Show MILES GIVEN HARD REBUKE 4 Censured For interview on the Schley Case HARSH REMARKS BY MR M R ROOT SAYS SATS G SHOULD RA EAV VI BEEN t Dec 21 A determination WASHINGTON VV I V nation on the part of the admin administration administration absolutely to terminate further discussion of the Sampson Schley controversy took shape in n the h publication of sonic some remarkable ble conc corre correspondence that has passed between Sec See Secretary Secretary Root and Lieutenant General Miles relative to the latter s I published in a Cincinnati paper Dec 16 commenting upon the Schley S ease case When the Interview appeared It at attracted fretted much attention ov offid tally uy but after the lapse of two days without any sign of official al action the conclusion became general that the interview would be ignored Therefore the pub publication publication this afternoon of the th full cor correspondence correspondence correspondence on this subject created c t a Sensation in army and naval circles It Itis ItIs is seldom that so 80 severe s vere a reprimand is administered to an officer I of high rank in either service serne What the result will be cannot canno be foretold although though it I it itis itis itis is assumed that General Mik Milc Mi will sub submit submit submit mit without further comme t r But One The nearest parallel of this case of or recent years excluding the incidents connected with the l beef in inquiry inquiry inquiry was that of Rear Admiral Rich Richard Richard ard Meade Heade who upon returning from froma a cruise in Venezuelan waters Wates with the white squadron accorded an m interview s sto to a New York newspaper r severely criticising the administration for its lack l k of vigor in dealing with the Vene Tefle Venezuelan Venezuelan question The outcome of that case was the early earh nt of the tte rear admiral from active service That General Miles appreciates the situation is shown by hy the deep concern he manifested today and his frequent visits to the office of Secretary Root It was necessary for him to write two letters to meet the demands of the de department department department and even ev n then there was w no expression of ot satisfaction on the secre mere part at the second explanation However Secretary Root himself him elf re ye regards r gards garde the incident as closed At least he does not purpose to take any further action unless obliged d to do so The Several Missives The text of the which pissed between tWeen the th secretary of war aim General Miles lines follows War department Washington bee tec Dec 19 1901 I Sir I 1 am ant Instructed by dent to call caU your attention to e the en enclosed enclosed enclosed closed report of an interview with you appearing in the Associated Press newspapers of Tuesday Dec Dee 17 and to inquire whether the observations upon the action ac on of ot a coordinate branch of the service in a matter now no pending in the navy department were wen made as reported and If It so 80 to afford you yoo such opportunity for explaining in writing as as you may desire Very respectfully ELIHU ROOT Secretary of War Lieutenant General Miles headquarters tars of the army General Miles Replies i iTo To the letter Miles ca e made this reply Headquarters H of the army W ton Dec Dee 20 1901 The honorable the secretary of wi Washington D C CSIr CSir s Sir Replying to your note JIOte of I have the honor to Mate that my observations as sub ta reported had bad no reference to the action pending or otherwise of coo branches of ot the service they were merely my personal views based upon matters set et forth in various publications Lions tion which had been given to the world and concerning which I conceive there was no impropriety in expressing an opinion the same as any other cit citizen leon izen upon a matter of such public In Vi Interest terest My observations were in TO h hense sense ense intended as a IJ a criticism of any action taken by a coordinate branch of ot the servit servin and the statement that I II I had no sympathy with any efforts tend tending ing lag to disparage a distinguished and gallant officer likewise had no suck such reference Very Verv respectfully NELSON A MILES Lieutenant General j General Miles supplemented ibis his let letter letter letter ter with the following handed hand to the secretary today Headquarters of the army Washing Washington ton D C Dec 21 1901 The honorable the secretary of war Sir Referring to my note of yes yesterday yesterday and in order that there re may be beno beno beno no misunderstanding I desire to say BaY that for several years pars a distinguished and gallant officer has been assailed bv by parties parti who have endeavored to write him and oth ot i high officials down until finally he appealed a against such as assaults I to a coordinate branch of ot the I government That coordinate branch of ot I the government granted him a court of or inquiry and as I understand it itI I they unanimously exonerated him from fromI I such epithets as coward poltroon I etc sand and their opinions wert given civen to toi i the public for the information of all allt t citizens When I said aid that I had no sympathy with those who had bade en endeavored endeavored endeavored to destroy the reputation of a 8 high officer who like all oth other r officers officer regards his honor more sa sacred red than life lIte I had In fn mind and referred ret erred to those assaults assault against which the ad admiral admiral miral appealed for protection and justi justification and certainly not to a coor coordinate