THE BRITISH SCANDALS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVIII, Issue 16, 20 January 1914, Page 7

THE BRITISH SCANDALS.

LONDON, Jan. 10. Although the names are not known of the 16 persons against whom summonses hay© been privately issued in eorinectfon with the army canteen scandals, it is reported that eight of the defendants are officers and that

the remainder are civilians, including the manager of a firm .of world-wide repute. The remarkable statement is now made that) nine of the quartermasters originally mentioned in. the charges are implicated. ILs.Court proceedings will commence on the 15i\h inst., and as no fewer than 200 officers are to give evidence the hearing will last a considerable time. The prosecution is expected to prove a most* sensational one, and to reveal a widespread system of .graft.

The Times of November 29 reported that as a result of the special investigation which had been conducted with | a view to testing the accuracy of allegations made in various quarters as to the existence of a system of bribery and corruption in regard to the conduct of canteens in the army, information had been laid before t-he Army Council, in consequence 'of which the council had given orders, in the first instance, for the convening of a general court-martial, before which charges would be preferred against the following:—Hon. Major and Quartermaster F. Walker, Guards' Depot; Hon. Captain and Quartermaster J. Fowles, lsti ■ Battalion Irish Guards; Hon. Lieutenant and Quartermaster G. R. Burton, 4th Hussars; Hon. Lieutenant and Quartermaster T. Potter, 3rd Battlalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders; Hon. Lieutenant and Quartermaster W. J. Armstrong, Ist Battalion Norfolk Regiment. \ All these officers pased through the rankis, and three.of them have war services .attaching'to their names.