The times., 1899-03-24
ALGER's DISTRESS SIGNAL.
His Obituary Order Not Taken Seri-
OusIy by Anybody.

Ous1y by Anybody.
General Miles is still in New York No
one in Washington will speak for him. His
friends feel that he viii pass by in silence
the last left handed slap given him by
of other persons. however, who did not
ignore the aforesaid slap. They were
abroad in the State. War and Navy Build
ing corridors yesterday.
great deal of commotion was also Gre
ated in other parts OF the city by the
publication in The Times of the order pub
lished by the Secretary as his final act
before sailing away for Cuba in a private
car Of the Southern Railway. 1t is called
a circular, but that is only a titular sugar
coating. military men say.
This is the document itself which was
issued last night before the whistle blew
for closing down work at Adjutant Gen
eral corbin's office:
Circular No. O0)
Headquarters of the Army
Adiutant Generals Office.
Washington, March 9O 1898.
The following decision has been made and is
published for the information and guidance of
all concerned:
War Department.
Washington, March -. 1890.
Ordered. That hereafter no chief or acting
chief of staff corps shall be detailed or ordered
to any duty by any authority without the an
proval of the Secretary of War
.'R. A. ALGER, Secretary of War"
by command of Major General Miles:
II. c. C0RBIN, Adjutant General.
The circular is interpreted by military
men in general as Secretary Ayers dis
approval of the action of General Breck-
inridge and of Lieutenant Colonel CARING
ton. of the Inspector Generals Office, in
venturing an investigation of the 'em-
balmed beef
General Breckenridge was detached from
his duties in charge Of the Inspection De-
partment by Secretary Alger himself. and
is now in Cuba on inspection duty. Lieu
tenant Colonel Darlington recently return
ed from the West. where he had been delv-
ing at Omaha and Chicago for informa-
tion regarding food furnished the American
army in Cuba and Porto Rico. He will
not tell what tracks he obtained. acting un-
der the general rule which requires that in
spectors shall make their reports TO the
authority which caused the inspection to
be made He has been sick with a bad
cold and made his first appearance at
his office yesterday.
Il am not worrying about general orders
which may have no application to me per-
sonally," Lieutenant Colonel Darlington
said. Il know of no reason why Secretary
Alger should be dissatisfied with my work
in connection with the beef enquiry. 1t is
entirely impartial and made on order. /
seek TO find nothing but the facts without
any preconceiyed theories and when / have
found them / shall turn them over to my
superior. l do not see how there can be
any feeling over my work.
''The matter is purely routine" said Ad-
jutant General Corbin.
what has been the cause for the issue
of this order?" he was asked.
Il do not know, and | would not tell il /
did know. This is merely 4 decision cir
cular, not an order"
but decision circular is the result of
a presentation of specific case to the
Judge Advocate, is it not? What was this
specific case?"
This is a matter l do not care to enter
into. have not been told"
On the return of Colonel Darlington from
Chicago. an attache of General Miles office
stated to a friend that the Secretary of
War had been greatly disappointed at the
character of the evidence taken BY the
Board of Enquiry during its Western trip.
He bad hoped to obtain support for the
Commissary Departments position. for
which the public holds him accountable.
1t was also stated publicly at the time Of
Lieutenant Colonel Gar.ington's return
that his report would take about the same
turn as had the evidence before the Board.
This concatenation of conditions is consid-
cred BY some persons to have been tie
cause for Secretary Alger's order.