TOPICAL PORTRAIT SERIES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIX, Issue 134, 9 June 1906, Page 1

TOPICAL PORTRAIT SERIES.

LIEUTENANT GENERAL MILES

THE LORD ROBERTS OF THE ' UNITED STATES ARMY.

In all the list of United States military officers since the Civil War none has loomed so large in the public eye as General Miles. He is the Roberts of America even as Lord Roberts is the Miles of Great Britain, and, like his great equivalent under the Union Jack, has played a part both comprehensive ami dazzling. General Miles entered the United States Army when the world was much younger, and his part of the world especially so. He was all through the Civil War, and won great distinction thereby; and on his elevation to the supreme command of the United States Army a degree of adulation was indulged in which was at once a testimony to his services and a recognition of his popularity. General Miles was Commander-in-Chief when war broke out with Spain, and may be credited with much of the plan-work which was formulated to secure victorious co-operation with the Navy. When in due course he resigned under the rule obtaining in America he revived his active association with the Grand Army, perhaps the most extraordinary military body in the world. The ' United States Army and the Grand Army ,of the United States are two distinct things, the one representing the native land defence of the moment, and the other the valour of a bygone generation. The Grand Army, in fact ? is the remains of the Federal and Southern Armies who met in Civil strife in Lincoln's day, and though death has thinned them out considerably in the last ten years, they still total an immense number of officers and men. In America, anyhow, General Miles is as great*an authority on land warfare as Captain Mahon is in matters relating to warfare on the sea. Thus all through the struggle between Russia and Japan he published at short intervals a running review of operations and a forecast of probabilities, and while the first was distinguished for its thorough acquaintance with what was going on, the second proved a remarkable series of "prophecies " of what was going to happen. The General has also been a great Indian fighter, and likewise a great hunter, and in both capacities has enriched current literature with many thrilling accounts of his experiences. It is some little time since he resigned from the Co'mmander-in-Chiefship, and now, as stated, he has retired finally, due presumably to his years.