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 and Threatens
30 Make Certain Disclosures.

The controversy between Major General
Miles. President Of the Board of Ordnance
and Foruhcations. and Gen. A. R. Bufng-
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 TO
/ General Miles. In answer to these views
General Miles wrote a second letter 10 the
{ Secretary Of War and this was also pub
/ lished. General Burlington has complained
! to Secretary Root against the publication
/ 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
| ington 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
with statements made by General Miles
regarding the failure Of the Ordnance
Department to adopt thorite as an explo-
sive for the army and this has led TO bit
ter feeling between Captain Lewis and
General Burlington who is his superior Of
fcer. 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 charges Of either officer.
General Burlington has remained silent |
until yesterday. when he made state I
ment to a reporter in which he threatened I
to make some startling disclosures about /
the whole matter which, he claims, viii /.
involve General Miles. He said:
Unless / am prevented by the Secretary J
Of War from speaking I shall tell the .
whole story, and / shall present facts that .
will prove my assertions. / am not going 4
TO allow the Ordnance Department to be .
attacked this way without defending it. (
The subcommittee OF the Senate did not
hear all there is TO be said It could not
do so in the short time il was in session.
When I appeared before it an attempt was /
made 10 show that / did not know any
thing about the working Of the Ordnance .
Department. There was the matter of
the Emery carriage. The impression vas 1
given that I did not know what l should
have known about that matter Why, the 4
inventor Of the carriage is still expert
mentng. 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 / had known what he
said TO the committee I would have been
able to disproye the idea that this office
did not know all there was to know about
the Emery carriage. I 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 I shall tell about il at the proper
time"
General Burlington was asked how he
proposed 10 make the matter public He
replied: 4 viii do so in my annual re-
port. 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
riaEes and such other matters is before the
Board Of Ordnance and Fortiications It
is for the board to determine what shall
be done"
The fact that the Board Of Ordnance
and Fortihcations 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 10 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
relating to the defence Of the country. |
General Miles contention is that the pur-
pose OF the Board Of Ordnance and Forti-
hcations is 10 originate ordnance matters
and then recommend their adoption to the
Of War. After their adoption |
il has been the work OF the Ordnance De-
lartment TO purchase and distribute the
ordnance. This view is not held by the
Ordnance Bureau, however. which con- ,
.inues 20 investigate and experiment with /
ordnance with a view TO its adoption in
dependent Of the Board Of Ordnance and
Fort hcati0ns