The Somerset reporter., 1902-03-27
The Lieut.. General.


in keeping his name before the people to
his own dscredit, and at the same time
to the discomfort of his superiors in
office, the President and Secretary OF
War. This is nothing new for him. He
was thorn in the flesh to President Nc
Kinley and to Secretary of War Alger.
His recent violent outbreak before the
military committee Of the Senate is his
latest exhibition of arrogance and petty
opposition to the administration. He
did not like the military bill Secretary
Root had been at work upon for months
and spoke his opposition to it in Ian
guage that opened him to the charge of
characterization.
A Roston Herald correspondent at
Washington, Henry Loomis Nelson,
brings long list of serious charges
against the Lieutenant General in evil
dence of proposition that the army is be-
ing demoralized by his actions and that
the President will be compelled to re-
tire him in the interest of the service at
an early day.
Briefly his allegations are that Presi-
dent Cleavland very reluctantly consent
ed to his promotion. That Gen. Miles
was urged to take command of the San
tiago expedition but, believing that the
principal battle of the war would be at
Havana where for his own glory he
wanted to be in command, he urged
Shafter for the Santiago campaign and
thereby lost his opportunity.
He tried hard to make much of his
little expedition to Porto Rico and Ad-
miral Sampson gained his antipathy by
refusing to send away his fleet from the
south side OF Cuba to make a display
where not needed at Porto Rico.
Gen. Miles returned to Washington
and Immediately joined in the cry
against the administration and Secretary
of War Alger, attacking his superior in
public interview printed the first time
in the Kansas City Star. President Nc
kinley's kindness saved him from court
martial. He at once began to scheme
for second place in the Republican presi.
dental ticket. Learning that this would
be impossible he tried to set on foot a
scheme to result in ticket with Nelson
A. Miles at the head.
When Sec'y. Root became the head OF
the War Department his intention was
to make Gen. Miles the real head of the
army but Gen Miles, himself, made this
impossible. At the time ten new regi-
ments we're raised for the Philippine
| service, Sec'y Root insisted that the
| colonies and lieutenant colonies should
be taken from the younger officers OF
the army, men of about 40 years of age,
men equal to the hard service in tropi-
cal climate. He told Gen. Miles of the
plan and asked him to recommend list
of such officers. Instead of doing this
Miles sent recommendation that col
onels should be taken from the lieu
tenant colonies in order Of seniority and
the lieutenant colonies from the majors
in the same way. Secretary Root was
forced to apply to Adiutant General
Corbin for aid in carrying out his plan
of differing these regiments.
This correspondent further alludes to
bis bidding for the labor vote, to his
abusing power placed in his hands In the
distribution of troops among the posts,
to his engaging In the Schley controversy,
to his making war upon Secretary Long,
to his fishing for the Democratic nomi-
nation for the Presidency by joining the
forces, to his request
that he might be sent to China with 10.
600 men, to his proposition that he be
sent to the Philippines to close the war
there and last this un-ofiicer-like war
upon the bill carefully prepared for the
benefit Of the army.
Mr., Nelson ls confident that notwith-
standing all this he will again take the
first opportunity that presents itself
10 "play to the galleries. to win the sp-
plause of the crowd, to discredit the adj
ministratiou and make himself conspicu-
Gus, no matter what effect his action
may have upon the service with whose
interests he is charged.