The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-04-01


upon official reports He says it was
his purpose nearly a year ago, to go TO
the Philippines and his projected visit
had the approval of President McKin-
ley.
He adds, in conclusion. that since his
proposition to take a delegation Of Gu
bans and Porto Ricans to the Philip
pines and to bring back to the United
States a delegation Of Filipinos does not
seem advisable, he asks for it no fur
ther consideration. When he goes to the
Philippines he says he will devote his
attention to the condition and require
ments Of the troops in that division.
Secretary Roots comments upon Cen
eral Miles second memorandum were
dated March 25th. He says the appar-
ent purpose of the memorandum was to
show that the action taken on the first
YVES wrong. He then adds:
Without commenting upon the pro-
priety of a military officer undertaking
to review the action of the president, I
again submit the paper for such recon-
sideration as the president may think
advisable
Concerning the audience given men,
bers of the Cuban constitutional con-
vention by President Mckinley, Secre-
tary Root says the presidents consent
to receive the committee was asked for
by General Wood, through the secre-
tary of war. "and was communicated to
General Wood by the secretary of war,
who never heard General Miles name
mentioned in connection with the trans
action"
The secretary adds that on the 18th
| of July 1900. General Miles applied to
| be sent to the Philippines and to China
| in his official capacity. General Mac
| Arthur had reported that not q single
regiment could be spared from the
| Philippines, yet General Miles accom-
panied his application by a recommen-
| dation that $4,000 troops be withdrawn
| from the Philippines and sent to China
| The withdrawal of so many troops
| would insure insurgent control of a
| large part Of the Philippines. The sec
| retary says that at least two thirds OF
| the $1,000 were wholly unnecessary in
| China.
"The application and recommenda-
| tion," says the secretary, "were in fact
accompanied by a request from Gener-
| al Miles that supreme command Of the
| allied forces should be obtained for
| him. Under these circumstances Presi-
| dent Mckinley declined to authorize the
| sending of General Miles either to the
| Philippines or to China. A year after
| wards the secretary of war authorized
| the lieutenant general to extend his in
| spection tour to the Philippines for the
| purpose Of inspection only. He has
| never been authorized to go for any
other purpose"
| Whether the carrying out of Cen
| eral Miles plan would interfere with
| the present civil and military cootrol
| in the Philippines must be determined
| the secretary says, by the proposed
order itself. The lieutenant general
| asks authority ''to give such direc-
| tons as I may deem advisable an1
| judicious for the best disposition OF
| the United States military forces"
THAT of course means" continued
| the secretary, Ito command Genera
| Chaffee, and he asks authority 'also
| to take such measures as will tend to
| restore as far as possible confidence tc
| the people of these islands, and dem
onstrate that the purpose of our gov
| ernment is prompted by the highest
| sense of Justice That means, if i
means anything, authority to do him
self, or to require the civil officers OF
the Philippines to do under his direc-
ton, the very duties which were
| charged upon the Philippine COM
| mission and the civil governor in the
islands by President Mckinley and
which they are now engaged in do
| ing"
The secretary says if the measures
to be determined by General Miles
1.-The system of civil government by
which we have been gradually ai.t
steadily superseding military contro
would again be subordinate to military
power, and the people Of the island:
would be subjected to the arbitrary
control of a military Dictator
Referring to the reflections of Gen
eral Miles upon the conduct of the
military forces in the islands, based
as he says, upon official reports, Sec
retary Root says that a report Of tn,
civil government of the province O
Tayabas, containing in general terms
and without specifications or names
serious charges against military al
mistration in that province ant
against the conduct Of the army gen
orally in its relations to the civil gov
ernment, were forwarded by Governo
Taft to the secretary Of war. The r.
port was sent to General Chaffee will
orders that he fully investigate tn
charges as soon as possible and shoult
they be found true to apply the ne
cessary administrative and disciplinar
! measures to correct the evils HI