New-York tribune., 1901-12-22
THE REBUKETO GEN. MILES
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT DETERMINED
TO STOP MILITARY AND NAVAL
CONTROVERSIES
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUyE-l

Washington. Dec 21-The President has pub
Idly rebuked Lieutenant General Miles. COM
mandinS the army, for commenting on the
SchIey controversy The severity of the repri-
mand administered to-day through the Secre-
tary of War while practically unprecedented In
it's characterization of the indiscretion commit
ted by an officer of such exalted rank is regard
ed as less personal than as designed by its Sc
verify to prove an example for the benefit or
officers of all grades in both services. and 10
emphasize the determination Of the commander
in chief TO put an end to the intoIerable btcker-
fngs which have become too common in the
military and naval arms of the government The
offence against Section D of the first article CT
the army regulations committed by General
Miles was regarded as too grave to be excused
under the present circumstances
The President, it is believed. acted as lenlently
in the matter as was warranted in the excited
state of the army and navy now existing ana
it is pointed out that he would have been justi-
fed in exercising his prerogative of retiring the
general who passed the prescribed age Of sixty
two years last August, or, at least. OF trans
ferring him to less important duty.
THE LETTER OF REPRIMAND-
The reprimand is contained in the following
letter Of Secretary Root to General Miles
War Departrpen washington. Dec. 80 1901.
Sir: am instructed by the President to cah
your attention TO the inclosed report of an IN,
tsrview with you, appearing IN the associated
Press newspapers of Tuesday. December IL, and
to inquire whether the observations upon the
action cf 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 explana ton In wrltlnS as
ELIHU ROOT,
Secretary of War.
Lieutenant General Nelson A Miles, Headquar-
ters Of the Armv
bx-S
General Miles said:
I am willing 10 take the judgment OF Admiral
Dewey in the matter He has been commander
OF a fleet and such has known the anXletles
those circumstances. He was Instrumental IN
the destruction of one Spanish fleet and knows
and realizes the feelings that encompass an
officer under such conditions
1 think Dewey has summed UP the matter IN
a clear and concise manner, and oeneve MS
conclusions will be indorsed by the patr1otlc
people of the United States. have no sympathy
with the efforts which have been made 20 de-
stroy the honor of an officer under sucn cir
cumstanees-
GENERAL MILEs's EXPLANATIONS
To the secretary's letter General Miles made
this reply:
HEADQUARTERS of the Army.
Washington. D. c., Dec. 20. 1901
The Honorable the Secretary of War, Wash
ington d. c..
Sir: Replying to your note of the 10Th inst.
i have the honor TO state that my observations,
substantially reported nad no IeIeFehce u
the action, pending or CtherWlSe. OF Co-oIul-
nate branch of the service: they were merely
my personal views. based upon matters set rortn
in various publications which had been given
to the world ard concerning which 1 conceive
there was no impropriety in expressing an opln-
ion, the same as any other CITIZEN upon d mat
ter of such public interest
NV observations were in sense intended as
a criticism of any action taken by a coordinate
branch of the service and the statement that
had no sympathy with any efforts tending to
disparage DISTINGUISHED and gallant officer
likewise had no such TeTsreHGs % s0 very resPect-
fully. NELSON 4. MILES.
General Miles supplemented this letter with
the following handed to the Secretary to-day:
Headquarters Of the Army 100,
Washington. ID. c., Dec 21, 1901
The Honorable the Secretary OF War
Sir: Referring TO my note of yesterday, and
in order that there may be no misunderstandins'
1 desire to say that Tor seyeraI years as GsI- n
parties who have endeavOred TO write him and
other high officials down. until finally he ap-
pealed against such assaults 70 co-ordlnate
branch of the government. The co-ordinate
branch of the government granted him a court
of inquiry and. as 1 understand it. they unani-
mousiy exonerated him from such eDithets
coward poItroor. etc. and their opinions were
eiven TO the public for the information OF all
citizens When / said that I had no sympathy
with those who had endeavored TO destroy the
reputation of high officer who. like all other
life had in mind and referred to those assaults
against which the Admiral had appealed for
proteCtlon ara JuSllncdtIo anu amy 1Oe ~
a coordinate branch Of the government
I request that this note be laid before the
President and have objection TO IL being
made public. Very respectfully.
NELSON A MILES.
Lieutenant General
AN EXPLANATION DEMANDED
The correspondence between Secretary Root
and General Miles which preceded the repri-
mand is as follows:
War Department,
Washington, Dec. p. 1901
Sir: BY direction Of the President I COM
municate to you his conclusions upon your
course in the interview to which your attention
was called by my letter OF the 10Th inst:
Your explanation of the public statement
made by you $ satfzfactory. You are I'm
error III Won suppose that you have the same
right as any other citizen 30 express pub
licly an opinion regarding official questions
pendins Sn the of military discipline.
The established and invariable rules of on