coordinate coordinate branch of the government I request that this note be bt laid be before before before fore the president and have no objection objection tion to it being made public Very re respectfully NELSON A MILES Lieutenant lie General Reprimanded Just the Same ame ameThe The reprimand is contained in the following l of f Secretary cretan Root Hoot to General Milf Miles s Var War I P nt n Dec 21 1 l i 01 Sir F fy v direction nt ot f t tm tie w pros pro ident I to v you i us is con lon conclusions conclusions elusions upon your our course e in t view view yiew to which h your a tt e T i t was called b by my mv letter leth i of the tho 1 l i tl Your explanation o to of public statement made h 1 by you von i n 11 t tor tory You are in error enor w Ii h i i u 11 say sayi that YOU yin have haye th the i 1 A 6 any 0 u lier ller i it p t to M cly in an opinion ig l h pond pend pending pf nd ing in th course cours of ot military diJ Th The established invariable rules of cia cial propriety tv nee n 5 ai ary t to the effective e discipline of the tbt service elke impose lini upon the public expression t f ef f t r rt t officers with which your long bould save have made mad you fa familiar I mUhr Your Tour duty JB to express your sour I opinion op wh when tt called upon M ly y your you official superiors or in ir the due dut of ot your rOUT official reports and 84 r omm and not other IF wf first article of the regulations ng the army of the United State provided or 01 4 amoas military men praise or cen censure censure censure sure or ci any mark of sf II approbation n to toward tob b ward others In n the military service are prohibited Essentially Severe provision lias 1 li a beer a part of ot the ani arzy emulations i for mr at least naif naifa ha haa a and the Highest 1 obligation to erve it rests reata upon the officers white wha wh rank raak should make them euc les to their subordinates Any AuT An Another other rule ot of action in tIle tue military ser Hr vice t tc would be subversive e of or discipline It would not be tolerated in III a sub aub I altern rank and it will not be tolerated I in any officer of whatever rank The present facts are tUe that for sev several era eral years yeara there has ba ha been unfortunate nd bitter controversy y In the navy de department q a controversy generally de deplored even en by the participants as tending to bring brI the service Ice into dlo dLa disesteem esteem at home borne and abroad and to de do destroy destroy stroy tUlle thane t relations of or mutual conti deuce dence d nee aI friendship between tween naval officers Which the interests of effective service require In this thia controversy the army rny ann has bu not DOt been Deen involved Inv and no bar has hU been raised to that good feel teet ing ng and ad d friendly relation between all ll 11 the officers of the navy av and all the of or I ficera of ot the army which is JaI essential e to the successful and harmonious co cc cooperation cooperation operation of the two to services ees in prep for and in action A court of ot inquiry has Itu been held on en the matters metter in controversy and a report had hd been made in which one member of the court 0 had dissented dl in some om particulars from the majority and t report was wag Was pend Deed ing lug before the reviewing authority auth L Seme Beme More ore At thia point the lieutenant general of the army saw lit fit to make a public pu expression ex eron of Ale hie opinion as between S the majority and aid the minority of c 1 the court courtS ce by a criticism eri Of t a roost most aeve character whick could ceniti c Id not fan fall to be applied by the generality of readers to t the naval Daval officers oI against whose Tie vee TIM your opinion was ex cx expressed pressed tI res i 1 L Ia g of no o e on Oft whoa side hie your opinion ft was or what it wc wu You Tou had un business in lit the controversy and nd no right holding the theoffice 1 office which you do to express t any opinion Tour Your conduct was wac in viola violation violation violation tion of the tite regulation above aboe cited and the rules ruee of official propriety and aDd you ft ar r justly lAble to censure cen ure which I Inow Inow Inow now express Very Vry respectfully ELIHU BOOT 1001 Secretary of War Lieutenant Lieu General Nelson on A Miles MUes t V Headquarters of the Army P S Your Tour second letter of ot ex cx explanation e dated today ned and received since the above was wag written does not nott notha t change hane ha the case cue The necessity for re repeated explanations but illustrates m the importance im A uC the rule which you have violated ROOT Secretary of War Closes Oloa the Controversy The fact laet that simultaneously J with the of ot the Miles mes correspondence corre pon ponnee i dence nee Secretary Root Boot gave Kave out a 8 copy of oC Secretary Longs letter directing that tha resignation re be requested taken is la connection with the ue publication tion this morning of the final chapters chatter of ot the Schley controversy so far as ts it has figured before the navy depart department department ment meat is taken as an indication of the presidents purpose ur to clear the official records of oC all pending issues on that matter Secretary Roots Boots Root publication j of ot the y letter Jetter te explained by the th tact fact that he eft the White House Hou some t m after Secretary Long had bad been betm 1 There h t nod and thus was wa in position po te to carry carryout carryout carryOut out the presidents pr latest la wish in the tAe matter j i |