The times., 1901-04-19
THE REPORTS EXAGGERATED.
h"cArthur's Statement Regarding
COmniissnry Frauds at Manila.


Official enquiries instituted by the Sec
retary of War into reports from Manila
: ot extensive frauds in the Commissary
! Department ther4 have been followed by
the announcement from General MacAr-
thur that such reports have been mislead-
ing and greatly exaggerated.
! From despatch received yesterday by
| Secretary Root from General Macarthur
| 1t appears that the charges of fraud in
| the Subsistence Department in Manila.
| after being sifted by the officials there,
were found to consist almost entirely in
| thefts OF commissary stores to a small
| amount That there was stealing of sub
slstenee stores it not denied by General
Macarthur, but this subject is absolutely
| distinct from certain charges that high
Regular Army officers of the Subsistence
! Department were implicated in fraudu-
| lent practices.
The publication of the latter statement
| in this country caused Secretary Root to
direct the Adjutant General of the Army
to send the following cablegram to Cen
eral Macarthur:
| The Secretary of War directs that
You report by telegraph i'm regard TO
| Associated Press report from Manila
duplicating certain officers of the Sub
sistence Department of the Army in
fraudulent practices, and enjoins upon
YOU the application of drastic meas
ures TO the guilty
1T was explained yesterday at the War
department that this despatch referred
principally TO the reports in regard to
Colonel Woodruff, Major George B. Davis
captain Lawton, and Captain Read. The
| War Department yesterday received in re-
ply the following cablegram from General
Macarthur:
With reference to your telegram Of
the 18th, the Associated Press report
was grossly exaggerated and misead-
ing. The matters therein touched upon
regarding officers of the Subsistence
Department are being fully investi-
gated Regarding the theft of com
1nissary stores-amount of which was
grossly exaggerated by press reports
immediate and most drastic measures
nave already been applied. Three Of
hcers and a number of enlisted men
are being tried by court-martial and a
number of citizens by military COM
mission. MacARTHJTR'
In explanation of this cablegram, it is
said at the War Department that it fully
dispeses of the statements in regard to the
othcers in charge of the Subsistence De-
partment in Manila, and, taken in con-
nection with other cablegrams received on
the subject, reduces the allegations OF
fraud to ordinary stealing on the part of
TWO or three volunteer officers and en-
listed men, who are now being tried by
court martial.
Commissary General Weston has receiv-
ed the following cablegram from Colonel
Woodruff at Manila:
DO not permit scandalous reports
TO worry YOU. The affairs of the Sub
sistence Department of the Army are
administered honestly and TO the salts
faction Of offieers and troops"
Mr.. Read Of Pittsburg, father of Capt. J.
G. Read, whose arrest was reported was at
the War Department yesterday and show
ed cablegranl from his son saying that
he had been cleared of all charges in con-
nection wi@h the frauds. The despatch to
Major Davis from Colonel Woodruff re-
ceived Wednesday telling him that his
presence iff Manila was not necessary be-
cause of the allegations made in regard
TO his administration of the depot com
missary In Manila was also very reassur-
ing to GeaeraiFWeston.
Referring 10 these cablegrams General
Weston said esterday that II was evident
that there was not the slightest founda-
ton for aqy. reflection upon the admins
tration of the Subsistence Department by
the Regular Army officers In Manila