The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 21, 1902, Page 1

Tall, VOLUME XCL-NO. 111. SAN FRANCISCO, FRIDAY, MARCH 1902. 21, PRICE FIVE CENTS. GENERAL MILES’ THREAT TO RESIGN FR+OM ARMY Makes a Sensational Statement Before Senators. Declares: Favoritism Is Behind General Staff Bill. { | ] b { | i p i OMM i UNITED STATES ARMY, WHO DECLARES HE WILL RESIGN IF THE BILL SOMES LAW, AND THE AUTHOR OF THE MEASURE THAT STIRS THE 5 GENERAL. SR = ABHINGTON, March 2. at 1tiago, and I hastened to the home | who.would hold the places of honor pro- —Ge Miles --to-day | of Secretary Long, where the news was | vided, but the committee did-not ask for ate Commit- | confirmed. Shafter was then at Tamna] the names. Military Affairs | and I sat down there, in the Secrctary bill introduced Depart a general me a law 1k his commission t ement is that pf the inter- ry establishment,"and he | to such a even contin- e a party of e statem in the course of a prolon: n he committee, which was conducted behind closed doors and in which General M touched upon & variety of subjects connected with the ermy. OBJECTS TO THIS SECTION. The portion of the bill to which he di- rected his especial criticism is that con- tained in Section 7, reading as follows: “That from and after the passage of | this act the senior general officer of the | army shall be assigned to command such | portion of the army as the President may | direct, or be detafled to duty in the gen- | eral staff corps. All duties prescribed by law for the commanding general of the 2rmy shall be performed by the chief of | the general staff or other general officer | designated by the Secretary of War, pro- vided, that so long as the present lieu- | tenant-general of the army continues on | the active list he shall be the chief of the ‘\ general staff and upon the separation from active service of the said lieutenant. general of the army sald office, except as | herein provided, shall cease.” WOULD DESTROY UNITY. General Miles said that if this provision should become a law it would have the effect of destroying the unity of the army and he read numerous authorities, includ- ing Napoleon, Wellington, Washington, Cass and Grant, to show the necessity of heving one head to the army and of con- trolling authority. His own_experience and cbservation had, he said, had the ef- fect of confirming these views, and he geve an llustration of its beneficial effect in time of emergency, instancing the be- ginning of the war with Spain. “I heard at midnight,” he said, “that the ed hear | vana. and wrote a dispatch directing him immediately for Santiago ‘with | nlt that the army was soon on ¥ to the point where its presence was ed. Suppose,” he added, exhibiting the ge which he had sent to General | Shafter, “I had been compelled to get | around to a dozen or more majors, a: many colonels and any number of gener- als constituting a general staff?” TO PROMOTE FAVORITES. Then he added that in all" probability the senior general of the army would not under the provision he had quoted have been in position to do anything, and he called attention to the clause relieving him (the senior general) of command and making it possible for any other officer to“be appointed. He declared that under section 7 it would be competent to . one day to promote a captain to the position of a brigadier and the next day make him chief of staff, thus practically plac- ing a captain at the head of the army. Warming up somewhat he asserted that the bill was calculated to accomplish no purpose except to allow the Secretary of War and the Adjutant General to pro- mote the interests of their personal favor- ites. General Miles was questioned as to the reasons of locating the American army of occupation at Tamipa and holding it =0 long with the resulting congestion. Re- plying to the first question, he said it was hecause of the order to occupy Ha- The delay was due to the fact that the American army was supplied with only sixty-four rounds of ammuni- tion, which would not have been suffi- cient for more than half an hour of fighting. Consldering that Havana was one of the best fortified cities in the world he sald that to have attacked {t would have been foolhardy in the ex- treme. He declined, however, to criticize the then Secretary of War, General Al- ger, for the condition of affairs, saying that probably any one else in the position would have done about what he did. He laid the blame for this condition of un- preparedness at the door of Congress. in the course of his remarks General Miles told the committee that with the #panish fleet had been located definitely |'21l a law he could now name the mep EXPLAINED BY ROOT. The printed report of the