Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-08-08
MILES VALEDICTORY
Issues a Farewell Address to
 His Comrades.
CALLS FOR HIGH MORALE IN ARMY
Drill and Discipline Are Only the Preliminary Steps to Making the Soldier All That He Should
 Be as a Fighting Unit.

b& as a F1KnIInB
 WASHINGTON, Aug S.-General Miles has issued the following address on the occasion of his retirement from active service today: sfIn relinquishing the command of the army or the United States, to which he was assigned by the president Oct. g. 1895, he hereby acknowledges his appreciation of the fidelity manifested by the officers and soldiers during the past eventful years. ~ss@ ..-
 gro those who were his companions and associates during one of the great est of all wars he takes pleasure In expressing his qualification that they have lived through the trials and dan gers of long service to witness the re- suits of their fortitude, herolsm and unselGsh devotion to the welfare of their country. They have also in most commendabie manner exempli' fled to the younger generation of sol diers those principles of discipline and patriotism which make the army. the protector and defender and never the menace of the nation and it's liberties.
 .'The time and occa 4ion are consid- cred opportune for expressing to the army few thoughts concerning it's past and that which may affect its fu- ture welfare. It is from the best 1m- pressions and influences of the past that the most desirable results may be realized in the future.
 ''Unswervfng devotion to our govern ment and the principles upon which it was established and has been main tained is essential to the efficiency of the national forces, and especially is this so in democratic government, where the individual in order to be a perfect soldier must first be true citi- zen. The boast that every soldier of France carried a marshal's baton in his knapsack is in higher sense more than equaled in significance by the fact that every American soldier per sonifies sovereign citizenship and may; by his own conduct exemplify impar-i tial justice to those who have never experienced it and the results of the highest liberty to those who have been strangers to it, thereby aiding to secure for his country a moral influence not otherwise attainable.
 ssThe commanders of the army suc- ceeding Washington have by their ex- ample, influence and orders engendered and maintained the highest degree of efficiency, discipline and pa trfotis1n 2 .In the discharge of its manifold dt1- ties the army has confronted enemies representing every stage of human de- velopment from the highest civilization yet obtained to savagery and barbar- ism. It has ever been it's duty to ob- serve in war those chivalric and hu- mane principles by which inevitable horrors are so greatly mitigated, while by unyielding prosecution of warfare against. armed forces it's vaIor has been demonstrated.
 "All honorable activity and life for l the army must exist within the we'll de- fined lines of patriotism untarnished honor, sterling integrity, impartial jus tice, obedience to rightful authority and incessant warfare against armed l enemies. Always to, maintain truth, honor and justice requires the highest moral courage and is equally as fmpor4 I tant as fortitude in battle. Drill, disci- l pline and instruction are but prepara- i tory for the perfection and efficiency of | an army.
 t'The lieutenant general has faith that under all circumstances the army will maintain its high character and that it's future will be as honorable and glorious as has been it's history in the past. His earnest solicitude and best wishes will ever follow the fortunes of | the army" , ...r-. .ss-t .,