Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-12-23
Scathine Lecture Delivered II
the Presence of Number
Of Callers.
Text Of the Official Correspon.
dence and Secretary Roots
Letter OF Censure.

Washington, Dec. 23.-The sensational
feature of Saturdays developments in
the war ard navy departments. OF
course, was the terrific ariaignment OF
Gen. Miles, both personally and by let
ter, and his official censure. an act which
is not usually resorted to except under
the gravest provocation. The president
assumed the entire responsibility for the
censure of Gen. Miles, and not only that
out he took matters in his own hands,
received the lieutenant general COM
manding the army in one of the window
seats of the presidents Office. and flayed
him alive for the interview he gave out
in Cincinnati
The president was much in earnest,
and he told Gen. Miles without mincing
words that his printed interview COM
mending the course of Admiral Dewey,
and by inference denouncing the major
ity of the court. was gross breach of
military discipline, which could not and
would not be tolerated.
The president went at his work with
the impetuosity characteristic OF him.
and was so much In earnest and felt
that Gen. Miles was so much to blame
that he made no attempt to conceal the
matter.
On the contrary, it appears to be true
that Gen. Miles was Inundated by hav-
ing the scathing rebuke heard by many
other people. According to common re-
port 1t was even more severe than the
official letter OF censure signed by Sec
rotary Root, but which is understood to
have been practically dictated by the
president himself.
Gen. Miles freely admitted the anthem
ITCHY OF the Interview. He declared.
however, that he had not the remotest
idea that his words reflected upon the
court In any way. He told the president
what he said in his letter-that the In
terview referred entirely to those per-
sons who had declared Schley to be a
coward and paltroon, and cast no reflec-
ton at all upon the navy department or
upon the court.
This personal explanation was not re-
ceived as at all sufficient by the presi-
dent, who was entirely out Of patience
with Cen Miles and told him that an Of
f1cer of his experience should have sense
enough to refrain from any comment
whatever upon controversy which con-
cerned the navy department alone.
The rebulte to Gen. Miles came from
the commander-in-chief to the lieuten-
emit general, commanding the army, a
personal subordinate. The fact that a
young and lmpetuous president, himself
a veteran OF the recent war. was rebuk-
ing in the strongest possible terms an-
other gray-haired veteran Of the civil
war did not render the affair any the
less militay function.
Gen. Miles, having presented his two
letters and having made his oral state
ment. took his rebuke lik.. soldier and
said nothing. He wilted as q matter OF
course, because the president was terri
bly, In earnest and spoke from deep con-
yiction OF the proprieties of the case.
Gen. Miles left for New York on the
afternoon train. almost Immediately
after Secretary Root gave out the official
letter.
The full text Of the correspondence
which passed between the secretary OF
war and Gen. Miles follows.
WAR Department, Washington. d. c..
Dec. 10, 19O1.-Sir: l am instructed by
the president to call your attention to
the inclosed 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 cor-ordinate branch OF
the service In matter now pending In
the navy department We're made as re-
ported, and IL 60 to afford you such OPP
portunity for explanation In writing as
you may desire.
"ELLHU ROOT.
Secretary of War.
Lieut.. Gen. Miles, Headquarters OF
the Army"
The interview referred to by Secretary
Root was given at Cincinnati on Dec. 1t
and was as follows:
II am willing to take the Judgment OF
Admiral Dewey in the matter. He has
been a commander of a fleet, and al
such as known the ankle ties and respon-
sibilities which rest on man under
these circumstances. He was instru-
mental in the destruction Of one Spanish
fleet, and knows and realizes the feel
ings that encompass an officer under
such conditions.
IT think Dewey has summed up the
matter in clear and concise manner,
and believe his conclusions will be In
dorsed by the patriotic people of the
United States have no sympathy
with the efforts which have been made
to destroy the honor of an officer under
such circumstances"
To the secretary's letter General
Miles made this reply:
Headquarters OF the Army, Wash
ington, q. c., Dec. 20, 1901.-The Honor
able, the Secretary Of War, Washing
ton, D. t,.-Sir: Replying to your note
OF the 18th inst. have the honor to
state that my observations, as substan-
tally reported, had no reference to the
action. pending or otherwise, OF CO.
ordinate branch Of the, service. They
were merely my personal views, based
upon matters set forth In various pub
LEGATIONS which had been given to the
world and concerning which conceive
there was no ippropriaty in expressing
an opinion the same as any other citizen
upon matter of such public interest
My observations were in no sense in
tended as a criticism of any action la
ken by coordinate branch Of the SER
vice, and the statement that had nc
sympathy with any efforts tending tc
disparag'e distinguished and gallant
officer likewise had not such reference.
"NELSON A. MILES,
Lieutenant General"
General Miles supplemented this let
ter with the following, handed to the
Sescretary Saturday:
Headquarters of the Army, Washing
fnnd tn -. -. 4