The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-06
MAKES TRIP ALONE.
Gun Test at TT. Riley Brought
to Sudden End.
Trouble Was Started by Senator
CulbersOn of Texas.
Secretary Root Denies That
Miles Was Called Back.

Kansas City JuIE D--AlAEALGAAd-AAN
General Nelson A. Miles, commanding
the army, passed through Kansas City
last night on his way from Fort Riley
to Washington. called there by Presi-
dent Roosevelt and threatened with an
immediate court martial on a charge Of
having betrayed official secrets. Where
as General Miles went through here the
day before attended by several other
members of a board convened to OBJ
serve long gauge gun tests at Fort
Riley, to be so engaged for several days,
ne came back yesterday afternoon en-
tirely alone, and in such haste that ne
had not even reserved a sleeping car
berth.
He was in towering rage and made
no effort to conceal it. In manner
totally foreign to him he turned his
back on a bystander who sought moth
ing more than to greet the head Of the
army and the man who had command
ed a regiment in which he had served
shortly after the civil war and when
little later a depot official offered the
Bervices of a porter, a ferOetous don't
want one" was all he received for his
civihty.
General Miles was worried, and he be-
trayed his condition. His anxiety was
not relieved when he heard read to him
a dispatch from Washington 1nrlmat-
ing that he was suspected in the White
House Of having furnished Senator Cul-
berson Of Texas with details of a scan
Gal lnNOlNlnR lieutenant AI4Ql0- AZ
cOrding to the dispatch senator
Beverage had asked Culberson if he
had not obtained his Information and
documents from General Miles At the
first asking. Culberson had neither de-
MED nor affirmed. leaving the Republic
cans supporting the president to infer
that Beveridge was correct in his sur
mise and that the leak had been
through General Miles. Finding that
his silence had a bad effect Senator Cul-
bersOn subsequently arose to make
careful denial and to add that so far
he knew, neither Information nor
document had reached him through
General Miles, directly or Indirectly.
The dispatch also went on to say that
the leak might have occurred through
COrbin. who denied it; through Sanger
who denied it; through Davis who also
denied it, or through Miles, who was
not on hand to make any explanation.
AS the dispatch was concluded Cen
eral Miles was asked what he had to
say in answer.
Senator .Culberson seems to have
made an answer as full as one could
make, and as explicit as Senator Bever-
ldge or anyone could demand"
But, for yourself, general.
II repeat that Senator Culberson
seems to have made the reply for which
you are asking
General Miles was in a most unhappy
frame of mind. Eastern dispatches yes
terday morning had forewarned him that
on his return TO Washington ne would
be speedily ordered before a court-mar-
tial to stand trial on a charge Of be-
tray1ng department secrets. His anger
and behavior were such as to make it
useless to ask him anything regarding
mis- prospective predlcament or the rea-
son Cor it. He had arrived alone from
Fort Riley on the Union Pacific and
quickly made his way into the waiting
room, where be was soon lost in the
crowd. Having almost an hour to
spare he endeavored to keep out of the
way.
The reporter followed, asking ques-
tions as he plOwed his way through the
dense crowd in the stuffy waiting room.
The evening trains were arriving and
departing ana the crowd was at its
densest. The general evidently heard
parts Of the information spoken after
him. for he turned his head three or
four times to remark:
1T is the same thing Il heard about
It this morning" and Il have nothing
new to tell but stopped short when he
caught a suggestion that it might look
bad If he evaded an opportunity to
enter a disclaimer when that oppOr-
tunity was afforded him.
Right where he was, Wedged in and
about by scores of lettering and moving
people, General Miles halted and said:
you may read the dispatch"
The dispatch was read in full. Dur
ing the reading perspiratlOn rolled down
the face of the general. That he was i'll
at ease was emphasized when President
Stanford, of the Union Depot company,
came to remark that he would have a
porter take the generals baggage in
moment
Don't want one" growled General
Miles, and the next instant he was forg-
ing into the crowd again. Like every
body else who moves about in the depot
two minutes brings him back to his
starting place. As the general found
himself In the enemy's country once
more, he again looked ridicu1ous1y per
picked and ChOleric.
Observing bis manifest distress and
realizing how futile It would be to at
tempt to further discuss the row in
washington, the reporter iaughingly
said.
IF you viii stop long enough to tell
ABOUT long range guns, general" The
next instant the suit case was jammed
down on the tile floor and Gen. Miles
vas discussing the tests at Riley. I'VE
tried American, English and German
guns said he TN due time the board
wllI make a report I am not prepared
70 state what my own observations were
as there is a lot of data We must as
semble and classify"
- There is a second dispatch, general"
was then remarked TO the effect that
you are peremptOTily ordered back to
washington to face charges"
General Miles did not deign a reply.
rs THIS cOrrect2" was persisted
So tar from evoking an answer the
Interrogation did not more than start
the commanding general of the army off
on another stampede. This time he stop
ped at the news stand and purchased a
mag r4I4AE-
what do you think Of the new army
as a lighting machine, general2" Depot
President Sanford inquired. approaching
the commander of the army
Lick anything on earth Gen. Miles
replied, coming almost to the fringe of
g smile. Our army is the finest tread
ing the world today-@ have seen them
all We are better in intellect and in
physical build. There never could have
been better body of men"
With such COMPLIMENTARY things Gen
Miles killed time until $50 O'Clock, when
Be boarded his train and started for