. The order
was communicated at once to Admiral
Dewey, president OF the Court.
II 10 said that friends OF Rear Ad-
miral Scnley, acting for him, will sp-
peal to the President. He will be
asked either to disspprove the findings
of the court or sanction the review OF
the case by three civilian arbltrators,
whose decision shall be final.
Admiral Schley and Attorney Cen
eral Rayner will hold conference
soon relative to the future course to be
pursued.
The administration regards the
Schley case as finally closed. Presi-
dent Roosevelt is determined that II
shall not be reopened. II an appeal
should be made to him on behalf OF
Admiral Sohley, he will, 1t Is under
stood, dispose Of it promptly by OK
pressing approval OF the action OF the
Navy department.
When Secretary Root called the at.
tention OF General Miles to the publish
ed interview, the latter did not seek
| shelter behind statement that he had
been incorrectly reported and place the
blame on the interviewer. Instead, be
| declared that be had been correctly re-
ported, and reiterated what he had said,
and ex planned why be had said it. 81 re.
peat" said he "that have no sympathy
| with those who have endeavored to de-
stroy the reputation OF q naval officer
| who regards his honor as more sacred
| than life. have such complete conf.
dence in President Roosevelts sense OF
fairness that l feel assured that In the
end he will do full justice to all con-
cerned in the naval campaign OF San
tisgo."
This was the statement reiterated by
General Miles after he had been official
ly rebuked by Secretary Root for hav'
ing expressed his sympathy with Ad-
miral Dewey's opioion.
In the letter written by General Miles
on Friday, he says
81 have the honor to state that my
observations as substantially reported,
had 10 reference to the action pending
nor otherwise on the coordinate branch
of the service. They were my perso'
nal views, based upon matters set forth
10 various publications which had been
| given to tne world, and concerning
| which 1 conceive there was DO impro-
priety in expressing an opinion, the
same as any other citizen, upon mat
ter OF such public interest. My observa-
lions we're in no sense intended as
criticism OF the action taken by co-or.
dinate branch OF the service; aud the
statement that had no sympathy with
any efforts tending to disparage a die.
tuguished and gallant officer likewise
had no such reference"
Secretary Root in mis- reply quoted
an army regulation which according to
the letter prohibited Gen. Miles from
making the observations referred to
above. The Secretary therefore assumes
that tho Gsnoral's exPlans.ies 10 not
satisfactory.