testimony of Secretary Root before the commitee on the general staff bill was made public to- day. In his statement the Sécretary said that the general staff of the army, as it is proposed to organize it under this bill, would be simply an advisory board, and its principal duty would be that of an advisory board. “It ‘proposes,” he said, “to create by detail from the officers of the army a body of officers-who shall be charged, in the first place, with the duty of dolng the military thinking, of doing what the navy has a board engaged in now, and what We ought to have in the army and haye not to-day. The primary jdea s not to give orders. It is to study and prepare plans for the men who give the orders.” Asked as to the place the commander- in-chief ,would occupy with reference to this board the Secretary replied that he would ‘accept plans made by the board or not, as he might please. The Secretary continued as follows: “The plan of the bill is to have the chief of staft selected by the Prestden: as commander in chief, and to have it a de. tail, so that he would come in with the President and go out with the President, Senator Bate—Do I understand thaj there i3 a limit to their power; that they wiil not interfere with the general? Secretary Root—The proposition fs to have the lieutenant general to decide, As to the work of this character during the war with Spain Secretary Root said: “That work was done during the Span- ich «war practically by the men in the adjutant general's office. But how dig they have to do 1t? Each man was at his desk having routine duties which were pressing upon him, enough for two men to do, and it was only by working day and night, with the halls thronged and crowded with people who were press- ‘ng with ten thousand things having nothing to do with the really important duties they were performing, that they were able to do these things that ought to have been put in the hands of men who had nothing else whatever to do. If lieutenant Continued on Page Two. REBELS GAINING GROUND Matos’ Followers Are Very Active in Venezuela. and March on ' Tucacas. |Colombian Liberals | Have Big Forces ‘ in Field. WILLEMSTAD, Tsland of Curacao, | March 2.—The = Venezuelan revolution |Leaded by General Matos seems to ! be taking form. tionists under Generai Penalozo are be- { sieging Carupane, @ seaport town in state of Bermudez, and the revolution- under Gn»'\(‘-ral Monagas have H sur- | roun Bermudez. Senor Velutini, the Venezu- | elan Minister of the Interior, hds dispatehed on @ €vecial mission to Bar- there too late. General Riera. who escaped the pursuit of the Venezuelan Government | near Cumarebo. in the state of Falcon, 1s marching in the d a seanort to | which place in the ' state of tn be attacked on land b; s troops and from the sea by the revo- | ution teamer Bolivar, also known as the Libertadcr. The Venezuelan Goyernment is sending Riera and prevent the junction of troops with quisimeteo distriet. | 1* is reported that General Rolando has his | landed_at Maturin, in the state of Mer- | | | mudez. : CRITICAL FOR CASTRO. The revolutionigts have cut the cable to Barcelona and - consequently the Vene- zuelan Guvernment is without news from Carupano. The situation is said to be critical for | Presiaent Cas The Venezuelan fleet is not in condition 1o pursue the Bolivar and | the ! her ha o failed. The Bolivar was at Piritu, state of Ber- | mudez. March 12;° duting the night of Merch 13 she wag off this {sland, and March 11 she was «¥{Coro, in.the state of | Falcon. Geénciat Sclrbe. {He Pregident of, | the_ staie ¢f Gunaro, has been, with his staff. taken prisoner by the revolutionists under Geéncral Sola; | zuela is as had as the political situation in | that country. The Government clerks have | ! not been paid for six months and coffee is upsalable. | ACTIVITY IN' COLOMBIA. COLON (Colombia), March 20.—The Gov- | ernment-is continuing to erect barricades | and works of defense here and at Panama | |in anticipation of a Liberal attack. The | Government forces on the isthmus now | number over 2000 men. A British man-of- | war is expected at Colon shortly. | In addition to the 100,40 pesos to be forcibly collected by the Government from the Liberals of Panama and Colon, the ad valorem duties were increased to- | day by 50 per cent. PANAMA, Colombia, March 20.