Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-13
A Scathing Denunciation of
General Miles.
THE SENSATION OF THE DAY
Tho Commissnry General Goes Rcfore
tho War Invcstigating Commits
sion. Denies Most oftho Statements
orGcnernI Miles Charge. Him
with Cttcring wiIfuI. Deliberate.
Malicious Faischoods.
(By Telegraph to virginia-pilot.)

Washington. Jan. 12-Commissary
General Charles p. Eagan to-day re-
appeared before the War Investigating
Commission to answer the charges of
| General Nelson \. Miles concerning the
commissary supplies furnished the
army during the recent war General
Eagan's statement furnished the sensa-
ton of the War Commissions history.
and was regarded by old army officers
1 as one OF the most remarkable attacks
ever made in the history of the SER
vice. General Eagan's statement to
the commission was a hitter personal
attack upon General Miles. so entirely
''iT'i hath IS IN -sEnpe- and Ian
guase. that the War Commission. on
| hearing its conclusion. ordered n brief
executive session, after which the
doors were re-opened. the witness was
recalled and business resumed In the
general way
MILES "EMBALMED BEEF"
The subject of the controversy was
General Miles already famous EN-
balned beef" testimony, and the letters
/ ana documents supporting it. General
! Miles had charged that the canned and
| refrigerated meats sent to the army in
CubA and Porto Rico We're unfit for
use. that they were preserved by tho
use of chemicals. and thar they had
been bought and sent 10 the arsny UNI
der pretense of an experiment"
rms reflection upon both the ability
ano honesty of the Commissary De-
partment had angered General Eagan
and caused him to request to be. recall
ed 10 reply 70 General Miles charge.
THAI his statements concerning the
! commanding general were not the re-
suit OF sudden outburst of passion
| was clearly shown by the fact that
| General Eagan read his remarks from
carefully prepared typewritten copy
| Not the least remarkable phase of
General Eagan's statement was the
language in which 1t WAS couched
There was scarcely 4 phase that would
not have been characterized as sensa-
tional in an ordinary official utter
aEce.
READY FOR COURT MARTIAL.
General EaSan after the hearing was
over refused IL say whether he had any
further move in prospect In forcing an
issue between himself and General
Miles. Il have said all intend TO say
for the present" he replied, "and il
any one wants To bring the matter to
court martial. / am ready for that,
too. as l have already stated before
the commission.
WHAT WILL MILES DO?
AS soon as the nature OF General
| Eagans statements became known at
tention was directed To army headuuar-
terS to ascertain what move would be
made by General Miles. The latter.
through Colonel Michler. his chief aide
beyond saying that he had stood for
the soldiers. declined to- nr1ikc- any
statement. saying that now was not
the time for talk and that before tax
Ing any action. it would be only prop
err and necessary 10 walt until he had
had an opportunity To receive through
the regular channels and to consider the
testimony furnished by General Eagan.
He would not talk about a court-mar-
tial Altogether the intimation con-
veyed was that General Miles would
act with elaboration If he decided TO
take any action ut all. and there was
u faint suggestion that he might decide
to ignore the statement altogether.
OF course a decision To that effect on
the part of General Miles would ter
inmate the incident. HUT should he de-
eide TO take notice officially of the at
tack. the next step would Dc Tor him
TO prefer charges with the President
against the Commissary General. These
might be based on several technical
grounds. such for instance as conduct
tending to the destruction of good or
der and discipline. II would be Tor the
and ne might adopt one of three
courses: i. O.. refuse il; grant it. or
instead order n court OF inquiry. In
this latter case the body would have
the power to so into the question of
veracity which has been raised and in
fact the conduct OF both generals
would be practically under examlna-
ton.
GEN. EAGAN'S TESTIMONY.
Eagan referred to the fact that General
Miles had refused 10 be sworn and
commented on the fact that ne was
the only one OF 500 witnesses who had
so refused. General Eagan said he him.
self preferred to he sworn.
General EaGan called attention to
General Miles appointment OF Major
John d Black. civilian. as his chief
Of staif and said that this was large
ly responsible for the trouble that fol-
lowed. He said that Major Black had
been furnished So 700 before starting
parently not known enough to provide
himself check hook and had no. laft
his signature with the Secretary OF the
Treasury nor made any other prepa-
ration for aYailing himself of tho
funds at his command. There We're ex-
perlenced Disturbing officers In the isJ-
and. who had in the aggregate over
800 600 in their possession. and vol
General Miles had complained that
there were no paymasters in the island
so that the soldiers had no money with
which 70 buy food for themselves. Gem
eral Miles had called on the Depart.
Continued on Page Eleyen.)