The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-21
Also Asserts IL Has Been Framed In
the Interest of Pets of Secretary
Root and Gen. Corbin.
SURPRISE IN ARMY CIRCLES
GEN. MILES POSSIBLY LIABLE TO
DISCIPLINARY TREATMENT.
He Says. However, the Report of His
Testimony Was Inaccurate and
Totally Unwarranted.

WASHINGTON. March 20-Gen. Nelson
A Miles to-day told the Senate committee
on military affairs that If the bill intro
duced by Senator Hawley at the instance of
the.War Department for the organization Of
a general staff of the army should become
law he would decline to longer hold his
cOmnission. The reason he gave for the
statement is that the bill is utterly sub
versive of the interests OF the military es-
tablishment. and he said he would not be a
party to such a proceeding TO the extent
even of continuing to hold his place.
The statement was made in the course of
a prolonged hearing by the committee,
which was conducted behind closed doors
and in which General Miles touched a
variety of subjects connected with the
army The portion of the bill to which he
directed his especial criticism is that con-
tanned in Section I. reading as follows:
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 President 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 general staff or
other general officer designated by the sec
retary of war: Provided. that so long as the
present lieutenant general of the army
tinues on the active list he shall be the
chief of the general staff. and upon the sep
! aration from active service of the said lieu
tenant general of the army said once, ex-
cept. as herein provided, shall cease and de-
termine.''
General Miles said that If this provision
shaIl become a law ii would have the
effect 6f destroying the unity of the army
and ne read numerous authorities. including
Napoleon. Wellington. Washington. Cass
and Grant to show the necessity OF having
A - a 80.
thority- His own experience and observa-
ton had. he said. had the effect Of confirm
ing these views and he gave an illustration
of its beneficial effect in time Of emergency,
instancing the beginning Of the war with
Spain.
HIS ORDER TO SHAFTER.
''I heard at midnight" he said that the
Spanish fleet had been located definitely at
Santiago. and 1 FASTENED to the home OF
Secretary Long, where the news was con-
hrmed. Shafter was then at Tampa and
sat down there, in the secretary's house.
and ySrote dispatch directing him TO start
Immediately for Santiago. with the result
that the army its way to the
point where It's presence was needed. Sup
pose he added, exhibiting the message
which he had sent TO General Shafter II
had been compelled TO get around TO
dozen more majors. 5 many coloneIs,
and any number Of generals constituting
general star"
Then he added that in all probability the
senior general OF the army would not. under
the provision he had quoted. have been in
position to do anything. and he called at
tentlon 10 the clause relieving him (the
senior generaD of command and making IL
possible for any other officer TO be appoint
ed. He declared that under Section IL
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 captain at the head of
rwwRfw.
serted that the bill was calculated to accom-
plish no purpose except 10 allow the secre-
tary OF war and the adjutant general TO
promote the interests of their personal IA
vOrites.
General Miles was questioned as to the
reasons for locating the American army of
occ1patfon at Tampa and holding IN tbe~e
so long. with the resulting congestion Re
plying TO the first question, he said that il
was because of the order to occupy Ha-
vana. The delay was due. he said to the
fact that the American 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-
sidering that Havana was of the best
fortified cities I'm the world, he said that to
have attacked il would have been fOOlhardy
in the extreme. He declined however to
criticise the then secretary of war. General
Alger for the condition OF affairs saving
that probably any one else in the position
would have done about what he did He
laid the general blame for this condition of
unpreDaredness at the door OF Congress. In
the course OF his remarks General Miles
told the committee, in confidence. that with
the bill "A law he could now name the men
who would hold the places of honor pro-
vided under IL. but the committee did not
ask for the names.
SECRETARY ROOTS STATEMENT.
The printed report of the testimony of
Secretary Root before the military commit
tee on this bill was made public to-day. In
his statement the secretary said that the
general staff Of the army as it is proposed
to organize it under shis bill would be
simply an advisory board. and that its prin-
cipaI duty would be that OF advisory
board III proposes. he said. ito create by
detail from the officers OF the army body
OF officers who shall be charged in the
first place, with the duty of doing the mill
tary thinking. OF doing what the navy has
a board engaged in now, and what we
to-day. The primary idea is not 10 give
orders. IL is 20 study and prepare plans
for the men who shall give the orders
Asked as 10 the place the cOmmander-in-
chief would occupy with reference To this
board. the secretary replied that he would
accept plans made by the board or not.
he might please The secretary continued
as follows: The plan OF the bill Is 10 have
the chief OF stan selected by the President
as commsnder-in-chief. and to have il de-
tail so that ne VIII come IN with the Presl-
dent and go out with the President"
Senator Bate-DO understand that there
Is a limit 10 their power, so that they will
not interfere with the lieutenant general2
Secretary Root-The proposition is to
have the lieutenant general To decide.
As 10 the work OF this character during
the wer with Spain Secretary Root said !:
THAT work was done during the Spanish
war practically by the gentlemen In the
adjutant generals office. But how did they
have TO do III Each man was at his desk.
having routine duties WHICH were pressing
upon him enough for two men TO do. and
l. VAS only by working day and night, with