The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-17
EAGAN MAKES
HIS APOLOGIES
Offers a Revised Statement
to the Commission.
SEEKS TO EXTENUA.IE
CHARGES GOADED AN HON
ORABLE MAN TO MADNESS.
USE OF HARSH LANGUAGE NATURAL
Revised Statement, With the Objectionable
Matter Eliminated, is Now in Hands
Of Commission, Who are
Considering It.

Washington, Jan. 16.-Following is
the text of the letter sent by General
Eagan to the war commission to-day.
with an amended statement in reply to
the charges made by General Miles con-
cerning the beef furnished the army:
"Offce of Commissary General of
Subsistence
Washington, d. c., Jan. 14th, 1899.
ITO the commission appointed by the
President to investigate the conduct of
the War Department in the war with
Spain:
"Gentlemen
Il have the honor to hand you here
with my testimony which is now resub-
mitted and revised in accordance with
the views expressed by you in your
letter to me of January 18Th, 1899. The
Objectionable features and what is con-
sidered irrelevant matter by you, in
which opinion l entirely agree, are
eliminated. In this connection / desire
to state that there was never a thought
or intention on my part of any disre-
spect whatsoever to your commission;
but in explanation and in extenuation OF
the language used by me heretofore |
beg to invite the attention of the com
mission to the fact that l have been
accused practically of feeding the sol
diers with poisoned beef which made
them 'embalmed beef so-called--
that | have furnished meat to the army
under the spretense of experiment which
charge in effect is corruption and worse,
because it jeopardizes the lives of soldiers
cont 4a tha front IN trnntaal al aud
who were dependent on such food as
was sent them; that these statements
have gone to the whole country uncon-
tradicted; that they have been published
and / have been pilloried in the press of
the country as Il man who had fed
the army on poisoned meat; that
for about three weeks time / have kept
silent for the reason that / was de-
barred after talking with the honorable
Secretary of War, from preferring
charges because of the immunity granted
by the President to witnesses before
your commission, notwithstanding the
gravity of the accusations; that it is un-
reasonable to believe that such mon
strous charges could have any other ef-
feet than to work upon an honorable
man in such a way as TO goad him to
but natural, when the proper opportunity
was given him, to meet and refute the
charges, that he should characterize them
in harsh language and in terms that
are deemed improper, no matter what
the provocation. | therefore withdraw
the language and matter so objection
able, and resubmit to you now my
sworn statement with the abiding faith
hat oscciO hox 4l,c
facts before you, will decide the points
at issue justly.
Very respectfully.
(Signed) CHARLES p EAGAN.
'Commissary General Of Subsistence
The revised statement is about 80 per
cent shorter than that which was or
dered Withdrawn because of its violent
and abusive character The commits
sion after its receipt went into secret
session to read the document and decide
in its present form if it had been ex-
purgated sufficiently to permit it to be
made part of the commissions records.
MINISTER'S ENDORSE MILES.
Boston. Jan. 16.-General Miles to-day
received an endorsement of his course
in the controversy with Commssary
General Eagan, from the Baptist minis
ters of Boston At their meeting Rev.
j. ID. Fulton offered the following reso-
luton which was passed:
Resolved, that the Baptist ministers
of Boston and vicinity recognize with de-
vout pleasure the magnificent bearing of
General Nelson A. Miles. in the crucial
ordeal through which he is passing. as
the friend of the soldier as the cultured
officer of American manhood"