The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-21
Threatens TO Do So if RawIey
Bill Be Enacted.
WOULD IMPAIR UNITY OF ARMY
Bill Calculated to Accomplish No Purpose
Save to Allow ecretary OF War aud
.Adjuant General 10 Reward
Personal Payorites.
fRr Associated Prcssl

-
WASHINGTON, March 2o-Gcneral
Nelson a. Miles to-day told the Senate
Committee on Military Affairs that II the
bill introduced by Senator Hawley, at
the instance OF the War Department for
the Organization Of a general staff for
the army should be come a law. he would
decline to longer hold his commission.
The reason he gave for the statement
is that the bill is utterly subyersive of
the interests of the military establish
nlent, and he said that he would not be
party to such a proceeding to the ex-
tent even of continuing to hold his place.
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
The statement was made in the course
OF prolonged hearing by the COM
IEittee, which was conducted behind
Gle sed doors, and in which General Niles
touched upon a variety of subjects COLT
nected with the army. The portion OF
tie bill to which ne directed his es-
pecial criticism is that contained III
se. ticn seven. reading as follows:
."rhat from and after the passage
O. this act .lie senior general officer
of the my shall be assigned to ccha-
mand such portion Of the army as tue
President may direct or be detailed to
duty on the general staff corps All
G,t:es prescribed by law for the COM
manding general of the army shall be
or other general officers designated bv
the Secretary Of War; provided that SO
lcre as the present lieutenant general
army continues on the active list lie
shall be the chief Of the general staff
a e. upon the separation from active ser
vice OF the said lieutenant general OF
The army. said office except as herein
pro,:c.ed shall cease and determine
WOULD DESTROY UNITY.
~
vision should become a law it would
have the effect of destroying unity OF
the army and he read numerous authori-
:ir. including Napoleon, Wellington
washington, Cass and Grant. to sho"
the necessity % having one head to the
army and OF controlling authority. Ills
own experience and observation had. ne
SAID. had the effect of confirming these
Crews and he gave ran Illustration OK
ITS beneficial effect in time OF emersencS.
Itr.1anring the beginning y. the Wa:
with Spain. .
~ heard at midnight" he said, thac
fine Spanish ,.eet had been located dell
mildly at Santiago, and haSteHeo "
the home of Secretary Long. Where tie
;,ews was confirmed. Shatter was " ~
at Tampa and I sat doTl tcc:e III t'o
se1,eta-y's no Sc and wrote a aispatc''
q ,rsctinG him to start 1mt1ediateiy 1oi
c.ntiago with the result that the ar.uy
vas soon on It's way to the point
its presence was needed.
Suppose" he said, exhibiting the mes
sage which he had sent to Generi Sinai
for "T had been compelled to get around
TO a dozen or more majors, as many coi-
onels and any number OF generals COIL
stitutinS a general staff.
Then he added that in all probability
the senior general of the army "oui'i hoe'
under the provision he had quoted. nave
been in position to do anything ans ne
called attention to the clause reie'inS
him the senior generaD of command. ana
making it possible for any other officer
to he appointcd He declared that uncer
section seven it would be competent 70
one day promote captain to the posltioh
of a brigalier, and the next day MAKE
him chief Of staff, thus practicaiiy plaeiiis
a captain at the head Of the army. warm
ing I'D somewhat. he asserted that the DIN
was calculated to accomplish no purpose
except to allow the Secretary OF war, ana
the Adjutant General to promote tue III -
terests of their personal .favorites
WOULD HAVE BEEN FoOLHARDf.
General Miles was questioned as to the
reasons for locating the American army
Of occupation at Tampa. and holding 1t
there so long with the resulting conges-
ton. Replying to the first question. ne
said that it was because or the oIuer 20
occupy Havana. The detention was due.
he said. to the fact that the American
army was supplied with only CT rounds
of ammunition. which would not have
been sufficient for more than half an hour
Of fighting.
Considering that Havana was one OF
the hest fortified cities in the world, ne
said that 20 have attacked it would nave
been foolhardy in the extreme
He declined. however. to criiclse the
then Secretary of War, General Alser. for
the conduct of affairs. saying that PROB
ably any one else in the position would
have done about what he Gid. He la'tl
the general blame for this condition OF un-
,rena redness 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 provided under 1t, but the COM
J;5 for the names.