The evening times., 1899-03-23
.Iger'- seif-Protection.

II General Breckenridge, Inspector Cen
eral of the Army. should make a detailed
report OF his experiences during the war
with Spain and later there would be an
early vacancy in the Cabinet and prob
ably new Adjutant General TO be ap-
pointed. An order has just been issued
which is virtually censure of that capable
and enterprising officer for exercising his
own discretion as TO the places and things
to be inspected during his exile in Cuba
and Porto Rico. The public has some
knowledge of his troubles. When war was
declared and il was decided that General
Miles should not be allowed TO take so ac-
tive part in the campaign as TO become
a popular hero and a Presidential posi-
bility, it was necessary TO strengthen the
power of the Adiutant General. To that
end the Office of General Breckenridge was
emasculated. To keep all information in
the control of the Adjutant General the
subordinates of the Inspector Generals
Office were instructed to make their re-
ports directly to the former. Then Gener-
al Breckenridge was sent into the field.
This explains why no official attention
was paid to the ravages of the typhoid
fever epidemic in the camps of mobiliza-
ton and why the Secretary of War was
ignorant of the appalling conditions in
Cuba until he received the round robin. .
Ii explains why there was no official knowl-
edge of the commissary, medical, and
quartermaster defects of Skaters corps
and of the character of the beef supplied
TO the army through Eagan.
General Breckenridge brought down on
himself the execrations and enmity of Sec
retary Alger and all the prominent officials
of the War Office by a comment on Shat
ter's weakness. or rather by his mention
of significant incident in Skaters tent.
He had been slated to command the Second
Corps, but was ordered back to his former
Office. Here he began an investigation of
General Miles charges of bad beef. He
gathered a good deal of evidence in their
support and some of it was published. To
call him of and prevent the discovery of
the facts now in possession of the Court
of Enquiry Secretary Alger made an ex-
traordinary assignment of the Inspector
General to Cuba and Porto Rico and per-
haps to the Philippines, presumably TO
keep him out of the way until the Court
should adjourn. 1t is certain that he has
much valuable matter that would have a
powerful effect on the Courts findings. All
custom was violated in the manner in
which he was exiled for an indefinite pe-
riod
IL is affirmed that in the course of his
duties in Porto Rico, General Breckenridge
took occasion to gather in more proofs of
the deadly nature of the beef issued to the
troops. In order to do this he visited
points to which he had not been instructed
to go, presumably with good reason. Not
only this, but one of his subordinates.
Colonel Darlington, who went to Chicago
without the orders of the War Department,
picked up confrmatory evidence of bad
beef at that place. All this meant the de-
feat of the purpose for which General
Breckenridge was eXiled. Naturally, Sec
retary Alger is both indignant and alarm
ed. 1t is intolerable that officers under the
control of the War Department should
gather facts TO convict the department of
SO grave an offence as the issue of poison
Gus rations TO the soldiers. Hence this
order restraining General Breckenridge and
all his subordinates from going where they
are not instructed to go-in other words,
from going where they can obtain proofs
to uphold the charges of General Miles,