The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1916-09-22
GEN A. |. MILLS
PASSES SUDDENLY
MAN OF MUCH ENERGY
Builder of West Point, Head of
War College and Reorgan-
iZer of National Guard.

Washington, Sept. 1S.-Maj. Gen.
Albert l.. Miles, chief of the bureau
OF militia affairs, holder of the army
medal of honor for bravery under
fire, builder OF the new West Point
and former president of the army
war college, died here today after Is
hours illness of pneumonia. No
funeral arrangements had been made
tonight.
Gen. Miles was native of New
York and was appointed to the mill
tary academy from that State in
1874. He served with distinction
through the Spanish war and the
Philippine insurrection, and in 1904
was promoted by President Roosevelt
from the rank of captain to brigadier
general. For several years he served
as commander of the Department of
the Gulf, with headquarters at At
lanta. Only last month he was COM
missioned a major general.
Before becoming head of the mill
tia division he had been president of
the war college and superintendent
OF the military academy. He worked
out mobilization plans for the State
troops operated during the MeXica n
border disturbances. He contended
vigorously for increasing the efi-
cheney of the National Guard and
dealt unsparingly with the faults of
the system of individual organiza-
lions whenever he appeared before
congress- in connection with army
legislation.
The task of federalizing the State
troops under the plan laid out by
congress in the reorganization bill
recently signed rested largely upon
Gen. Mills as chief Of the militia bu-
reau. His work was greatly com
plicated by the fact that the troops
were called for border duty before
there had been opportunity to work
out the new scheme.
Gen. Mills leaves, besides lis wife.
son. Lieut.. c. P. Mills of the Ninth
cavalry. and daughter, Mrs. Emil
p. Laurson, wife of Lieut. Laurson
of the Eleventh cavalry.
The general was stricken with
pneumonia last night. He was at
his desk Saturday and took a long
horseback ride yesterday morning.
In statement issued tonight ex-
pressing the sentiment of the war
department. Secretary Eaker de-
clared Gen. Mills devotion to his
work took strength with which he
might otherwise have been able to
resist the sudden illness. The state
ment follows:
II have a deep sense of personal
loss in the death Of Gen. Albert l..
Mills. From the time of my coming
to Washington he has been most
jealous in his self-sacrifcing devo-
ton to the affairs of the militia bu-
reau OF which he was the head. and
his patience. wisdom and kindness
have greatly simplified both my task
in becoming familiar with the war
department and the difficult under
taking which fell to the department
upon the call of the militia to the
Texas border.
"Plainly, the devotion of Gen.
Mills to his work took strength with
which he might otherwise have been
abl" to resist the sudden illness.
Few officers in the service have
had a more distinguished or varied
career. In active military operations
ne was severely wounded. but recov-
cred his health and became the build
er of the new West Point, which is
undoubtedly the most monumental
military school in the world. His
last years have been spent in reor-
ganizing the militia and bringing
about a higher degree of sympathy
and cooperation between il and the
regular army. His death marks the
passing of brave soldier. cultured
educator. a fine administrative officer
and an upright gentleman"