The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-14
DIPLOMATIC, BUT POSITIVE ORDER
SENT TO COMMANDING GEN
ERAL BY PRESIDENT
MUST QUIT OR BE REMOVED
Authoritative Statement Is Issued
From the White House, So That
Veteran Can Be in No
Doubt of His Fate
HAS SHORT TIME TO DECIDE
FROM THE GLOBE BUREAU,
Washington, ID. c.


Washington, ID. c.
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 13.-Gen.
Nelson A Miles must go, and go at once.
This is the ultimatum of President Roose-
Welt which has automatically but plain
~ conveyed to the commanding general
of the army, who thus, after service
for his country extending continuously
from his boyhood to the present-from
volunteer soldier to the highest rank in
the army-is to be retired in disgrace so
far as political official influence can af-
feet history.
The statement was authoritatively
made by men who came from the White
house today. These men stand in a re-
lation with the president that makes
their words as official as if uttered by
Roosevelt himself. They voluntarily
made the announcement to several news
paper associations and to a score of
newspaper correspondents.
Removal of the commanding general
has long been talked Of, but it has been
doubted in all circles whether the presi-
dent would go to such extreme to show
his hatred of Gen. Miles. There appears
no doubt longer that Miles must retire
from the army, willingly if he will put
it that way, forcibly if he will not.
Friends Act as Go-Between.
Mutual friends have told him in plain
words that he must resign or suffer the
ignominy of immediate discharge.
President Roosevelt holds that he has
been insubordinate, and consequently
must retire because he compelled adop-
ton of a plan that prevented retreat
from Santiago; because his successful
work in Porto Rico was not in line with
the policy marked out; because he has
fought COrbin and Corbin methods; be-
cause he insisted on fair treatment and
good food for the American volunteers;
because he believed that Admiral Schley
took part in the battle of Santiago, and
because he held that kind words and civil
law were more availing in the Philip
pines than the water cure"
Gen. Miles is left few days to decide
whether he will get out of the army in
which he has served since the sos, or be-
kicked out.
It is agreed on all sides that his re-
moVal IS within the legal power of the
Spanish war veteran who is now COM
mander-in-chiet of the army and navy.
Issues Are Fairly Joined.
BY the Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, d. c., April 13-The
issues are fairly joined between the lieu
tenant general and the secretary of war.
The troubles which began long ago under
the Cleveland administration have finally
reached so critical a stage that the com
pulsory retirement of Gen. Miles at an
early date is an open plan, and is not
denied at the White house In explana-
ton of President Roosevelts position, one
of his close friends who unquestionaby
speaks by authority says:
The question is not a personal one be-
At present Secretary Root has on his
shoulders heavier burden than any other
momber of the administration. No man
less strong could carry it at all, and now,
at the very time when he requires the
most loyal support of every subordinate
who wishes well to the army and the
nation he has to spend much of his
strength in meeting the opposition of the
commanding general
If Gen. Miles is retired it will be simply
because, after patient trial, President
Roosevelt feels that on the highest eth
icaI grounds his retention would work
grave and lasting injustice to the army
as a whole. AS some of Gen. Miles
friends have said that it would be IN
fair to retire him, it should be said in
the first place that he secured his promo
ton to a brigadier generalship only
through the similarly forced retirement of
Gen Ord, he himself being jumped over
number of his senior officers into the
vacancy thus created; and, in the second
place that the only action of the kind
taken by President Roosevelt since he has
been in office was in the case Of Gel. Noye5,
who was compulsorily retired, after
reaching the age of siXty-tWo, on the
recommendation of Gen. Miles.
Brooke to he Commander.
In other words the general has him
self recommended and profited by the
very action which his friends now fear
NAV be taken at his expense. If he
should go out before Gen. Brooke is re-
tired, Gen Brooke, who is Gen. Miles
senior, both in service and in age, and
who did gallant and distinguished work
as a volunteer in the Civil war, would
undoubtedly be put in his place as lieu
terant general, as it is known that the
administration has been very desirous of
recognizing Gen. Brooke's long and faith
ful service.
Gen. Brooke, during the Civil war, rem
dered equally meritorious service with
Gen. Miles. Gen. Brooke was the first
to obtain a commission, and throughout
the Civil war he retained his advantage
ending the war as Gen. Miles senior.
After peace came Gen. Miles was promot-
ed over Gen. Brooke's head AS Gen.
Brooke win necessarily hold the position
but a brief period before his retirement
for age, Gen. S. B. M. Young is likely
to succeed Gen. Brooke, and Gen. Chat