The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-05
Revelations During the Discussion OF
the Remount Question Has
Caused Much Comment.
STATEMENT BY MAJOR LEE
SERVICES OF AN AMERICAN HORSE
EXPERT WERE OFFERED,
But His Letter Probably Was Pigeon
HoIed at LondOn-Adjutant Cen
eraI Corbin's Statement.

LONDON, Feb. 4.-In the House~of Com
mons, last evening, Major Arthur Lee con-
sentative, formerly British attache with
the United States army during the Spanish
American war, and later British military
attache at Washington, said Great Britain
had been offered the services of the chlet
horse expert of the United States army as
adviser in the purchase of American horses
for the British army.
The revelation was made during a heated
debate on the remount question, when
Major Lee said: 1.-THE accredited repre-
sentative of the War Office, Colonel. Ward
rop. the attache at Vienna, was given no
opportunity of showing what knowledge he
possessed Of the resources Of the country.
In the same way, 1, being military attache
at Washington, was not informed that
there was any intention Of buying horses
in the United States. 1 learned from the
American newspapers that British officers
had been sent TO buy horses. but 1 was not
informed who they were, nor was L asked
to give them such assistance as my posi-
ton implied L was competent to give. AL
the time 1 had the opportunity, through
the good will of a high official, of getting
the service of the chief horse expert OF
the United States army as advisor. l
cabled the suggestion to the War Office,
but l received no reply"
The whole debate on this question in the
House of Commons causes widespread in
~dignation, which is evident among the
strongest supporters of the government as
among the members of the opposition. The
ministerial press vigorously charges the
War Office with absolute incompetency,
if nothing worse, and demands a search
ing inquiry, limiting at the possibility that
the more important departments OF the
War Office make no more creditahle show
ing than the remount department..
The Globe suggests that the war secre-
tary, Mr.. Brodrick, ascertain the iden-
tity of the officials responsible for pigeon
holing and not acknowledging Major Lees
and Colonel Wardrop's communications
miniously dismissing them. Supporters of
the government, the Globe adds. are
shocked not only by the revelations re-
garding the inefficiency of the War Office,
Brodrick's and Mr.. Balfour's defenses.
The former claimed merit because he did
not suppress investigating committees re-
The Times points out that cit is right and
honorable that a minister should defend by
all legitimate means the department he
represents; but he is carrying chiValry too
far when he implies the right to defend it
by the suppression of information which
dearly concerns Parliament and the people
to know" The Times adds: Neither Bal
four nor Brodrick have ever once at
tempted, in an effective fashion, to meet
the charges of incapacity and habitual
negligence brought against the remount
department and the War Office"
The st. James Gazette, referring to the
further Investigations proposed. urges a
need of fixing the responsibility OF indi-
viduals, saying: THE nation has been
%swindled and it is right that the swindlers,
whoever they are, should be brought to
book promptly. Horses, or at least four
legged creatures, nave been bought for a33
when only worth a quarter of that sum.
The difference, the t-hree-quarters. have
gone into the pockets of certain persons.
If they can prove the money got properly,
well and good. If not, the conclusions are
obvious. There must be no whitewashing."