Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-01-13

Washington, January 12.-Commis-
sary General Charles P. Eagan to-day
reappeared before the War Investiga-
tion 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.
General Eagan's statement to the
commission was bitter personal at
tack upon General Miles, so entirely I'M
qualified both as to scope and langu-
age that the war commission on hear
ing it's conclusion, ordered brief exc
cutive session. after which the doors
were re-opened, the witness was re-
called and business resumed in the
usual way.
The subject in controversy was Cen
eral Miles already famous "embalmed
beef" testimony, and the letters and
documents supporting it. General Miles
had charged that the canned and re-
frigerated meats sent to the army in
Cuba and Porto Rico were unfit for use:
that they were preserved by the use OF
chemicals and that they had "been
bought and sent to the army under pre-
tense of an experiment" This reflec-
tion upon both the ability and honesty
of the commissary department had an
gered General Eagan and caused him 10
request to be recalled to reply to Cen
eral Miles charges.
Commissary General pagan appeared
Unexpectedly to meet the allegations
against the beef issues in the war. He
denied numerous statements of Gen.
Miles, charged that the latter's testi-
mony constituted severe reflections on
the commanding generals OF the expe-
ditions and referred to him as this
same commanding general, Nelson A.
Miles" and said whoever called the
beef furnished "embalmed beef" was a
liar"
Gen. Eagan had prepared typewrit-
ten statement covering his side of the
case, and was allowed to read it. Gen.
Eagan referred TO the fact that Gen
Miles had refused to be sworn. and
commented on the fact that he was the
only one of 500 witnesses who had 50
refused. Gen. Eagan said he himself
preferred to be sworn.
Gen. Eagan began by calling atten-
ton to Gen. Miles appointment of Mai
John D. Black, a civilian, as his chief
of staff. and said that this was largely
responsible for the trouble that follow
ed. He said Maj. Black had been fur
nished $1,000 before starting for Porto
Rico, and that he had apparently not
known enough to provide himself
check book. and had not left his sigma
ture with the Secretary Of the Treas
ury nor made any other preparation for
availing himself OF the funds at his
command. There were experienced dis
bursting officers in the island who had
in the aggregate over 100000 in their
possession, and yet Gen. Miles had
complained. that there were no pay
masters in the island. so that the SOL
diers had no money with which TO buy
food for themselves. Gen. Miles had
then called on the department 10 put
$50, 900 more in the hands Of Mai Black,
and this Gen. Eagan declined to do,
putting $4,000 to Maj. Blacks credit in
New York.
Cen. Eagan referred To the myster-
ious manner in which papers disap-
peared from the files Of the War De-
partment He said that while Major
General Miles was at Tampa, Fla. he
wired to the commissary general 10
know what stores and supplies were on
hand at Tampa and some other points.
General Eagan replied in the usual
way though at that time the railroad
tracks at Tampa were piled with mil
lzons of rations. General Eagan said
he was astounded the following morn
ing to see in the reports Of certain
papers that General Miles had severely
reprimanded the cemmissary general,
the chief Of ordinance and the quarters
master general for the unprepared con-
dition Of their respective departments.
General Miles had no power in law 10
deliver such a reprimand and the Wit
nesses al once enclosed the clipping
to the adjutant generals Office. request
ing an inquiry as TO the authenticity
OF the report. No such reprimand was
ever received by him and the general
commanding had taken no notice OF
his inquiry nor ever taken the trouble
since then to declare the unauthorized
character Of the press statements. II
as such indifference as this that had
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