The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-13
aWHOEVER CALLS IT EN-
BALMED BEEF IS A LIAR
Fagan Saws that He Does Not Believe that Surgeon DAILY
Himself thought that Chemically Preserved Beet
Had Been Issued to the Soldiers, Ills
Own Report to the Contrary
Notwithstanding.

there was a faint suggestion that ne
might decide to ignore the statement al
together.
OF course decision to that effect on
the part of General Miles would termi-
nate the incident But should he de-
eide to take notice officially of the at
tack the next step would be for 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 order
and discipline. 1t would be for the
President to pass upon th> de-
mand and he might adopt one
of three courses: i. e.. refuse it; grant 1t,
or instead order a court of inquiry. In
this latter case the body would have the
power to go into the question of veTacity
which has been raised, and in fact the
conduct OF both Generals would be prac-
tica!ly under examination.
In beginning his testimony General
Eagan referred to the fact that General
Miles had refused to be sworn, and com
mented on the fact that he was the onl
one of 800 witnesses who had so refused.
General Eagan said Re himself preferred
to be sworn.
General Eagan called attention to Gen
eral Miles appo;ntmcn: Of Majcr john
d. Black, civilian. as his chief cf STA g!
and said thai this was largely re espousibie
for the tro1b,s that followed. .ie said
that Malor Black hal been fui sled
$500 before starting for Porto Rico ard
that he had apparently not known enough
to provide himself check book and had
not left his signature with the Secre-
tary of the Treasury nor made any other
preparation for availing himself of the
funds at his command. There were eX-
perienced disburs.ng officers in the is
land who had in the aggregate over
100000 in their possession, and yet
General Miles had complained that there
were no paymasters in the island so that
the soldiers had no money with which
to buy food for themselves. General
Miles had called on the Department to
put $4,000 more in the hands of Major
Black, and this General EaGan declined
to do, putting $4,000 to Major Black 5
credit in New York
General Eagan referred to the contro-
versy between himself and General
Miles regarding the condition of affairs
at Tampa. claiming that General Miles
had ignored his requests for an inquiry
as to the authenticity of certain state
m2nts.
1T was such Indifference as this" he
said. ''that had given license to the vel
low journalistic knaves who had misrep-
resented and bounded Government Off
Gals throughout the war"
General Eagan further stated that pa
pers had mysteriously disappeared from
the files of the War Department.
Witness charged General Miles direct
ly with disarranging and hampering the
administration of the War Department
by calling off officers from duty where
thor presence was absolutely necessary
General Lagan said the Commanding
General went clearly outside his power
in doing this and intimated that General
Miles was moved to do so by the ignor-
ance and inefficiency of his own ap
pd.ntee, Major Black, who was supposed
| TO be the chief cOmmissary officer or
, General Miles staff.
J General Eagan referred to Genera
| Miles testimony that he had ''tele
/ graphed the Department from Porto Rice
/ for complete and proper rations." ant
| said that If the Commissary General:
| officers had received any such message
! they SnOulu nave cOuSluefeU III tnc re
! quest of "very ignorant and ill-inform
/ ed person"
/ Continuing General Eagan referred t.
General Miles expressed preference fo
native beef, Of which he said there was
plenty. asserted there We're no cattl,
whatever in the neighborhood of San
tiago. The native beef General Miles
referred to, General Eagan character
lied as stags, runts, bulls and over
worked cattle. The use of such animals
the Department would never allow. Cen
eral Eagan, quoting General Miles nj
legation that in his Judgment there was
| some serious defective refrigerated ant
canned beef. said General Miles woulf
not say this was anything more than his
judgment.
'Wh0yever," said General Eagan
'calls it embalmed beef is a liar.
Citing the reports submitted by Genera
Miles in cOrroboration Of his charges
| General Eagan submitted whether or mo-
/ his course Of securing these reports woul(
! not be construed as seeking adverse re
I norts. He cited Generals Merritt ant
/ Shafter as approving the beef. News
Z paper statements emanating from Gen