Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-21
ESoUScES THE PROPOSED MEASURE
Says It Would Destroy the Unity of
Military Organization.
ATTRIBUTES IT TO ULTERIoR MOTIVES
Asserts Bill is Designed to Promote Favor.
itism in Office.
CRITICISMS EXCITE WAR DEPARTMENT
severe Expressions OF Lieutenant
General May Expose Him TO pts-
ciplinary Treatment-Root
is NOncommittal.

WASHINGTON. March 2o.-oersrai Mel
son A. Miles today told the senate commit
tee on military affairs that II the bill In
troduced by Senator Hawley at The Instance
OF the War department for the organisation
Of general stan for the army should be-
come q law he would decline to longer hold
his commission. The reason he gave for
the statement is that the bill Is utterly
subversive OF the interests Of the military
establishment and he said that he would
not be party to such Q proceeding tn the
extent even Of continuing to hold his place.
The statement was made In the course Of
q prolonged hearing by the committee,
which was conducted behind closed doors
ana in which General Niles touched upon
q variety Of subjects connected with the
army. The portion OF the bill to which he
directed his especial criticism is that con-
tained In section T. reading as follows:
That from and after the passage Of this
act the senior general officer of the army
OF the army as the president may direct, or
be detailed TO duty in the general stan
corps. All duties prescribed by law for
the commanding general of the army shall
be performed by the chief OF general stan
OF other general officer designated by the
secretary OF war: provided, so long as the
present lieutenant general OF the army
continues on the active list, he shall be the
separation from active service OF the said
lieutenant general OF the army said ofice
except as herein provided. shall cease and
Cites Authorities.
General Miles said that IL this provision
should become a law 1t would have the
effect Of destroying the unity Of the army.
and he read numerous authorities, includ-
ing Napoleon, Wellington, Washington and
Grant, to show the necessity OF having one
head to the army and OF controlling au-
thortty. His own experience and obserya-
tion had the effect of confirming these
views and he gave an illustration Of its
benencial effect In time of emergency, In
stancing the beginning OF the war with
Spain. Il heard at midnight" he said,
that the Spanish feet had been located
definitely at Santiago. and hasteaed to the
home Of Secretary Long. where the news
was conhnmea, SkAftFF vas then at Tampa.
and sat down theft IL Tn9 aseretaryss
house, and wrote dispatch directing him
to start Immediately for Santiago, with the
result that the army was soon on its way
to the point where its presence was needed.
Suppose" he added, exhibiting the mes
sage which he had sent to General Shafter
IT had been compelled to get around to a
dozen or more majors. as many colonies and
any number of generals. constituting gen
eral staff?"
He added that in all prot ability the senior
general Of the army would not under the
provision he had quoted have been in posi-
ton to do anything and he called attention
to the clause relieving him (the senior gen.
eraD of command and making it possible
for any other officer to be appointed. He
declared that under section It would be
competent to one day promote captain to
the position of brigadier and the next day
make him chief Of staff. thus practically
placing a captain at the head Of the army.
Chance for FaVorstism.
Warming up somewhat he asserted that
the bill was calculated to accomplish no
purpose except to allow the secretary Of
war and the adjutant general to promote
the interests OF their personal favorites.
General Miles was questioned as to the
reasons for locating the American army
OF occupation at Tampa and holding It
there so long with the resulting conEes-
tion. Replying to the first question, he
said 1t was because Of the order to occupy
Havana. The delay was due, he said, to
the fact that the army was supplied with
only sixty-four rounds OF ammunition,
which would not have been sufficient for
more than half an hour of fighting. Con-
that Havana was one of the best
fortified cities in the world, he said that
to have attacked 1t would have been fool
hardy In the extreme. He declined, how
ever. to criticise the then secretary OF
war. General Alger. for the condition Of
affairs. saying that probably any one else
in the position would have done about
what he did. He laid the general blame
for this condition OF unpreparedness at the
door OF congress.
In the course Of his remarks General
Miles told the committee In conference
that with the bill q law he could nov
name the men who would held the places
Of honor provided under Il, but the com
mittee did not ask for the names.
Duty OF an Advisory BOaxd.
The printed report of the testimony of
Secretary Root before the military com
mittee on this bill was made public today.
In his statement the secretary saLd that
the general stan Of the army as II is pro-
posed TO organize 1t under this bfIi. win
be simply an advisory board and that its
principal duty would be that Of an advis-
ory board.
1T proposes" he said, TO create By de-
tai from the omcers OF the army body OF
ofhcers. who shall be charged in the nFst
place with the duty of doing the military
thinking; Of doing what the navy has q
board engaged in now. and what we ought
TO have In the army and have not today.
The primary idea 10 not to give ordsn.
1t is to study and prepare plans for the
men who give the orders"
Asked as TO the place the commander in
chief would occupy in reference to this
board. the secretary replied that he would
accept plans made by the board or not as
he might please. The secretary continued:
Make Chief of stan Rotary once.
THE plan OF the hill is to have the chief
Of stan selected by the president as COM
aud TO have Il detained
so that he win come In with the president
and go out with the president"
Senator Bate-Do ! understand that there
h limit 10 their power 90 that that they
will not interfere with the lieutenant gen.
sralf
Secretary RSss-Ths PrOpOsttiOa is ~
=