The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-13
EAGAE MAKES
NILES 1O BLAME
Continued from First Page.)
molly incompetent for such an important

| Shortly after. and a bout June !, Cen
| eral Miles sent a very ordinary, common
place telegram 10 the adjutant general
AT Washington. inquirfng what subsistence
| stores the subsistence department had al
| Tampa and somewhere else, some such
similar inquiry 70 the quartermaster gen
eral and the chief Of ordnance. 1 made
d formal written reply 10 this, and 10 my
| amazemsnt the next morning, saw II
/ published in the press OF the country
} that General Miles had sent. or had found
/ It necessary 20 send, serious reprimand
70 the quarjermaster general, the commits
sary general and the chief of ordnance
for the conditions that he found there.
No such reprimand was ever received and
General Miles has no authority in his com
mission, or in his position, under the law
or reguIa tons, to send reprimands 20 me.
ROASTs THE YELLOW JOURNALS
This uncontradicted story Of a rss-i-
mand to the heads Of three of the mos;
/ important departments OF the army aided
as much as anything in exciting the yellow
journal press. the knave of sO-called jour
nalism, 10 harass and viliify and libel the
conscientious, able and hard-working Of
ficers on duty in Washington Since ask
| ing that an investigation be made 10 learn
who gave out this garbled and alleged rep
! rimand. I have Instituted inquiries 10 find
my requests with the newspaper clipping
! enclosed.
| The sdjutant generals department have
reported their inability TO find it..
/ General Eagan. referring to newspaper
attacks. asserted that the secretary Of war
-,
| furnishing of refrigerated meats or timed
| meats, nor had he attempted TO control the
| contracts. awards or purchases. and in this
| connection. in heated language. ne attack
| ed three New York newspapers and their
| editors and proprietors. who. ne said.
should be indicted and tried for treason to
| the United States during this war. as Civ
! ing aid, comfort and information TO the
public enemy for the sole purpose of gain.
Were I man OF wealth or means" he
protested. Il should take up this subject
myself; I would put journalistic knaves,
pur.Oiners of the secrets of the govern
ment, behind the bars where they belong. -
INSPECTORS NOT ON DUTY.
General Esgan made a vigorous attack
on the inspector generals department in
asked why were not those inspections made
while the armies were in the fields, and
where were the officers of this department?
He added that principal officers OF this
department took other positions and let
the Inspections OF the army. which were
never needed so much as during the war
60, so far as they were concerned, for per-
sCnal ACKNOWLEDGMENT, as we know they
took volunteer rank with increased pay,
and now al this late day we find this de-
partment suddenly en1eavoring TO get ex
parte views OF people in a manner not
authorized by the secretary OF war-the
proper authority-about things that are
PASSED
WHY EAGAN DIDN'T KICK.
''The senior major general Of the army
and the inspector general of the army"
ne continued, do not seem to be content
o. satisfied that with perfect propriety,
ard within the law. and as contemplated
by regulations, samples of everything fur
nIshed the army. now in existence. can be
obtained, examined. analysed and every
statement for or against the food fur
nshed verified This is not enough.
have not fe,t at liberty TO object 20 this
method Of procedure for the reason that
ny objection. however we'll founded. how
ever well based on law aud regulations. I
feared would be given to the world as an
evidence that I and my department feared
an inspection. and this, too. when and
while I and the whole department courted
IT, but we did not court ex parte reports
made at the instigation Of people well
known TO be hostile, parties whose actions
already and whose statements here aefa-e
your commission. show but too plainly
what animus is behind II ALL
THE INSPECTORS LITTLE GAME.
Referring to Inspector General Breckin-
ridges investigation. General Eagsn point
ed out various reports of officers that have
been published and quoted a telegram he
received on January l from Lieutenant
Colonel A. L Smith. depot commissary
az Havana. as follows:
"COmmissary General, Washingto n-Guild.
inspector Seventh corps, ordered by Breck-
inridge 10 inspect and report on all meat
and request samples 1 will without fur
tncr instructions. decline TO recognize
Breckinridge's authority. but will person
ally show all stores desired unof7csaliv.
(Signed) SMITH"
Colonel Smith IS an old experienced Of
dcer." said General Eagan. and rot
knowing there was anything ike a gar9-
ii progress he stood upon the regulations
and from a strict military point Of view.
properly refused this improper course az
less he had evidenc. that II was cutaor-
lied, II should have been, By the score
tsrv OF war.
For IL can be readily seen. that Il th's
sort 81 ex pa-te examinations IS made arr
ex par-s reports solicited. 10 mans reou-
tation IS safe. every mans character nay
be put in Jeopardy and designing people
might ruin Christ even. Z he we're here
today. But as I believe this course Is not
only improper ard no. contemplated oy the
regulations; believing further tina; IL was
q trap 70 produce just such refusal a.
Colonel Smith made. 1 replied 70 Colonel
smith the same day. saying: You viii
not stand on SIS army regulations. but you
viii allow meats and every article % sub
sis-ence stores 20 BE- Inspected By Guild.
and = necessary. 70 oe inspected twenty
times q day. Inform Guild. Inspector. %
This dispatch Furnish copy % this dis
patch % every comnisssry II Cuba for
their guidance and II compliance n similar
cases
I had no right General Eagan *
planned. 10 send that dispatch. 5Ct took
+ UPON myself 20 send out this authority.
fearing q refusal would Be interpreted bv
The would a. large that he deo@-tu-ent
vas afraid OF any and evsry kind Of IL
yeS-iEztiou-
When informed the secretary q war
THE following day and ~ understood that
tas Inspector genera, doubtless az the
-1sc,eat.ou % TIE senior major general q