The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-08
THE ARMY CONTROVERSY
Differences Over Ordnance Matters
Reach an Acute Stage.
General Burlington Objects to the
Publication of General Miles Let
ters Regarding the Disappearing
Gun Carriages ana Threatens
to Make Certain Disclosures.

The controversy between Major General
| Miles President of the Board of Ordnance
and Notifications, and Gen. A. r. Bufflng-
ton, Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance. has
| reached an acute stage The trouble arose
| over the question of the adoption of the
disappearing type of gun carriages for sea
coast defences. General Miles wrote to
the Secretary of War against the adoption
of the disappearing system. In an endorse
ment upon this letter. and later before a
| Senate committee General Burlington
| who is the inventor of the disappearing
carriage now used by the Government, de-
Tended its use. General Miles protested
against the use of the carriages before The
same committee and his letter to the SEC
rotary of War was sent to Congress and
later published.
Following his letter there were pub
lished the endorsements of Gen. John NJ
Wilson. Chief of Engineers. and General
| Burlington. who held contrary views 10
| General Miles. In answer to these views
| General Miles wrote second letter 10 the
| Secretary Of War and this was also pub
l'Shed General Burlington has complained
10 dBdluSl the puQlICdtiOH
of these letters and has said that he doea
not think he has been justly treated IN
the matter. 1t is said that General Buff
fngtoi. believes that General Miles was
responsible for their publication.
Captain Lewis, Secretary of the Board
of Ordnance and Fertilization, in his tes-
timony before the Senate Committee also
criticised General Burlington, claiming
that inventors were not properly treated
1NN-f = an -Is, TlaV, ~ IL
with statements made by General Miles
regarding the failure of the Ordnance
Department to adopt thorite as an exp!o-
sive for the army and this has led &c bit
ter feeling between Captain Lewis and
General Burlington, who is his superior Of
ficer. What the result of the fight will
be cannot be determined at this time. as
Secretary Root has declined to take any
notice of the scharges of either officer.
General Burlington has remained silent
until yesterday wnen he made a state
ment to a reporter in which he threatened
TO make some startling disclosures about
the whole matter which. he claims, will
involve General Miles. He said:
Unless am prevented by the Secretary
of War from speaking. | shall tell the
whole story, and | shall present facts that
will prove my assertions. / am not going
to allow the Ordnance Department to be
attacked this way without defending it.
The subcommittee of the Senate die not
hear all there is TO be said. II could not
do so in the short time it was in session.
When l appeared before it an attempt was
made TO show that l die not know any
thing about the working OF the Ordnance
Department. There was the matter of
the Emery carriage. The impression vas
given that ! did not know what | should
have known about that matter. Why, the
inventor of the carriage Is still expert
menting. He does not know what he ill
produce. He has not perfected his inven
ton. | could not be supposed to know
what he wants TO produce if he does rot
know himself II I had known what he
said TO the committee l would have been
able TO disprove the idea that this office
did not know all there was to know about
the Emery carriage. | know why this
whole discussion has been brought about,
and L shall give the public the informa-
ton that will show them just where the
Ordnance Department stands. II / had
a chance to do so | could give the same
information to the Congressional commit
tee. but l shall tell about it at the proper
time"
General Burlington was asked how he
to make the matter public. He
replied: Il Will do so in my annual re-
Port. l shall not mince words, either.
The whole story shall come out"
General Burlington refused to say what
his threatened disclosures would be. Sec
rotary Root declined to talk about the
matter, but unless General Burlington files
some written charges against General
Miles he will take no action. The Secretary
said
The question of disappearing gun car
riases and such other matters is before the
Board OF Ordnance and Fortifications. 1t
is for the board to determine, what shall
be done"
The fact that the Board of Ordnance
and Fortifications has not agreed with the
Ordnance Department on military matters
is not new TO the War Department. A
difference Of opinion on several ordnance
questions led Secretary Root to appoint
Gen. John NJ Wilson and General Buff
ington on the board. He expected by hav-
ing the Chief of Ordnance on the board to
harmonic the two branches of the SER
vice and enable them to agree on subjects
rela ting to the defence of the country.
General Miles contention is that the pur- |
pose OF the Board of Ordnance and Forti- |
hcations is to originate ordnance matters |
and then recommend their adoption to the |
Secretary Of War. After their adoption |
il has bee the work Of the Ordnance De- |
partmcnt TO purchase and distribute the |
ordnance This view is not held by the |
Ordnance Bur1au, however which con-
tinues to investigate and experiment with |
ordnance with a view TO its adoption in
dependent Of the Board of Ordnance and
Eort l61afinnz