The Elbert County tribune., 1902-10-02
WASHINGTON NEWS.

The war department has asked the
state department to extend TO the mill
tary attaches OF foreign legations In
vitations to be present at the maneu-
vers at Fort Riley. The Invitation
explains that these maneuyers are not
upon any such elaborate scale as those
OF European armies. but will consist
OF the handling OF small bodies OF
troops.
Brlgndier General W. A. Kobbe,
commanding the Department of Da-
kota, in his annual report says that
the discipline and instruction OF his
command are good. because. ms a rule,
the officers are capable and painstak-
ing. He quotes from Major General
Alfred Reynolds, inspector general OF
the department. to the effect that he
is OF the opinion iIat the abolition OF
the beer feature in post exchanges has
not materially increased the number
of trials by court nor called for other
extra disciplinary measures.
The cruiser Montgomery sailed on
September 24th from Cape Haytien
for Gonaives, st. Mnry's and Port de
Paix. to investigate the situation as
these ports in connection with the
blockade declared by the provisional
government of Hayu. These three
places are in the possession of the rev.
olutionists and the Montgomery will
investigate to determine whether the
blockade is effective or simply paper
declaration. SO far as known here
the provisional government has no
ships with which to enforce a block
ade.
The war department has received n
copy of an address to the people from
the Lake George Committee. This
address makes n bitter attack upon
Secretary Root for the management of
affairs in the Philippines. 1t charges
him with shielding the army In Its al
legged wrongdoings and states that the
secretary has never directed an invest
igation into any charge of cruelty and
oppression by the army in the islands
with a view OF having the facts
brought out, but that the intention
has always been to shield and pro-
tect the army.
Secretary Root has received copy
of the second letter, prepared by
Charles Francis Adams and others, ad-
dressed TO the President. dealing with
affairs in the Philippines. The first
communication addressed to the Pres
ident, and known as the Lake George
letter, also has been received by the
secretary. Before leaving for the west
the secretary turned the letters over to
General George B. Davis, judge advo-
cate OF the army, with instructions TO
make a thorough Investigation OF the
allega tions. and, IL any of the offenses
can be placed upon officers or men of
the army, to have such persons
brought TO trial. AS some OF the nlle-
CATIONS are against volunteer officers,
who under recent court decisions can
not be reached by the military tribun-
nls of the regular army 1t " the IN
tention of the secretary to have these
Investigated through the department
Of justice. IL the inquiry of General
Davis develops facts which warrant
trial.
Secretary Hitchcock on the 10th inst.
received dispatches from the cover
nors OF both Colorado and wyoming
appealing for government assistance in
fighting terrific forest fire that is
raging on government timber lands
along the Colorado-W Wyoming boundary
line near the southeast corner of Car
bon county, Wyoming. The residents
of that section. according to Governor
Richards of Wyoming, have exhausted
both strength and means in fighting the
confiagration and are appealing for
help. The Interior Department officials
are looking into the situation and call
ing for more specific information from
the field Every effort will be made to
do something to reinforce the fighters,
but 1t is not yet known what steps will
be taken. 1t Ia possible the War De-
partment will be called upon for as
sistance, though no such request has
yet ever been made. The department
is crippled by the lack Of special agents
to watch the government areas, includ-
ing those now involved in the destruc-
tive confiagrat tions and has frequently
Intellectually appealed to Congress to
increase the appropriations for this
purpose.