Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-03-29

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lngton.
II would also call attention TO the
fact that last winter, while on an Off
cial visit to cuba, ! was appealed to by
members Of the constitutional conyen-
ton who said they wished to commnn.
lcate directly with the president ana
] advised them TO make such a request,
on returning TO Washington J reported
the fact to President Mckinley and
urged that he grant their request
should II be made He did so and the
delegation came to Washington The
result was gratifying not only to our
government authorities, but TO the peo'
pie Of cuba az we'll All this was done
without the slightest reelection on
Mai Gen. Wood or objection ON MS
part, as far as ! know
Referring to that part Of my COM
municatlon which states that the war
fare In tn Philippine Is lands had
been conc ed with marked severity
and to the remarks Of the honorable
secretary on that point, II Is proper 70
say that ! had In mind such lnforma-
ton az Is conveyed in the letter of GOV.
w. H. Taft, addressed 10 the honora-
bic secretary dated, Washington, Feb,
Z. 1902 as well as other communications
that have been referred to these head
quarters or received by me.
WAR SEVERELY CONDUCTED.
Concerning my going to the Philip
pines, II was my purpose nearly
year ago 10 do 50, and this was win
the knowledge Of the secretary Of war
and the approval Of the late President
Mckinley, but the journey was post
poned In consequence Of the increase
In and reorganization of the army
MOTIVE FOR MILES SUGGESTION
1.-THE suggestion contained in my let
ter, that In going to the Philippine Is
lands | take certain natives Of cuba
and Porto Rico and on returning
bring back certain of those OF the Phil
lppine Islands, was prompted by my
belief that the result would be salts
factory TO all concerned. Since Ibis
measure Is not deemed advisable, / do
not ask for It's further consideration,
and making my delayed visit to the
Philippines, which | hope to do In the
near future, | shall devote my attention
10 the condition and requirements OF
the troops In that division, the same as
| have In respect TO the other portions
Of The army.
(Signed) NELSON A. MILES.
Lieutenant General, Commanding U.
$. A."
SOME SHARP POINTS.
war Department, Washington
March rs, 1902
Several weeks after the final dlspo-
sltion OF the within application by the
action OF the president on the 9Th OF
March, and after the Introduction OF
resolution In Congress calling for the
papers, the lieutenant general attached
TO them a statement dated March "a,
1902, with the apparent purpose OF
showing that the action taken was
wrong, Without commenting upon the
proprlety OF a military officer under
taking 10 review the action Of the presl-
dent, again submit the paper for such
reconsideration as the president may
think advisable, with the following re-
marks
a. The delegation referred to In this
paper, consisted Of public officers with
defined powers, charged with the per-
Torrance Of specific duty as official
representatives Of the people OF Cuba
and appointed by the constitutional
convention elected by that people. The
presidents consent to receive the com
mlttee was asked for by Gen. Wood
through the secretary OF war and was
communicated to Gen. Wood by the
secretary of war who never heard Gen.
Miles name mentioned In connection
with the transaction
"2--On the 18th OF July, 1900 Gen.
Miles applied 10 be sent to the Philip
pines and TO China In his official ca
pacity. At that time Gen, Macarthur
had reported that not single addition
al regiment could be spared from the
Philippines without putting our Inter
ests there In jeapody and had shown
the reasons and the gravity OF the sit
uation therein dispatches which had
passed through Gen, Miles office. In
the face Of these dispatches Cen Miles
accompanied his application by a rec
that $4,000 be withdrawn
from the Philippines and be sent to
China, The withdrawal OF $4,000 troops
from the Philippines would have made
necessary the practical abandonment OF
a large part Of the country and the
Of insurgent control therein.
At least two-thlrds Of the $1,000 were
wholly unnecessary In China unless for
the purpose OF enabling the United
States to furnish a great number Of
troops than any European power and
upon that score 20 claim the supreme
command Of the allied forces
MCKINLEY DECLINED OFFER,
"The application and recommended
ton were In fact accompanied by re-
quest by Gen. Miles that such supreme
command OF the allied force should be
obtained for him. Under the circum-
stances Priest. Mckinley declined TO
authorize the sending Of Gen Miles
either 10 the Philippines or to China, A
year afterwards the secretary OF war
authorized the lieutenant general TO ex-
tend his inspection TO the Philippines |
for the purpose Of inspection only. He |
las never been authorized TO 90 for any |
other purpose.
1.-THE question whether the order |
which the lieutenant general asks |
sending him TO the Philippines would |
interfere with the present military and |
civil control must be determined not |
by what the applicant says about the /
order, but by the terms OF the proposed |
order itself The lieutenant-general
asks authority 10 give such direct con-
ventions as / (he) may deem advisable
and judlclous FOR The best disposition
Of the United States military forces.
That OF course. means to command
Gen. Chaffee and he asks authority |
also TO take such measures as will tend
to restore as far 90 possible confidence
to the people OF those islands. ard
demonstrate that the purpose Of our
government is prompted by the high
est sense OF Justice
WHAT MILES WANTED.
THAT means, II II means anything,
authority to do himself. or to require
The civil officers OF the Philippines 70
40 under his direction the very duties
which were charged upon the Philip
pine commission and the civil governor
In the Islands by President Mckinley
and which they are now engaged In do
ng. The authority asked Is not 20