Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-17
STANDS sY HIS coMRADE.

STANDS BY HIS coMRADE.
The clash between President Roosevelt
ana General Miles has undoubtedly had
demoralizing effect upon the army. 1t
Is unquestionably true that the sympa-
thies OF the army are almost entirely with
General Miles.
1t is also true that the public regards
the presidents treatment OF that officer
as unjust and indefensible. II the general
tone Of the press can be taken to indicate
anything this latter proposition must be
admitted, and the former. is substantiated
by the able and fearless army journals
which are highly wrought up on the sub
ject.
A number OF distinguished army officers
have made bold to declare that their gen.
eral has been wronged by the president. 1t
requires courage to do that since General
Miles brought down upon himself a storm
OF wrath in the white house by simply say
ing that he had no sympathy with the
efforts to drag down Admiral Schley.
II would seem that the officers who open
IL and boldly declare that Gen. Miles has
been subjected TO treatment that was ut
terly undeserved and Is calculated to do
serious injury TO the efficiency Of the
army are themselves in danger OF being
hauled up before the presidential bar.
Nevertheless, General Schofeld the i'm
mediate predecessor Of General Miles as
commanding general OF the army, did not
hesitate 70 talk plainly before the senate
committee on military affairs when called
to. testify concerning the bill TO create a
general staff.
The president has set HIS heart upon the
passage OF this bill and is using his ut
most endesvors to put It through.
SWhen asked what he thought OF the
opinion OF General Miles that the effect Of
this proposed legislation would be to Ger
MAMIE and Russianize the American
army General Schofield said:
Il am not afraid of that. I think we
might Germanize other things a little.
with advantage. possibly.
'Tf we had at the head OF the army
for years the same distinguished gen.
eral other things being satisfactory, that
would be very well. but what is the use Of
a great general as the nominal head of
the army IL the president will not even
talk 20 him, except TO criticise him. or IL
the secretary OF war and he do not even
see each other?"
Senator Burrows-Why would not the
same condition of AFFAIRS exist between
NAAC G0ArA VI HA1AA anu the UINSAAGhNk
General Scofeld-Because he would re-
heve him and get another. You must
give the president discretion TO select that
man.
Senator Burrows-Why cannot the COM
mander In chief. the lieutenant general of
the army. and the president confer as it
f.?
General schoheld-They are not on
speaking terms.
Senator Burrows-NOt on, speaking
terms?
General schoheld-No. sir. You will have
TO get. rid Of that intolerable condition
by which this man close to the president.
the only man who is available TO do these
things. is a man whom the president does
not talk 70 except 20 criticise him. The
result is bad. very bad. The president
feels the need OF such man, as did the
presidents whom I have known. They
would say: I, cannot do these things; I
must have a military man to help me-
Then. in that situation. he perhaps sends
for Col. or Major So-and-So and finds that
he is a bright young fellow and knows
about these things. and in a few days 1t
gets 70 be known that Tom so-and So is
commanding the army" ..
This Is about the liveliest raking Presi-
dent Roosevelt has received from an ofi-
Ger OF the army. so far as the public has
yet been informed. though there have
probably been IN army circles some criti-
cisms on the same general line that would
not look well in print.
In the course Of his testimony General
schoheld paid a high compliment to the
army policy OF the Confederacy in saying
that its system of selecting high officers
was far superior TO that OF the north.
II is evident that we have on hand a
conflict over the proper management of
the army which may bring serious con-
sequesces.
II is likely to reach proportions that
will make the sampson-schley controver-
sy seem a very small AFFAIR by compari-
son.