Evening star., 1902-02-04
Made to Major Lee by American
Army Officer.
10 SELECT HORSES FOR BRITISH
English War Office, However, Ig-
nored the Proffered Aid.
LEE MAKES COMPLAINT

LONDON, February 4-In the house Of
commons last evening Major Arthur Lee,
conservative, formerly British attache with
the United States army during the Spanish
American war and later British military at
tache at Washington. said Great Britain
had been offered the services OF the chief
horse expert Of the United States army, as
adviser in the purchase OF American horses
for the British army.
The revelation was made during heated
debate on the remount question, when
Major Lee said:
THE accredited representative Of the war
office, Colonel Wardop, the attache at
Vienna, was given no opportunity Of show
ing what knowledge he possessed OF the re-
sources of the country. In the same way.
/, being military attache at Washington,
was not informed that there was any inten-
tion of buying horses in the United States.
l learned from the American newspapers
that British officers had been sent to buy
horses, but / was not Informed who they
were, nor was / asked to give them such
assistance my position implied that i
was competent to give. At the time / had
the opportunity. through the good Will or
a high official, Of getting the services Of the
chief horse expert oL the United States
army, as adviser l cabled the suggestion
to the war office, but 1 received no reply"
The whole debate on this question in the
house of commons causes widespread indig-
nation, which is as 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, IL
nothing worse, and demands a searching
inquiry, limiting at the possibility that the
more important departments OF the war
/ ,a.al=a FsHl a
than the remount department.
The Globe suggests that the war sec
retary, Mr. Brodrick, ascertain the Identity
of the officials responsible for pigeon-holing
and not acknowledging Major Lees and
Colonel Wardops communications, Tor the
purpose of summarily and ANONYMOUSLY
dismissing them.
The supporters of the government, the
Globe adds, are shocked, not only by the
revelations regarding the inefticiency of the
war office, but more by the official tone
of Mr.. Brodricks and Mr.. Balfour's de-
| fenses. The former claimed merit because
he did not suppress the investigating COM
mittees report altogethr.
The Times points out that 1T is right and
honorable that a minister should defend by
all legitimate means the department he rep
resents but he is carrying ch!valry too far
when he implies the right to defend II by
the suppression of information which dearly
concerns parliament and the people TO
know.
Never Met Charges of Incapacity.
The Times adds:
Neither Mr.. Balfour nor Mr.. Brodrick
have ever once attempted, in an effective
fashion, to meet the charges OF incapacity
and habitual negligence brought against
the remount department ana the war Of
fee"
The St James Gazette. referring to the
further Investigations proposed. urges the
need of fixing the responsibility of indi-
viduals, saying:
1.-The nation has been swiRdled. and II is
right that the swindlers, whoever they are,
shall be brought to book promptly. Horses,
or at least four-legged creatures, have been
bought for f33 when only worth quarter
of that sum. The difference-three-quar
has gone into the pockets Of certain per-
sons If they can prove the money got
there properly. well and good. If not, the
conclusions are obvious. There must be no
" hitewa shing.