Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-11-11
NEXT WAR IN AIR,
: SAYS GEN. MILES
Veteran Indian Fighter Says
Army Is Now Preparing
Z Defense by Planes
rAUDs PRESIDENT ELECT

"WhOever is superior IN tne hlr VIII
win the next war" said General Nelson
A. Miles at the Union League today
'Tbe next war will be fought In the
air for the most part. I was chair
man of the board which first introduced
The airplane into the army, and at that
time I was greatly impressed with Its
potentalities. It's recent development
has demonstrated clearly that Il will be
the coming chief weapon Of offense and
defense. Our army Is already consider
Ing plans for, the defense Of our prin
cipal cities against air attacks, but the
nature of those plans is such that do
not feel free to discuss them .....
The veteran conqueror. OF Apaches
arrived in Philadelphia yesterday Ia
take command Of general meeting OF
the Military Order Of the Loyal Legion
Of the United States, Of which he is
head.
Legion Work Surprises
'I intend that the Loyal Legion shall
carry on the work commenced by II
during the Civil War;" the geenral said
this morning. at Is a great work, and
one which inspires every member Of the
Legion"
General Miles is a stanch supporter Of
Harding and Coolidge. Harding Is a
man Of the same type as Lincoln" he
said. Coolidge a worthy successor OF
John Hancock" ..
The League of Nations does not NEE,
with the generals approval. .,
~ would never bind this nation to
any supergovernment,' was his com
ment. "Our forefathers fought for
seven years to give us independence,
and under the constitution they drafted
we have become the most powerful re
public in the world. We do not need
to bind ourselves to any combination
Of powers. l will admit that the Rus
sian situation Is very serious. however.
That country Is in deplorable condi-
ton. When ! went to Russia, q nun
Der Of years ago, under the czar's re
gime, the country was improving won :
derfully, marvellous progress having been
made when one considered that the peo
pie sprang from wild tribes.
Gar Not So Bad
while the czar was IN autocrat, Il
should be remembered that he was the
first to call The Hague Conference. lie
encouraged constitutional government
and bad established a parliament. When
Russia was drunk with an excess Of
vodka, he unhesitatingly abolished II
despite the fact that the government
derived tremendous revenue from it,
sale. found him very familiar with
American methods in land ownership
particularly In connection with the de
velopment of land along the Trans. .Si =
berian Railway. He said he hoped to
follow the example set by our govern
ment In encouraging home builders ia
settle in the West. And to think that,
Notwithstanding his beneficent acts, he
was murdered, just as his grandfather
who liberated the serfs. The last car
was quiet, courteous gentleman. quite
unaffected"
What do you think Of the Mexican
situation?" the general was asked.
Wouldn't Take Mexico
'The less we have to do with Mexico
the better for u.s." was the reply. Gen
eral Sherman once said that 1t would
be well to 60 to war again with Mexico
and make her take back the ignorant
population of some of the territory We
acquired from her. We may exercise
our good offices In Mexico's behalf. but
when the annexationists begin to speak
Of absorbing her $4,000. 900 poems,
viii say we have enough -
General Miles does not believe in uni :
versal compulsory military training. 81
believe In a well regulated militia" ht
said, 'and a reasonable military force
but we should set good example tC
other nations. and establish some sort
OF understanding with the other great
powers by which limit would be set
on the portion of the population to b.
trained for military usage. l do not
believe in 'Germanizing' the entire
country
The general expects to return to his
home in Washington today.