Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-03-29
MILES ATTACKS
ROOTS ARMY BILL
Declares He Will Resign Com
membership If 1t
Passes.
A GENERAL STAFF
Miles Quotes Napoleon, Wellington,
Grant and Other Great Com
manders Against War De-
partment's Plan.

Washington, March 22.-General Nell
son A. Miles today told h senate
committee on military affairs that II
the bill introduced by Senator Hawley,
at the instance OF the war department.,
for the organization Of a general staff
for the army, should become a law, he
would decline longer TO hold his COM
mission. The reason he gave for the
statement is that the bill Is utterly
subversive OF the interests Of the mill
tary establishment. He said he would
not be a party to such proceedings.
The portion of the bill 20 which Miles
directed especial criticism is as fol-
lows:
THAT from and after the passage
Of this act the senior general officer OF
the army shall be assigned TO command
such portion OF the army as the presi-
dent may direct, or be detailed to duty
In the general staff corps All duties
prescribed by law for the commanding
general OF the army shall be performed
by the chief of the general staff or
other general officer designated by the
secretary of war. Provided, that so
long as the present lieutenant general
continues on the active list he shall be
chief Of the general staff. Upon the
separation from active service or said
lieutenant general said office, except
as herein provided, shall cease and de-
termine.'
Would Destroy Unity.
General Miles said If this provision
should become law IT would have the eff
feet OF destroying the unity OF the army,
and he read numerous authorities, includ-
Ing Napoleon, Wellington, Washington.
Cass and Grant, TO show the necessity Of
having one head TO the army and of n
controlling authority. Bis own experience
and observation had the effect of confirm
Ing these views and he rave an illustra-
ton OF It's beneficial effect In time OF
emergency, instancing the beginning CT
the wal with Spain.
II heard at midnight" he said, that
the Spanish feet had been located def
nitely at Santiago and | fastened to the
home Of Secretary Long, where the news
was confirmed. Shafter was then at
Tampa and ! sat down there in the sec
retary's house and wrote a dispatch d.
recting him TO start Immediately for San
tiago, with the result That the army was
soon on its way TO a point where it's pres
ence was needed.
Suppose" he added, exhibiting the
message which he had sent 10 Shafter,
II had been compelled TO get around to a
dozen or more majors, as mani colonies
and any number OF generals constituting
the general STAFF" Then, he added, in all
probability the senior general of the army
would not under the PROVISION he had
quoted been I'm a position to do anything,
and he called attention to the clause re-
lieving him Cthe senior general Of COM
mand, making 1t possible for any other
officer TO be appointed.
Opens Door to Favorlt!am.
lie declared tina under section I it would
be competent TO one day promote a cap
tain to the position Of brigadier, and next
day TO make him chief of stan, thus prac-
tically placing IA captain at the head OF
the army. Warming up somewhat, he as
serted the bill was calculated TO accom-
pllsh no purpose except to allow the sec
rotary of war and adjutant general to
promote the interests OF their personal ia
~vorites.
Miles was questioned as TO his reasons
for locating the American army of oc-
cupation at Tampa and holding It there
so long with the resulting congestion.
Replying to the first question, he said II
was because OF the order TO occupy Ha-
vana. Delay was due, ne said. TO the fact
that the American army was supplied
with only sixty-four rounds Of ammuni-
ton, which would not have been suffi-
Cient for more than half an hours fight.
ing. Considering that Havana was one
of the best fortified cities in the world,
he said that to ave attacked it would
been foolhardy in the extreme.
AIaer Did Fest He Could
Miles declined, however, to ~crlticlse the
then secretary of war, General Alger, fol-
the condition Of affairs, saying that prob.
ably anyone else in the position would
have done about What he did. He laiG
" g.