The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-16

II is now certainty. according to War
Department officials. that court of en-
quiry viii be appointed to learn the truth
in regard TO the stolen French War Office
secrets which, it is Gained, we're handed
TO General Miles. and the publication OF
the statement which many officers hold
has been traced to the Bureau Of Ord
nance. The matter has now assumed the
aspect OF an open war which is being
waged from end to end Of the Depart
ment
On one side. led by Lieutenant General
Miles, the officials hold up to shame the
action of an officer in resorting to what
they consider to be treachery TO injure
fellow-soldier, and demand an immediate
investigation. On the other side, led by
General Burlington, Chief OF Ordnance,
there remains only sulleu silence The
charges are neither affirmed nor denied,
and subordinates are forbidden TO speak Of
the matter. AS vet General Miles has
received no reply to his demand for an
explanation. and tomorToW's developments
viii decide the case.
A practical admission that the War De-
partment has in its possession the plans
for the new French field gun Eas made This
a lIgI OlsclaI &c
who has reason 10 know whereof he speaks.
II is further admitted that Captain Lewis,
Secretary OF the Fortifcsti0ns Board, and
General Miles confidant obtained the plans
originally. but did SO by order Of the War
! Department and IN the Interest of eompeti-
tive tests of field ordnance which had been
ordered IS the Board OF Ordnance and IN
which the entire world was invited to par
ticipate.
The attaches at the American Embassy
/ n Paris are entirely eXO1eFated as Is Lieu
tenant Sims. the naval attache at the Paris
Exposition, who was accused by Paris
| newspaper of being implicated in the mat
ter. Captain Lewis is not regarded as hay-
ing offended in any way. since he merely
obeyed orders.
The offence complained OF is that an ord
nance officer should publish the secret in
formation Of the War Department il an
endeavoT to disgrace an officer VINO had oP-
posed the disappearing gun carriage
An officer on duty in the ofies OF the
General Commanding the Army ard who is
entirely in touch with the case. stated this
morning that he believed General Bufhng-
ton would officially deny having issued the
information and that the matter would
drop there
I've have traced the blame to MS Office.
said he. --and he can either accept the
charge or make complete denial In the
first place Captain Lewis reported 70 the
Ordnance Bureau from Paris aad requested
/ a certain sum With which to purchase he
plans of the new French gun. General Bgf-
fnston was the only EGn who had copy
of that letter and it is Gow in MS desk No
other man could have given out the dis
closures published, as no other msn vas
aware OF thssa-
Iyapfain I.evsfS retI.Eaed TO The War De
partmeat this Gaofssi1g after q visit 10
New York He held q long consultation
with General Niles and wiIl no- talk for
publication ct present. II IS now general
ly known that he secured the plans un-
der orders from the War Department and
with money supplied b. the department
He disappeared from General Miles Of
! fee several months ago and was officially
/ lost until three weeks ago when he reap
peared His Whereabouts were kept Sc
cret and no order was issued 1t is now
known that he went TO Paris. the attaches
( there being known and under suspicion.
and without much trouble purchased the
plans He then returned here and on sun
! day was greatly surprised to find the de-
/ tails of his coup made public.
There is nothing strange or sens a
| tionaI in the War Department securing
| these plans, said prominent Army ON
( Ger today. 1T may surprise you to En0W
! that every power In Europe is repre-
! sented II the War and Eayy Depart
! nlentS. ard that We cannot retain . Sc
/ cret We have information which leads
US TO believe that there are clerks and
draushtsmen now In these Departments
| who are nothing more nor less than Sc
! cret agents Of various Governments [
| know personally that Germany and
| France are represented IN nearly eEe cry
! bureau. even in our Bureau Of Military
| information They have no scruples N
using cur plans; therefore, this is fair
| exchange You can rely on my state
nent that the French Government viii
| take no official notice of the discovery
General Miles has stated that IN the
event of an official denial from General
Burlington the case viii be allowed 10
drop