—Some | fifty officers and soldiers, remnants of the | Government forces engaged recently at Agua Culce and who were taken prisoners by the revolutionists, arrived here to-day. They report having been generously treated by the revolutionist General Her- rera, and that the revolutionists have proceeded in the direction of Chiriqul. | Government reinforcements from the de- partmeént of Bolivar have reached Colon on a steamer of the French line. Reports favorable to the National Government have been received from the department of Bolivar: The United States cruiser Philadelphia arrived here yesterday evening at & o'clock. She left Guayaquil, Ecuador, March 16. GETS .A SMALL FORTUNE BECAUSE HE WAS BRAVE German Grandfather of a Young American Soldier Recognizes Spirit of Loyalty. CINCINNATI, March 20.—"I bequeath to my grandson, Otto Schmahl, the sum of $12,000, because he was brave and loyal to his country in the time of trouble.” ~The above is & provision in the will of Max Schmahl, a millionaire sugar king of Germany. Otto Schmahl resides with his parents in a modest little home at 184 West Clifton avenue. Upon the declara- tion of war with Spain young Schmahl was one of the first to respond. He par- ticipated In numerous skirmishes, and when his wealthy grandfather heard of the meritorious deeds of his grandson he was full of joy. The news apprising the young man of his fortune came in a letter from Germany. Mutiny of Russian Troops. ’ §T. PETERSBURG, March 20.—Details when the soldiers refused to fire oa strikers, have been received. It appears the troops fired blank cartridges, but when ordered to fire ball cartridges the sergeant refused to obey. The officer commanding the soldiers then'threatened to kill the sergeant, whereupon the troops attacked the officer. The latter has since succumbed to the bayonet wounds they inflicted upon him. Hayti’s Political Upheaval. PORT AU PRINCE, Hayti, March 20.— The political situation 1s critical.» The duthorities continue making,arrests. The prisoners ‘of importance are taken on board - the Haytien warship, Crete-a- Plerot. Surround Barcelona| Eight hundred revolu- | the | ed Barcelona, capital of the state of | heen | | celcra, but it is said that he will arrive | troops | ection of Tucacas, | Lara, | | troeps to Ei Macha to intercept Gencral | he revolutionists in the Bar- | ns_of President Casfro to capture | The financia! state of affairs in Vene- | of the mutiny of Russian troops at Tula, 1 HURL VERY HARSH WORDS IN COMMONS Liberals Object to i the Government Slanders. John Dillon Declares Chamberlain a Liar. Sl Blunders in the Boer War Cause of the + A BN THREE OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN A SENSATIONAL DEBATE IN HOUSE OF COMMONS. | ONDON, March 20.—One of the liveliest- scenes witnessed . in the House of Commons since the palmiest days of the Irisiy Nationalists ended this after- John Dillon. During the discussion of South African affairs the Liberal leader, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, vigor- ously protested against the Government’s conduct in uttering “malignant slanders" in calling the Liberals *‘pro-Boers.” These slanders, Sir Henry sald, were used for party purposes. The Government, had been going from blunder to blunder, claimed immunity from criticism, and if this continued it would follow ‘“the pre- cedent of the evil days of the American war.” The speaker proceeded to give a bitter detalled criticism of the Govern- ment’s treatment of theBoersand its mis- calculations, declaring that the honor and interests of the country were just as dear to the Liberals as to the most supercilious defender of the Government's policy, and the Liberals would continue to protest in the namé of the righteous and generous traditions of the nation against the meth- ods of the Government. “MALIGNANT SLANDERS.” Colonial Secretary Chamberlain, in the course of an equally incisive reply, said he desired to deliberately accuse BSir Henry Campbell-Bannerman of losing no opportunity for slandering his country- men, the soldiers and the Government. Consequently the ‘“malignant slanders” had come from the opposition side. The speaker, Sir Arthur Court Gully, hera intervened and declared. that the term ‘‘malignant slanders” was unparlia- mentary. % Both’ Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman and Chamberlain thereupon withdrew the words, amid cheers. Chamberlain, proceeding, referred to the Boers who are fighting on the British side, when John Dillon (Irish Nationalist) interjected: “They are traitors,” to which Chamberlain retorted: ‘“The honorable gentleman 18 a good judge of traitors.” A’ scene of great confusion ensued. When order was partially restored Dillon demanded a ruling on Chamberlain's ‘words. The speaker saild: ‘‘An honorable mem- ber spoke of soldiers serving under the British flag as traitors. I deprecated the interruption and I deprecated the retort of the other member."” A DILLON IS SUSPENDED. Dillon then satd: “I will tell the right honorable member that he is a damnea A dead sllence followed this remark. V noon with the suspension of | which | | —¥] Such unparliamentary . language seemed | to stun the House. i The Speaker invited Dillon to withdraw the expression, but the latter said: “L will not withdraw.” “Then I must name you,” Speaker. 