The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-15
NILES WANTS 4 DENIAL
PeremptOry Demand Upon the Chief
of Ordnance.
General Burlington Given UntiI sat
urdax to Make a Written Refrae-
sion of or Apology for Charges
That an american Arlny oHieer
stole FreHch War Office Secrets.

A bitter fight is being waged at the War
Department. which. unless number Of
prominent officials deny statements credit
ed 10 them Will it is said. give rise 10 a
great scandal and reflect Disadvantage
oasly upon certain Army officers and bu-
reaus. TIE trouble began several months
ago over the adoption or rejection Of the
disappearing carriage used On seaeoast fos-
tifeations. The affair came to a head to-
day when Lieutenant General Miles entered
thu Office of General Burlington. Chief OF
Ordnance, and demanded denial OF state
ments made by The latter on Sunday last.
General Burlington it is said was given
until Saturday to present written denial
or an apology. IN the event OF refusal, it
Is understood General Miles will prefer
charges against him
At a recent meeting of the Board OF
FoTtiications, General Miles moved TO
discontinue the manufacture aud use Of
the disappearing carriage, which was in
vented by General Burlington. General
Burlington fought the proposal but WAS
defeated. and since then, it is said. has
been nursing his wrath and awaiting an
opportunity to get even.
1t was proposed by General Miles that
a new barbette mount be used in place
OF the disappearing carriage. Since then
the matter dropped and was only brought
forward on Friday last when General
Miles stated 10 the board that an
officer had secured The plans OF the new
French field gun, q much advanced type,
and intended constructing such sun
that the officials might examine into its
usefulness. The board agreed TO this and
awaited more Information On the matter
On Sunday a high official of the War
Department issued 10 the press for pub
Iieation a statement that an Army officer,
recently in Paris, had played the spy and
had stolen the secrets OF the French War
Once offering 10 sell tie plans OF the
new French gUn to the Var Department
No names were mentioned. but TO the off,
Gals who were acquainted with the mat
ter it Is claimed that the charges were
clearly directed against Captain Lewis,
Secretary OF the Board of Fortihcations,
who IS General Miles right hand man
and his chieE supporter against General
Burlington
AS the French Government refused 10
give the matter official recognition and
ignored the charges. General Miles took
them ID and insisted that the guilty ctl-
Ger be coart-Jn2Ttlaled This was done to
trace the charges home No person ap-
peared to back the statements and after
quiet fnrest stigstion, General Miles, It is
alleged, traced the charges 20 General
Bufingtonis Office.
One OF the officials most interested in
the matter stated this morning that il
was clear that the disclosures had been
made &c iujure Captain Lewis, who has
recently been in Paris studying ordnance
for General Miles
The ease has been traced carefully.
and the accused person is none other
than Captain Lewis said this official.
such charges are indeed serious, and
can only result IN a coErt-martiaL G n
eraI Miles IS certain Of Captain Lewis
innocence, and intends 10 prove il by
forcing 4 denial or an apology from
those who made the disclosures. There
is much feelin. over the case. and sym
apthy appears 10 be with the accused
officer
IL is known that General Miles has for
warded a statement of the facts in the
case to Secretary Root and demands an
immediate court-martiaI unless some
one" in the Ordnance Bureau makes de-
NAL In the latter event nobody can be
punished and the matter will drop. At
present the feeling is so high that denial
would be a confession OF guilt. it is said.
and If the matter cannot be cleared up
otherwise. General Miles may carry the
fight into The French War Office and de-
mand that the Government authorities ask
for an Official investigation by this Govern
ment
General Burlington refuses to make any
statement on the matter and General Niles
prefers to await official action rather than
make ANYTHING public.