New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-13

OF food furnished during the last year 10 the army
He does this without the authority OF the secre'a,
OF War In effect we have In this two oncers OIL
the Army--General Miles and General Breek'nrioee
who take upon themselves to investigate matters
pertaining solely and exclusively to the secretary
OF War: to call for exparte reports and 10 90 TINS
directly not through the Adjutant-Generai Oh INV
Army, but direct and without the knowledge OF the
Secretary OF War or the Adtutant-Generai OF tne
Army.
"Your committee will readily see AT once how
far this thing has gone and to what extremes these
men 20 10 establish and make case 1eherai
Breckenridge has also addressed, am crediply IN
formed. similar letter direct TO the Surgeon-Gen-
eral. I and my department. who are concerned
In this matter are being tried. not with sworn
evidence with opportunity to confront the Wit
nesses, still less the opportunity TO refute any
statements made because they refer to things gone
TO things consumed. things not in existence, ana
therefore every one Is given free hand ann free
license 10 comment as they please because or the
inability TO refute with any evidence whatsoever the
statements that have been made by people who
know that their statements cannot be controverted
because the evidence In the case is out OF exist
ence"
General Eagan said It appeared from the seek
ing OF these reports that the subordnates were in
specting their superior trying him by exparte re-
ports obtained at their instance. He referred
to the reports from officers submitted by General
Miles irresponsible statements. and said that few
Army officers would take advantage OF the situa-
ton to make statements which they knew there
power upon earth TO dsprove
because the substances they speak OF have passed
out Of existence: the proofs are gone.
"One OF these officers goes outside to tell you
about competition for contracts and what was used
in canning. both things without his possible knowl-
edge. II General Miles had Informed himself as
much about the Army ration as he pretends 10
have Informed himself about refrigerated beef,
which he falsely calls embalmed beef, then he
should have been enabled to inform you that this
very canned beef we are speaking OF has been a
part Of the Army ration since February S. 1883.
Whether General Miles l. ignorant Of this I do not
pretend TO say. but he takes II upon himself when
asked who fixed II as a part OF the Army ration to
say. You will have to ask some one here in Wash
ineton. This implication shows how reliable his
statements are"
General Eagan went on to say that General Miles s
chief commissary selected by him over experienced
officers, had public subsistence funds In his pos
session. but could not them for lack Of n check
book. though Colonel Sharpe, chief commissary on
General Brooke's stan, who did not happen to be
a selection OF General Miles had sense enough
TO provide himself with a checkbook" He ques-
toned the right Of General Miles to divert the
toms funds to the purchase OF beef when the Sub
sstence Department had over 800 900 available.
DENIES THAT BEEF CAUSED SICKNESS
Having traversed General Miles's statements :"
he said having shown him to you to be a liza r.
and demonstrated the anmus that pervades this
whole matter, now go back 10 his statement tina /
in his judgment the food was one of the chief
causes OF sickness and distress among the troops
The design to say, TO imply. TO assert to insnuate
that sickness was caused for such reason In Porto
Rico is to make assertion wholly untrue devoid
o. any facts devoid OF truth and can only be
prompted by a base motive and under cover OF the
qualifications in my judgment"
Questioning General Miles's course in submitting
briefs OF reports from regmental commanders, Gen.
eral Eagan said this course was unprecedented in
the history OF the Army, not within his province
nor contemplated by law and regulation and there
would be just as much justice In the President or
Secretary Of War sending out circular letter In
wiling criticism the conduct OF General Miles
during this war
General Eagan said the first intimaton OF che nj
cal treatment he had had was IN General Miles
statement. and 1t seemed to him 1.-The raving nom
sense OF mailman" His own conduct and work
had been looked into and he reason why
General Mess conduct and work should not be
locked into on this showing. adding: 1T is high
time and proper that this committee should exam
Inc into the truth and falsehood Of the state nents
and examine into his conduct Of the war"
Further. he said, General Miles legally had TO
control OF the purse such as he assumed at Porto
Rico nor did the law authorize him to set aside
food furnished under the law but 1t does deter nine
how TO hold accountable the party furnishing i'm
proper food. He charged that IL Chief Surgeon
DAILY. with General Miles. had made
pert examination of the beef then he wilfully and
deliberately falsiied the facts"
THINKS ONE OR THE OTHER MUST GO
General Eagan concluded as follows:
'1f have used harsh language before this COM
mlttee in dealing with this subject ask the
20 haor ,gnI
the statements made by General Miles means that
have furnished or allowed to be furnished to the
Army embalmed beef. which had diseased soldiers
and that a great deal OF sickness srose from It's
use; that have furnished meats to the Army
der the pretence Of experiment meats that made
the soldiers SICK and this under the pretence Of
experiment. this because OF corruption Nearly all
the press OF America. because o. General Miles's
high position in the United States Army, has sc-
cepted these views. and his statements. and many
OF them have called for my disgrace. court-marial
and dismissal from the service. Also. that these
statements OF General Miles held back by
hm-not furnished 10 the Government for its APP
propriate action and use. but sprung upon you and
the country al a time when the country from the
falschoods that had teen told regard TO starva-
ton and supplies for the Army was In state Of
excitement and ready to believe almost anything.
The subject have treated here is a filthy subject
and you cannot touch pitch without being defed;
you cannot touch base. malicious libellous false
hoods. misrepresentation. without calling a spade
spade and telling the whole truth and character
izlng things they The damage that has
been done by these statements is believed 10 lie
great but indulge the hope and the belief that
my statement. when published to the country. when
read by the representatives Of foreign governments
here. will offset the statements made by General
Miles, and will In some measure at least do justice
to others that have been wronged. magned and
Nbelled. For myself. ! content myself with OK
pressing my profound belief that either General
Miles / should be put out OF the service; either
he is right or | am right; either he dishonors his
uniform with his false statements and libes. or
dishonor mine In feeding soldiers with poisonous
beef. causing their sickness and doing so under
'pretence Of experiment.
W. d. Miles. the general manager OF the Armour
Packing Company. Of Kansas City. testified that
the company had supplied to the Government
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