Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-17
I have to say in regard to calling it en-
balmed beef"
Officers Report to Gen. Miles.

OdiHfeu peel
Officers Report to Gen. Miles.
General Eagan says General Miles gives
what purDorts to be the statements of
fourteen officers expressing dissatisfaction
with the canned fresh beef
Gen. Miles" says he, does not inform
the investigating commission how he OBJ
tanned the reports of these officers nor
when he obtained them. nor does he inform
the commission that these adverse reports
on this article of food were furnished to
the War Department for its information
that it might take proper steps in the mat
ter, if the statements made by the officers
quoted by him were correct
Gen. Eagan submits that such invitations
to critcise are apt to procure adverse
criticisms and would be taken as evidence
of desire for adverse reports.
In this connection it is proper to say
that there is what is known as an inspector
generals department in the army whose
appropriate duty is, when directed by prop
er authority, to examine into a matter OF
this kind and make an intelligent, RESPONSE
BILE report
"a report that can be met and refuted
if it l. false; a report that if untrue the
author can tie held duly accountable for;
report that would be of value to the gov
purchases; a report of things in existence
that can be examined and tested"
The Army and the Purse.
Gen. E2gan repeats his former statement
of thankfulness that this land never gave,
and never will. thank God, the purse in
addition TO the sword to any general, and
whenever Congress permits any general, be
he whomsoever he may. to control the
purse as well as to WELD the sword that
day the mistake Of this country will be
made; and that day designing men with
United States at their disposal may set
themselves up and do things that this coun-
try is and always has been afraid Of"
The '.Pretense for Experiment."
AS to the ''pretense for an experiment.
charged by General Miles in connection
with the timed fresh beef, General Eagan
says:
General Miles, in saying that this food
was sent to the army a 'pretense for eX
pertinent says that which implies corrup-
tiCn which ninety-nine out of every nun
dred people will understand to mean corrup-
ton, because 1t was a 'pretense for expert
ment, he says, not even giving credit to
me for furnishing it as an experiment, but
that l furnished it under the pretense of
an experiment.
This is a serious charge. should not be
made by any man lightly nor without
ample evidence to support 1t. Taking the
statement in the sense that was probably
intended, the sense that has been accepted
by the press of the country-indeed. some
of that press because of it call for my dis
mlssal from the army and my court-mar-
tial
Il answer that it was not furnished under
the pretense of an experiment. nor even as
an experiment. In denying this l content
myself with saying such statement is I'M
true and unworthy of more emphatic de-
NAL. His statement reflects upon the honor
of every officer in the department who has
contracted for or purchased this meat. and
especially and particularly on the commits
sary general-mySelf.'
In conclusion. Gen. Eagan declares, on
oath, that the Secretary of War had moth
ing whatsoever - do with the furnishing
of refrigerated or timed meats, nor has
he in any manner whatsoever controlled or
attempted to control the contracts. the
awards or the purchases of these articles"
Gen. Eagan sums up his whole case in
conclusion and finishes hoping that his
statement will offset the statements made
by Gen. Miles and will, in some measure,
at least. do justice to those that have been
wronged.
Col. Gibson DenOunces Canned Beef.
The first witness today was Col. Chas. II.
Gibson. who during the war was agent at
Santiago of the national relief commission.
He went to Santiago on the transport Res
olute with supplies for the sick soldiers
Col. Gibson stated that he had trouble in
landing his supplies because of the great
confusion prevailing there. Gen. Shafter
was unable to give him any assistance, and
TtIuStI Ills dDpllCdiIOl 1OT TIE lOdH OIL d
horse. Finally he was able TO hire one and
called upon Gen Wheeler. who assisted him
in making a landing of his stores. These
were sent TO the front.
Col. Gibson declared that the canned
roast beef was unfit to eat. He had tried
to eat it. but could not because it was
stringy and ropey. The refrigerated beef
served him. he said, bad The green
beard was on it, and it was neither pleas
ant nor palatable. The sergeant who issued
it to him said that 1t would be all right
if he cut the beard away.
He had not heard in Cuba anything said
about 'embalmed beef He thought the
refrigerated meat became bad as a result
of exposure to the suns rays at Santiago.
The native fresh beef. he said, was poor
and tough. He admitted that he had heard
no complaints from army officers of the
beef. Nevertheless, he would not eat it
because that which he saw was green and
covered with flies
He was of the opinion that the canned
roast beef should not be eaten at ALL It
seemed to him Ike meat that had been
boiled until it had lost all its nutritious
properties.
Colonel Gibson said he had seen this can
ned beef in France, and understood that
the French government. several years ago
had made an order prohibiting it's purchase
for the French army. At Santiago he had
opened forty or fifty cans. but was unable
TO eat any of it because of its repuisive and