New-York tribune., 1902-03-21
NILES NAY BE RETIRED.
Al ODDS WITH PRESIDENT
AND SECRETARY ROOT.
THREATENS TO RESIGN IF TIE WAR
DEPARTMENTS GENERAL STAFF
PLAN Is ADOPTED
Irr rrIEeH.rn To- -Hr rnIRrxE- ]


maturing are not changed for good cause. IL Is
probable that Lieutenant General Nelson
Mres. commanding the army. viii be retired
from active service within 2 few months. AMI
perhaps a few weeks. II is no secret in OfHciaf
circles that General Niles's frequent misundsr-
standings with the executive authority since the
Spanish war and particularly since the army
has been undergoing a gradual process OF re-
organization in its administration and moderni-
zation in ITS equipment. have had the effect OF
alternating him from that position Of confidence
which a military official Of his high rank must
enjoy in order that the machinery of the service
over which he exercises supervision under the
commander i'm chief Of the army and navy-ths
President-uay run without jar or friction
Nor is it any secret that General Miles has come
into collision with President Roosevelt on sub
let's Of great importance the administration
of the army as he did with President Mckinley,
or that the relations between the Lieutenant
general and the Secretary Of War have been
growing more strained since Mr.. Root has shown
a rcsolute determination 70 modeTnize the army
so as to bring the military establishment Of this
country into harmony in its more important
administrative features with the armies Of
Europe.
FIGHTING THE GENERAL STAFF PLAN
To-day. before the Military Affairs COMMITTEES
of the Senate. General Niles spoke out boldly
his objections to Secretary Roots latest reor-
ganization scheme. the main feature of which
is the consolidation of all the supply depart
ments under one head and the creation OF a
general staff. In expressing his opposition 10
this bill General Miles went so far as TO de-
clare that if il were adopted he would feel con-
strained 10 resign his commission in the army
AS the Senate committee seems favorably IN
messed with the bill it is considered not unlikely
that the Lieutenant general may have cause to
tender his resignation. If in the mean time the
President does rot take the matter in hand and
retire General Miles under the authority vested
in him to relieve officers of further duty who
| have served faithfully in the army continuously
/ for period Of forty years. General Miles is
! entitled u retirement on his own application
under the age limit law. being now more than
| sixty-two years old and in August, 1908 he
/ will reach the age of sixty-four, when his re-
| t.rement will be compulsory But the President
/ is empowered TO retire him or any other officer
/ under the age limit when in his discretion the
/ interests of the service will be subservsd by so
/ doing. The President probably will act under
this general authority in General NHess case. as
he has slreadv acted in the cases Of other off,
GERS who have reached the age limit
/ General Miles Statements to the Senate COM
\ mittea to-day we're sensational in some features
: That portion Of the War Departments bin
( which General Miles was especially severe in
his criticism is as follows:
That from and after the passage of this act.
the senior general officer of the army shall ~
assigned 20 command such portion ot me army
/ as the PRESIDENT may direct- or pe Gelail7d 70
duty in the general staff corps All duties pre-
scribed by law for the oomm7ndins general of
the army shall he performed by the chleI q gen
-~al staff or other general officer designated b.
the Secretary II War. Provided that 81 long
the present lieutenant general OF the army con-
tinues on the active list he shall he the chief 81
the general staff. and upon rbe separation from
| active service Of the said lieutenant general Of
no a
shall cease and determine.
General Miles said that il this provision
| should become a law it would have the effect OF
/ destroying the unity Of the army, and he read
[ numerous authorities including Napoleon. Vel
dngton. Washington and Grant. show the
| necessity os having one head to the army and
Of controlling authority.
HIS ENPERIENCE IN SPANISH WAR
His own experience and observation had. hs
[ said hai the effect of confirming thsse views
and he save an illustration Of IFS benehciaI ef-
| feet in time cf emergency. instancing the DO
| ginning of the war with Spain II heard ct
| midnight" he said. that the Spanish feet had
been looted definitely At Santiago, and 7 hast
ened 10 the home Of Secretary Long. where the
/ news was confirmed Shafrer was then At
| Tampa. and / sat down there in the Secretary s
| house and wrote dispatch directing him to
/ start immediately for Santiago. with the result
/ that he army was soon on its vsv 70 the point
/ wher- is presence needed Suppose he
I added. exhibiting the maSSaEe which he had
/ sent To General Shoftsr. II had been compelled
Ia Ee- around to p dozen or more majors, IS
many co'ouels and any number OF generals con-
/ sttutiDS general staff
Then he added that in all probs bility the
senior general IF the army would not, under
| tho provisions h. had quoted have been in a
position 70 do anything. and he called atten-
tiCp 10 the clause relieving him ttbe senior ger
/ eran of command and making II possible for
any other officer 10 b. appointed He declared
that under Section . II would be competent one
day 20 promote captain % brisadisr general
and the day make him chief Of staff thus
practically placing a captain at the head OF the
army
MAKES CHARGES OF FAvORITISM
Warming NJ somewhat he asserted that the
hill was calculated 20 accomplish ~ purpose
except TO allow the Secretary OF War and the
adjutaut general 10 promote the interests OF
/ their personal favOrtes-
General Miles was asked as 70 the reasons for
locating the American army Of occupation a,
Tampa end holding IT there So Ione with the
/ resulting congestion.
ReplyiUE TO th- first question. he said that IL
was because Of the order 70 occupy Havana.
I American army had only sixty four rounds of
| ammunition. which would not have been suffi-
cient for more than half AN hour OF lighting
/ Considering that Havana was one Of the best
attacked it would have been fooIhardy in tbs
. extreme He declined. however. TO CritiCise Sec
I rCtary AlgeT for the condition Of affairs saving
/ that probably any else in the plaCe would
/ CraI blame for this condition Of unpUs paredness
/ at the door Of Congress
/ In the course of his remarks General Miles
/ told the committee i'm confidence that with the
/ hill a law. he could name the men who
would hold tho places Of honor provided under
it, but the committee did not ask for the names