Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-01-03
THAT REPRIMAND.
zen. ROOTS ROUGH HAND
SHOWN IN THE ACT.

Noot ASKS an Rxplanation Simply as an Ex
cuse for Using Jassed.Edse Razor on tn,
Lieutenant General Correspondence |.
Given in Full. So that Just Decision Ma,
Be Formed.
WAR DEPARTMENT, WAsHINGroN,(
December 10.
SIR: am instructed by the Presi
dent to call your attention to the en-
closed report OF an interview with you
appearing in the Associated Press
newspapers of Tuesday, Dec. II, and
to inquire whether the observations
upon the action of q CO o.ordinate
branch of the service in a matter now
pending in the Navy Department were
made as reported, and if so, to afford
you such opportunity for explanation
in writing as you may desire.
Very respectfully,
ELIHU RooT,
Secretary of War.
Lieut.. Gen. Nelson A. Miles, Head.
quarters OF the Army.
The interview referred to BY the
Secretary was as follows:
CINCINNATI, Dec. 16.-Gen. Nelson
A. Miles, commanding the United
States army, arrived here to-day &C.
companied by Mrs. Miles. They are
guests of Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Wiberg
at Clifton. Mrs. Wiberg is a relative
OF Mrs. Miles. In speaking Of the
finding OF the Schley court of inquiry,
General Miles said: Il am willing to
take the judgment OF Admiral Dewey
in the matter. He has been q COM
mander OF q fleet aud as such has
known the auxieties and respnnsibili.
ties which rest on man under these
circumstances. He was instrumental
in the destruction Of one Spanish feet.
and knows and realizes the feelings
that encompass an officer under such
conditions.
81 think Dewey has summed up the
matter in clear and concise manner,
and / believe his conclusions will be
endorsed by the patriotic people OF
the United States. have no sympa-
thy with the efforts which have been
made to destroy the honor Of an Of
fcer under such circumstances"
To the Secretary's letter General
Miles made this reply:
Headquarters OF the Army,(
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.
The Honorable, the Secretary OF War.
SIR: Replying TO your note of the
10th iust., / have the honor to state
that my observations, as substantially
reported, had no reference to the &C.
ton, pending OF. otherwise, of . co.or-
dinate branch Of the service; they
were merely my personal views based
upon matters set forth in various pub
locations which had been given to the
world, and concerning which con-
ceive there was no improperly in ex-
pressing an opinion, the same - any
other citizen upon q matter OF such
public interest.
My observations were in no sense in.
tended - . criticism of any action
taken by a coordinate branch OF the
service, and the statement that l had
no sympathy with any efforts tending
to disparage a distinguished and gal
liant officer likewise held no such ref
erence. Very respectfully,
NELSON A. MILES,
Lieutenant General.
General Miles supplemented this
letter with the following handed to
the Secretary to-day:
Headquarters 81 the A.my,(
WASHINGTON, Dec. 81.
The Honorable, the Secretary OF War.
SIR: Referring to my mole 81 yester-
day. and in order that there may be
no misunderstanding. l de,ir, to say
that for several years q distinguished
and gallant officer has been assailed BY
parties who have endeavored TO write
him and other high officials down, un-
til finally he appealed against such
assaults to coordinate branch OF the
Government. That coordinate branch
OF the Government granted him .
court Of inquiry and, as / understand
it, they unanimously exonerated him
from such epithets as coward, pol.
troon. ETC., and their opinions were
given to the public for the informa-
ton Of all citizens. When said that
l had no sympathy with those who
had endeavored to destroy the reputa'
tion OF high officer who, like al
other officers, regards his honor more
sacred than life. I had in mind and
referred to those assaults against
which the Admiral had appealed fol
protection and justification, and GER
tainly not tda coordinate branch o.
the Government.
request that this note be laid be
fore the President, and have no objec
ton to it being made public.
Very respectfully,
NELSON A. MILES,
Lieutenant General.
The reprimand is contained in the
| following letter of Secretary Root Z
Gen. Miles:
WAR DEPARTMENT, Dec. 81.
SIR: By direction of the Presiden
! Communicate to you his conclusion