The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-02
NO OFFICIAL ADVICES.
War Department in the Dark Re-
Earding the Arrests mt Manila.


Commissary General Weston has thus
far received no advices concerning the
reported arrest of Capt F. J. Barrows, of
the Thirtieth Volunteer Infantry, on
charges of robbing the Government OF
large quantities of stores.
Captain Rarrows is not connected
with the Commissary Department and
the only means by which he could
get into such trouble would be through
the illegal selling of company stores
That large quantities of commissary
stores intended for the troops in the Phil
ippines have been lost or stolen in trans
it is admitted by the War Department. II
Is said that this is a condition common IN
times of war. and has prevailed ever
since the beginning of the conflict with
Spain.
Orders We're sent to General Macarthur
and the heads of departments In Manila
yesterday to thoroughly investigate the
charges made against Captain Barrows
and other officers, said to be involved
Until official details can be received, the
War Department officials are inclined 10
regard the story as somewhat exaggerated
and think it strange that no word mas
been sent from Manila announcing the
arrest through the regular department
channels.
Secretary Root declined to discuss the
matter yesterday. and would only say
that he had ordered General Macarthur
to wire the facts Immediately. The con-
tents of the despatch printed in the
United States have been cabled back to
Manila, and instructions given that each
charge be clearly explained.
Adjutant General Corbin said that in
his opinion the irregularities had been
greatly exaggerated, but that in any
event, no guilty man would escape and
the affair would be probed to the bottom
The Commissary Department officials
are greatly surprised at the reports of
the frauds in the Philippines and hold
that the troops there have always had
more than a sufficiency of rations and
supplies and point out the fact that near
ly every volunteer officer in the archi-
pelago has praised the commissary in
the highest terms.
There is a feeling among many Of the
War Department officials that this dis
covery is but the beginning of long list
of scandals in connection with the adj
ninistration of affairs in the Philippines.
There have been hints sent on here that
all was not right in the commissary de-
partment there and the enormous cargoes
. SuppiltS sent TO Setfneu 10 ne
Immediately absorbed by the troops.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth
of canned goods alone are supposed to
have been used UP by few garrisons
stationed around Manila, while it is al
legged that the troops in the interior sell
dom secured anything but the ordinary
coarse ration.
In the opinion of several officers the
investigation will show that the Ameri-
can Army I'M the tropics is not the best
fed in the world. as is claimed but that
more supplies are sent to ii than to any
body of troops of similar size in the
world Est
The question is said to be, Did the troops
ever get the supplies sent them, and if
not, where did the supplies go?
A detailed statement is expected from
General Macarthur today. and this win
be used as the basis for prompt and Sc
we're action IN the part of the War De-
partment. The fear of a general inves-
tigation by Congress Is causing the Off
Gals to leave no stone unturned, and
general guarantee is issued that no mat
ter who the guilty parties are, they will
be given prompt punishment