The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-20
Position Of Lieutenant General Miles
Becoming Utterly Untenable
at Lightning Speed.
he Openly Defies the Secretary Of
War and May Either Resign
or Be Removed.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
Chicago, March 20. The Washington
correspondent Of the Record Herald says:
President Roosevelt has under considera-
ton the Advisability Of retiring Lieuten-
ant General Miles. The president has it
in his power to do this, as under the law
he may place upon the retired list any
officer who has passed the age of 81 years.
General Miles will be So years old in Au-
gust. Unless sooner retired by the pres1-
dent he will remain at least nominally at
the head OF the army till August, 1903,
when he retires for age,
The present trouble grows out
of the publication of the fact that
General Miles prepared and submitted to
the secretary of war and to the president
a plan for pacifying the Philippines.
General Miles offered his suggestions in
writing. The president and Secretary
Root took them I'd, gave them serious
consideration and disposed Of them by de-
Gliding not to adopt them. This was a
month or so ago.
There was an understanding at the time
that the whole matter should be kept Sc
cret. Only three or four officials knew
the facts. Yet information leaked out to
the newspapers and has wide publication.
Now the question arises who gave out
the information? By order of President
Roosevelt an investigation designed to
throw light on this point has been set
on foot. and it is not likely that any ac-
ton will be taken Till it shall have been
completed. The correspondence is now
in General Miles possession, but OF
course the president can get hold of 1t at
any time by calling on General Miles.
II the investigate should happ "a to
show that the secret was given away by
General Miles. the president will prob
ably exercise his Drerogative and retire
that officer upon the ground that the ac-
ton was a breach Of confidence ana OF
discipline. AS yet there Is no evidence
| that General Miles was at fault in making
the affair public.
Miles Went Too Far.
Both President Roosevelt and Secretary
| Root were much incensed at certain fea-
lures of General Miles suggestions con-
corning the Philippines. They did not OBJ
| ject to an offer Of suggestion by HIM.
conceding that such is his plain right.
| What they did object to was the criticism
of the campaigns in the Philippines and OF
| the officers who have been responsible for
| them which the lieutenant general saw
fit to embody in his written plan.
/ General Miles has in personal CONVEX
sation for long time past INDUCED freely
in criticism of the manner in which the
war in the Philippines was carried on:
He has characterized the management OF
| affairs out there as bungling, reckless and
inefficient. These remarks have reached
the ears OF the secretary Of war ana OF
the president Now that the general OF
| the army has put his criticisms in writ
| ing. it is felt that If the full correspond
ence should be made public the people
would have little sympathy for General
Miles. It is possible that the cor
respondence will soon be published by or
der of the president for public informa-
btton. Now that SO much has been pub.
lished the president is understood to 1ee'
that It Is no more than right that the
! whole truth should be made known.