The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1902-01-02


men conveying praise or CEN
sure, or any mark of appreciation to-
wards others in the military service are
prohibited" e..
This is the regulation which General
Miles has been scolded for violating.
II will be observed in the first place
that this is an army regulation purely |
and does not apply to tho navy. 1t is
regulation made by the war depart |
partment to govern military men in
their treatment of one another; and 1t
requires no argument to show that
rules governing the army do not apply
to the navy or vice versa 1t is proper
to remember that there is distinction
between men engaged in the military
service and men engaged in the naval
service.
When q regulation of the army is to
be construed, it must be construed lit
orally.
Gen. Miles is in the military service,
and his offense-if such it was-was for
praising Admiral Dewey's Judgment,
and for expressing his lack of sympathy
with efforts made to destroy the honor
Of the officer under such circumstan-
ces." The officer referred to was not
in the military service, and Gen. Miles
was not discussing any one in that
branch of the service. Nor was be en-
gagged in "deliberation or discussion
among military men" of any kind. He
was simply giving utterance to his per.
sonal opinion. When Dewey won the
battle OF Manila, Schley cabled him
his congratulations conveying praise, +"
and according to Roosevelt's interpre-
tation Of the regulations, he should
have been severely reprimanded for IL.
The purpose Of the army rule is ap-
parent. 1t is to prevent officers from
getting together, and discussing the
relative merit Of their superiors TO the
detriment of the service. 1t is rule
more honored in the breach than in the
observance no doubt. 1t is certainly
not observed in the navy, where CO.
terie of backbiters and slanderers have
for three years been discussing their
superiors and fellow officers with the
utmost freedom.
But it is evident to any sensible and
fair-minded man that the army regula-
ton quoted above does apply to an ex-
preston Of opion by Gen. Miles regard.
ing a naval officer, nor to his expression
OF opinion even regarding an officer in
the military service. If it had any such
application as that, no officer could
commend the heroism or enterprise Of
his subordinateS. The rule has no ap'
plication except among army officers,
and it'll has no reference to mere express
sions of approval by individual officers
regarding other officers. During thu
Spanish American war Gen. Shaftel
and other officers were attacked, ani
Gen. Wheeler and others came to theil
rescue. The generous Schley has seY'
eral times defended Sampson from at
tack. Yet there was no thought of I
reprimand.
President Roosevelt is said to hay,
directed the reprimand OF Gen. Miles
Certainly this could come from no 9th
or man with SO bad a grace. The pres
ident served as lieutenant-colonel o
the Rough Riders in the campaign
around Santiago. When that city wa
taken he held deliberations an,
discussions" with other military off
GERS, and as result Of those delibera
tions they issued a Round Robin, il
which they criticised certain brancl
of the service. arraigned the manage
ment of affairs and censured their supe
riors in the military service for thi
Encouragement. The regulation cite
by Secretary Root was evidently dc
signed to cover just such cases as this
of Roosevelt. The Round Robin wa
q fragrant violation Of that rule. Itwa
an infraction thereof which amo1nte
to mutiny. It was subversiye Of dis
cipline, and it let loose q stream {
} scandal which has never been checked
!, If Miles deserved the reprimand he &c
! for very far-fetched and immaterii
} violation of an army regulation, Roose
} welt ought to have been court-martia'
cd for his mutinous arraignment Of hi
superiors.
Military martinets may be able to q
pher out violation of the army regy
: lation quoted in the case Of Gen. Mile
/: but plain, intelligent people know thl
) such construction Of the rule is O
absurdity. Possibly Miles may ha,
violated some other rule or some III
| written convention Of the service, br
. he certainly did not violate the regul
. ton for which that valiant warrio
Elihu Root, has scolded him. Con
) mercial-Appeal.
CHARLES p wOFFOpD