The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-28
NILES ADVISES
:. ARMY CHANGES
Text of His Last Official Communica-
ton to War Department Is
Made Public.
Advocates the Use Of Automobiles
and Motor Cycles in Place
Of Cavalry.

washington, Aug 2s-The last official
ptterance5 Of Lieutenant General Miles mas
been made public thru unofficial sources
lin the war department, 1t Is letter to
Secretary Of War Root, making many rec
concentrations for the betterment OF the
army service.
The communication has been held up
In Secretary Roots office, on the ground
that the Recommendations should be acted
upon before being made public.
General Miles letter, written the day
before he left office is as follows:
pal part Of the army where 1t has been serving,
have carefully inspected the defenses of the Pa
ciac coast and within the last few months have
inspected some of the principal fortihcations on
the Atlantic and gulf coasts.
There are some feature concerning the army
that 1 deem 1t my duty to lay before the au-
thorities.
My views concerning the organization of the
: nrrny been presented in official communica-
-tions and In testimony whenever required by the
= committees Of congress.
My recommendation as to the strength of the
+ mounted force in proportion to the infantry
was at the time, the extreme limit that felt
justified In recommending, and was much larger
percentage than would have advocated but for
certain circumstances existing at that time; yet
even on that recommendation the infantry regi-
nents cut down and the cavalry force In
creased until now the later Is entirely out of
proportion, useless and enormously expensive.
Well Trained cavalry.
At the commencement of the Spanish war,
wheE had well trained, thoroly equipped,
hardened and experienced cavalry. portion Of it
was obliged 10 remain at Tampa and In Its place
newly organized troops were sent to the front.
Now that was either all wrong or the present o.
gunization Of the army, with the great expense
incident thereto, is unwise and injudicious and
this subject requires, In my judgment, the Sc
rious attention of the government.
There is no country, with the possible excep-
q o
men who are accustomed to live in the saddle and
experienced and expert hcrsemen as the
United States. 1t is safe to say that there
tens OF thousands of men In our country who are
In the saddle every day who are skilled in
landcrnft and the use Of arms and who can be
easily converted into most formidable corps OF
mounted rlhemen. In fact, there could easily be
: mobtlized In our country at least ten times
many mounted men. many Of whom have had
military service, could be landed on our
shores by any government governments With
in any reasonable time. We have 100, 900 men
accustomed to the saddle and rife that could be
nsed to quickly overrun either Canada Mex
leo: hence the dtsproportion of our mounted
forces to that of the main body of the army
is unnecessary and iIiudicious. In European
armies the proportion Of mounted troops to IN
fantry is from one-fourth to one-hfth, in the
4 English. army it 10 one,seventh, while in our
army there are one-half MS many cavalry as in.
fantry regiments.
Cavalry Out Of Date. ...
The marvellous development in modern arms
rlncs, machine guns and quick-fring field ar
tiilcry-render5 the cavalry as formerly used
on the battle field obsolete, while the wonderful
development In the use Of motor power and cleo
trtcal appliances has rendered the horse far less
Important than formerly These facts are
doubly significant and should be recognized by
the military authorities and the government.
There u.s. however corps force required in
orr army that could be rendered of great utility
not only to the military but to the people of this
country. This power is being recognized by Eu
and + have
recommended Its use by ours. 1t will be used
IN the next war, and preparation for Its use
by our army should no longer be neglected.
nave reference to the bicycle, motorcycle and the
automobile, which have been developed to that
extent thnt they ha become most valuable
means OF communication and transportation
Give regiments OF cavalry should be discontinued
and corps OF five regiments should be organ
lied, thoroly trained and constantly employed
In the use OF these modern appliances 1t should
be regarded as flying corps or a corps Of OBJ
eervation, to open the way for the advance of an
army, to obtain information, to reconnoiter the
country and to repair or build roads and bridges
= Ofhcers and men of the cavalry, artillery and
infantry and of the quartermaster's and medical
departments and engineer and signal corps should
I, serve two or four years with this corps
! For Good Roads.
! The modern appliances of road building are
{ vastly superior to those formerly used Tin fact
the work Is now done principally BY machinery
I ana this corps should be supplied with all the
recent inventions and improvements for that pur
, pose. 1t should be constantly moved about
! thru different parts Of the country where It
: would have every opportunity for experience in
improving the roads suitable for the movement of
! an army making careful study of the topog.
! rnphy, surveying and mapping the different sec.
lions as 1t passes over them making both officers
and men familiar with this most important work,
and at the same time benefting the country wher
ever the corps n ay be operating. In fact such \
, crops would be of more important, practical and
\, direct beneht to the country in time of peace
than all the rest of the army, and in time OF
war would be Invaluable.
4! The millions OF dollars that are now uselessly
expended for onethird Of the mounted force could
In this way be utilized in bringing about a great
; EFT upon the country, at the same time train
!, Ing most important corps for military service
, and urge that this measure be recommended r.
and authorized by congress.