The age-herald., 1899-01-13
THE PINNED BEEF EPISODE General Expresses His Mighty Wrath in Plain Words. A COLOSSAL PREvARIcAT0R With a Heart as Black as the Man Who Blew Up the Maine. TALK OF A COURT MARTIAL Miles Has Nothing to Say of the Attack Further Than to Declare That
 He Stood by the
 Soldiers.
TALK OF A COURT MARTIAL

Washington, January 12.-Commssary- General Charles P. Eagan today reappeared before the war investigation commission to answer the charges of General Nelson A. Miles concerning the commissary supplies furnished the army during the recent war General Eagan's statement furnished the sensation of the war commissions history, and was regarded by old army officers as one of the most remarkable attacks ever made in the history of the service. Gen. eraI Eagans statement to the commission was bitter personal attack upon General Miles, so entirely unqualified, both as to scope and language, that the war comms- sion on hearing it's conclusion ordered a brief executive session, after which the doors were reopened, the witness was re- called and business was resumed in the usual way.
 The subject in controversy was General Miles already famous "embalmed beer testimony and the letters and documents supporting it. General Miles had charged that the canned and refrigerated meats sent to the army in Cuba and Porto Rico were unfit for use; that they were preserved in chemicals, and that they had been bought and sent to the army under the pretense of an experiment"
 Had fingered Eagan
 This reflection upon both the ability and honesty of the commissary department had angered General Eagan, and caused him to request to be recalled to reply to General Niles charges. That his statements con- corning the commanding general were not the result of a sudden outburst of passion was clearly shown by the fact that General Eagan read his remarks from carefully prepared typewriter copy.
 Not the least remarkable phase of Gen eral Eagans statement was the language in which it was couched. There was scarce ly phrase that would not have been char acterized as sensational in an ordinary official utterance.
 General Eagan, after the hearing was over, refused to say whether he had any issue between himself and General Niles. s.I have said all that I intend to say Tor the present." he replied, "and if any one wants to bring the matter to court mar tial, I am ready for that, too, as have al ready stated before the commission"
 As soon as the nature of General Eagan's statements became known, attention was directed to army headquarters to ascer- tain what move would be made by Generai Miles. The latter, through Colonel Mich Ter his cheif aide, beyond saying that he had stood for the soldiers, declined to make any statement, saying that now was not the time for talk and that before taking any action it would only be proper and necessary to wait until he had an opportun- ity to receive through the regular channels to tha testimony furnished by General Eagan.
 Miles Will Act Slowly
 He would not talk about court martial Altogether the intimation conveyed was that General Miles would act with delib- eration if he decided to take any action at all, and there was a faint suggestion that he might decide to ignore the state ment altogether.
 Of course a decision to that effect on the part of General Miles would terminate the incident But should he decide to take notice officially of the attack, the next step would be for him to prefer charges with the president against the commssary gen" eral These might be based on several technical grounds, such, for instance, as conduct tending to the destruction of good order and discipline. It would be for the president to pass upon the demand and he might adopt one of two courses, that Is, refuse it. grant it, or instead order court of inquiry. In this latter case the body would have the power to go into the que5. tion of yeracity which has been raised and in fact the conduct of both generals would be practically under examination.
 General Eagan read his testimony from a long written statement. He denied nu- merous statements of General Miles, charged that the latter's testimony con stituted severe reflections on the command ing general of the expeditions and referred to him as "this same commanding general, Nelson A. Miles," and said whoever called the beef furnished 'emba'med beef was a 'sliar."
 Miles Refusal to be Sworn
 General Eagan referred to the fact that General Miles had refused to be sworn, and