4 The Government leader, A. J. Balfour, | then said: | “I beg to move that Mr. Dillon be sus- pended from service in the House.” | The motion was carried by 268 to 48 votes. Dillon_immediately, by direction of the Speaker, left the House, amid wild Na- tionalist - cheers, and Chamberlain re-| sumed his speech. | The ejection of Dillon did not serve to | clear the atmosphere and the remainder of the debate was filled with personal al- lusions and unpleasant exchanges, the na- ture of which would have excited com- ment had they not been discounted by the first explosion. GOVERNMENT IS ATTACKED. David Lloyd-George, Welsh Nationalist, bitterly attacked the Government, de- claiming a harrowing picture of the con- ditions in South Africa, and charged the ‘War Office with pigeon-holing important information. Sir Charles Gayzer, Conservative, in- terrupted Lloyd-George, saying the speaker was playing to the pro-Boers, whereupon Lloyd-George characterized the interruption as an “insolent remark.” This caused confusion in the House and | cries of “Withdraw.” John Redmond, leader of the Irish party in the Houfe, appealed to the chair, and | 8ir Charles reluctantly withdrew his statement. W. R. Plummer, Conservative, and Redmond had an. altercation, and after more disorder Lloyd-George succeeded in finishing with the remark that he did not | know who was responsible for all the errors and incompetency in South Africa, | but that the men who had profited by | these conditions now sat upon the Gov- | ernment bench. | Brodrick, Secretary of State for War, replied to Lloyd-George with a long de- -fense of the War Office. Brodrick and Chamberlain, during the discussion of the House of Commons, showed themselves to be very hopeful of the affairs in South. Africa. Chamber- lain estimated there were still 9000 fight- ing Boers in the fleld. . This optimism is rather offset by the | fact that the Government has again tele- graphed to Australia inviting that com- monwealth to send 2000 more men to South Africa. Dillon's suspension, under the present sald the | — rules, cannot exceed a week. His offenss would have been much more severely dealt with had the new rules been in force. ALL OF MARSHAL SU'S TROOPS ‘JOIN REBELS Alarming Reports Are Sent From Canton Concerning Chinese Rebellion. HONGEKONG, March 21.—Advices from Canton say it is credibly reported thers that the Viceroy bad reccived telegrams from Lung-Chin, on the Annam border, alleging that the ole of Marshal Su's wh troops have ed and joined the rebels f this is tru he advices, it adds to the revolution .00 foreign armed and drilled troops, capable of defeating the imperialists can raise. he telegrams further say the couttry oubtedly rebellion. Rob- are of frequent occurrence, the ntinued drought prevents ths planting of spring rice and this has led the farm laborers to become robbers. Well-informed persons consider a rebel- lion similar to that of the Tae-Pings probable. —_— - UNCLE SAM HAS NOT ASKED TURKEY TO PAY Facts Are Not Yet Available to De- termine Where Ransom Respon- sibility Lies. WASHINGTON, March 20.—The persist- ent circulation of reports that the State Department had made a demand upen Turkey for reimbursement of the money expended in the ransom of Miss Stone Is causing a good deal of annoyance to the officials of that department. It can be stated as a fact that the State Depart- ment has made no such demand on Tur- key, and consequently the Turkish Gov- ernment has not flatly refused to pay. As already stated, Mr. Lelshmann some time ago lodged caveats with the Turkish and Bulgarian Governments saving the right of the United States Government to prefer a demand for reparation and re- imbursement in the Stone case when it is able to fix the responsibility for the ab- duction. Up to this time the official re- ports from Minister Leishmann, supple- mented by verbal reports from Spencer Eddy, have not put the State Department in possession of sufficlent facts to deter- mine this question of responsibility. Wood on Way to Washington. HAVANA, March 20.—Governor General Wood left here to-day on the Kanawha for Miami on his way to Washington, where, it Is expected, a final consultation will be held with President-elect Palma and other Cubans in regard to establish- ing a Cuban Government. ‘Honors President’s Daughter. WILHELMSHAVEN, Prussia, Mareh 20.—Emperor Willam has directed that & former torpedo-boat, now used as = guardship here, shall be renamed “Allcg Roosevelt.” .