Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-01-20
TEXT Of EAGAN'S LETTER.
commissary General Eliminates the
Objectionable Matter in His
Statement to Commission.
A couRT-MARTIaL IS DECIDED UPON.
Zen. Merritt to BE President OF the Court
Action to Be Confined Exclusively to
Gen. Eagan's Military OHense for Call
ing His superior Omcer Liar Before
the War Inquiry Board

Washington, Jan. I7.-Following is
the text of the letter sent by Gen.
Eagan to the war Investigating com
mission with an amended statement
in reply to the charges made by Gen.
Miles concerning the beef furnished
the army:
Office of Commissary OF Subsistence, Wash
ington, Jan. Ito the commission appointed
by the president to investigate the conduct oil
the war with Spain; Gentlemen: have the
honor to hand you herewith my testimony,
which is resubmitted and revised in ac-
cordance with the views expressed by you in
your letter to me OF January l3 The obiec-
tionable features and what is considered irrele
want matter by you, in which opinion entirely
agree, are eliminated In this connection desire
to state that there was never thought or in
tention on nv part OF any disrespsct whatso-
ever to your commission, but in explanation OF
the language used by me heretofore, I beg &c
invite the attention OF the commission to the
fact that I have been accused practically oil
feeding the soldiers with poisoned beef which
made them sick, ''embalmed beef so-called:
that have furnished meat to the army under
the 'pretense of experiment." which charge liz
effect is corruption and worse. because
it ieopardiZsd the lives OF the soldiers sent
to the front in tropical climates and
who were dependent such food sent
them: that these statements have gone to the
whole country uncoptradicted; that they have
Deen published and have been pilloried in the
press OF the country as a man who mad fed the
army on poisoned meat and corruptly so that
:or about three weeks time have kept silent
or the reason that 1 was debarred after talk
ng with the honorable secretary of war, from
preparing charges because OF the immunity
granted by the president to witnesses before
Jour commission, Notwithstanding the gravity
If the accusations; that it is unreasonable to
believe that such monstrous charges could have
my other effect than to work upon an honorable
nan in such way as to goad him into species OF
desperation. and that 1t was but natural, when
.he proper opportunity was given him, to meet
md refute the charges that he should char
icteriZe them in harsh language and in terms
hat are deemed improper, no matter what the
9rovocation. i. therefors, withdraw the Lam.
yuage and matter objectionable and result
NIT to you now my sworn statement with tbs
abiding faith that your commission. having all
the facts before you. will decide the points at
issue justly. Very spectfully.
CHARLES P. EAGAN.
Commissary General of Subsistence
The commission after brief secret
session decided for the present to make
public only Gen. Eagan's letter and
not the statement.
Gen. Eaeau to Be Court-MartiaIed.
Washington. Jan. i7-The war de.
partment has decided to court-martial
Gen. Charles Z. Eagan. commissary
general of subsistence, U. s. A. for
terming Gen. Miles a liar in his evil
dence before the war investigation
OOdrO. UeD M0rTlbC Will De president
of the court, which will sit at Washing
ton. On account of the impossibility of
getting enough general officers to make
up the entire detail. there will be some
officers of junior rank on the court.
Action will be confined exclusively for
the present to Gen. Eagan's military
offense. If any action is taken regard
ing the controversy between Gen.
| Miles and Gen. Eagan over the meat,
it will come after the other matter
has been decided.