The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-04
SWINDLED.
Big Fuss Made in Parliament
and Newspapers
On Account of Buying OF Horses
in United States.

London, Feb. lin the house Of COM
mons last evening. Major Arthur Lee,
Conservative, 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 ser
vices 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 a
heated debate on the remount question,
when Major Lee said:
THE accredited representative of the
war Office, Col Wardrop. 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. l learned
from the American newspapers tnat
British officers had been sent TO puy
horses, but was not informed VINO they
were nor was asked to give them Such
assistance as my position implied, l was
competent to give. At the time l mad
the opportunity through the good VIII
of q high official. of getting the services
of the chief horse expert OF the United
States army, as adviser. / cabled the
suggestion to the war Office, but l re
cefved no reply" The whole debate on
this question in the house of commons
causes widespread Indignation, which Is
as evident among the strongest support
ers of the government as among the
members of the opposition Tne MINIS
teriaI press vigorously charges the war
office with absolute incompetencys II
nothing worse and demands a search
ing inquiry, limiting at the possibility
that the more important department OF
the war office makes no more credltaDle
showing than the remount department
The Globe suggests that the war sec
rotary. Mr. Brodrick, ascertain the
identity of the officials responsible for
pigeon-hoIing and not acknowledging
Major Lees and Colonel Ward
rop's communications, for the purpose
of s11r1rnarily and ANONYMOUSLY dis
missing them
The supporters of the government, the
Globe adds, are shocked, not only by
the revelations regarding the tnefncl-
ancy of the war office; but, more so by
the official tone of Mr.. Brodrick's and
Mr. Balfour,s defenses- The former
/ claimed merit, because he did not sup
press the investigating committees re
port altogether.
The Times points out that '-it is righS
and honorable that a minister should
defend by all Legitimate means. the De
partment he represents; but ne Is car
rying cIlivalry too far when he implies
/ the right to defend it by the suppression
/ of information which dearly concerns
parliament ana the peOR4C "
The Times adds: Neither Mr. Bal
| four nor Mr. Brodrick have ever once
/ attempted in an effective Tashlon 70
/ meet the charges of incapacity and nap
/ ituaI negligence, brought against the
rernount department and the war Of
/ flee
The St. James Gazette, referring to
/ the further Investigations proposed,
urges the need Of fixing the responsible
l ity of individuals, saying:
THE nation has been swindled, ana AZ
| is right that the swindlers, whoever they
are, should be brought TO book prompt
| W. Horses, or at least, four legged
| creatures have been bought for 81
| when only worth a quarter of that sum.
| The difference tkree-quarters, has gone
into the pockets of certain persons. If
! they can prove the money got there pro-
| perry. well and good If not, the con-
cIusions are obvious. There must be no
! Whitewashing-