The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-16
FRENCH GUN CONTROVERSY.
General Miles Demands n Denial Of
General Burlington.

SeneruI bumnEtOn.
The discovery that War Department
official had given out for publication q
statement that an officer of the United
States Army had stolen French War Of
fee secrets and had handed them to
Lieutenant General Miles for use, has de-
veloped into bitter fight. which bids fair
to end in scandal involving several bu-
reaus and their heads.
II is alleged that the disclosures were
given out by some person" in the Bure an
of Ordnance. with the object of disgracing
Captain Lewis, the Secretary Of the For
tifications Board and General Nils right
hand mand. II is further stated that the
name of the officer who issued the charges
will be made public unless 4 complete
denial is had.
The affair came to a head yesterday.
when General Miles demanded from Gen
eral Burlington, Chief of the Bureau or
Ordnance, an explanation and denial.
II is alleged that General Burlington is
sued the charges to get even with Cen
eral Miles because of the action of the
latter in treating adversely the disap-
pearing gun carriage.
At a recent meeting of the Board oil
Fortifications. General Miles moved 10
discontinue the manufacture and use oil
the disappearing carriage, which was IN
vented by General Burlington. General
Burlington fought the proposal. but was
defeated, and since then, it is said, mas
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 to the board that an
officer had secured the plans of the new
French field gun, much advanced type,
and intended constructing such gun
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 to the press for pub
LEGATION statement that an army officer.
recently in Paris. had played the spy and
had stolen the secrets of the French War
Office, offering to sell the plans of the
new French gun to the War 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 Fortifications,
who is General Miles right hand man
and his chief supporter against General
Burlington.
As the French Government refused to
give the matter official recognition and
ignored the charges, General Miles toof
them up and insisted that the guilty OIL
Ger be court martia!ed. This was done TO
trace the charges home. No person ap-
peared to back the statements and after
ouiet investigation, General Miles, 1t is
alleged. traced The charges to General
Bufiington's Office.
One of the officials most interested In
the matter stated yesterday that 1t
was clear that the disclosures had peen
made to injure Captain Lewis, who has
recently been In Paris studying ordnance
for General Miles.
1.-THE case has been traced carefully,
and the accused person is none other
than Captain Lewis" said this oficiai.
such charges are indeed serious. and
can only result in a court-martial G-n-
eral Miles is certain of Captain Lewis
innocence, and intends to prove it by
forcing a denial or an apology from
those who made the disclosures. There
is much feeling over the case. and sym
pathy appears to be with the accused
officer
It is known that General Miles has for
warded a statement OF the facts in the
case to Secretary Root and demands an
immediate court-martial, 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 ofacrai investigation by this Govern
ment.
General Burlington refuses to make any
statement on the matter and General Miles
prefers to await official action rather than
make anything public.