Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-17
As Revised Considered by the War
Commission.
DEFIANCE OF NILES INDICATED
Actions and Methods During the
War Explained.
COLONEL GIBSON TESTIFIES


ing and later handed to The Star reporter
for examination. 1t is thirty-four type
written pages in length, and even in its
present shape bears the marks of the rub
Der eraser on very many pages.
1t cannot be learned whether these eiirni-
nations were made by Gen. Eagan before
handing it to tn commission, or whether
they We're made by the commission in ex-
ecGtive session. Examination of the erased
portions easily reveals the words which, in
mcst cases, as will be seen in the following
report of the statement, simply amount to
cautions to the commission concerning dis
puted points in Gen. Miles testimony
Although Gen. Eagan has cut out all the
Objectionable and obscene expressions in
his first statement the later effort breathes
defiance Of Gen. Miles from every page and
seeks 10 discredit his testimony. 1t shows
Enthusiastically the rancor he feels because of
the ''embalmed beef charge, and it ex-
hibits contempt for Gen. Miles as a man
and soldier.
Chairman Dodge states that the commits
sion has accepted 1t as Gen. Eagan's official
testimony and ii will go on record as such.
undoubtedly IL is a very exhaustive and
straightforward explanation of Gen.
Eagan'S actions and methods during the
war. and had it been given out in the first
place. minus the indecencies in the orig
inal. 1t would have gone far toward ex-
planning away and discounting the serious
statements from Maj. Gen. Miles.
Eagan's Revised Statement.
General Eagan begins his new statement
by stating that he holds in his hands the
official copy of the statements made to
your commission by the senior major gem
eral of the United States army, Nelson A,
Miles" He details the Amusement and
surprise ne experienced when informed
hal had Sala Mot
Black. "a volunteer officer totally devoid
Of experience in the subsistence depart
ment.' as his staff commissary instead OF
Major Osgood. who was first chosen for
that post by General Miles.
He refers to "a very ordinary, common
place telegram sent by Gen. Miles TO his
adjutant general here in Washington about
June !. inquiring what subsistence stores
We're at Tampa. Gen. Eagan says he made
formal written reply to this, but was
amazed next morning to see in the news
papers that Gen. Miles had found it neces-
sary 70 send serious reprimand to Wash
ingtOn.
i have to state" saws Gen. Eaean. that
no such repgiIn md was ever received by
me from Gen. Miles nor any other general
and that Gen. Miles has no authority in his
commission OF in his position under the law
or regulations to send reprimands to me.
Notwithstanding that this imaginary
reprimand was published in the press he
continues, Gen. Miles. from that day to
IL. IL
though 1 have met him. taken occasion to
express any regret for the statements made
in the papers about the reprimand. nor to
allI!de 10 il at all
Gen. EaCan says he fitted out the expe-
dition 10 Porto Rico with ample subsist-
ence supplies and sent lin one of the re-
frigerator ships. the Massachusetts. 2O3, 900
pounds of refrigerated beef-not embalmed
beef not treated by any chemical process
whatsoever. but first-class refrigerated
beef as good as the country produces and
in every way sound, sweet and proper
food"
Funds sent to Porto Rico.
Gen. Easan then discusses Gen. Miles
statement as to shortness of funds in Porto
Rico. ana says: Thus it will be seen that
Gen Miles statements to this commission
If there had been paymasters down there
the men could have bought food; but there
were none there's worthy of examination
as 10 why food could not have been bought
when, as | have shown, there was over
$4"o'Ho IN money and over three months
supply of subsistence stores for 1000 men,
Referring again to the Massachusetts,
Gen. Eagan says: ut is matter of record
that from the I'd of August until at least
the IN the Massachusetts was lying in
Ponce with over 100000 pounds of first
class American refrigerated beef; that none
of this beef during that time was taken off
at Ponce for the troops that We're there
The sentence fOllowirg-''Just why is for
the commission to determine'-has been
family erased from the sheet.
Continuing, Gen. Eagan declares that it
was good beef. and any officer, no matter
what his rank. failing to use proper SUD
plies. does SO at his peril. land if he pur-
ChaSes and substitutes for the good article
an inferior and unWholesOme one, one that
the whole medical fraternity of the United
States Will unite in saying is not whole
some, gives men darThOea and dysentery
then he does so at still greater peril.
by Cen Miles own statement he di-
T-cted the purchase of native beef ashore
while this good refrigerated beef not en-
balmed beef. was there In Ponce II was
not embaimed beef nor was il treated with
any chemicals whatsoever for its preserya-
lion.
An ImpracticabIe Request
Discussing Gen. Miles statement that he
wanted complete rations sent instead of in
bulk, Ger. Eagan says he never saw any
such request and if he had he would have
regarded it las extraordinary, for there is
no such thing sending complete rations
la large quantities otherwise than in bulk"
The statement that he wished complete
rations. and that instead of complete ra-
items they were sent in bulk clearly in
tends 70 convey that the rations were i'm
properly sent.
II Gen Miles can explain TO your com
mission what the difference Is he will do
more than / think he or any other man
TO note this a. one Of the things bearing on
the entire subject"
Taking UP Gen. Miles testimony that the
food vas one Of the serious causes of sick
ness among the soldiers, Gen. Eagan denies
this and points out that Gen. Miles gives it
a. his judgment.
Because he merely expresses his tudg-
ment that way ! cannot take further issue
with that statement than TO dispute it
Gen. Skaters Approval.
General Eagan declares that General
Shafter cabled his appreciation of the char
acter Of refrigerated beef-not embalmed
beef-that arrived at Santiago one day after
the port was opened, General Shafter has
repeatedly in person expressed to me his
profound gratitude and appreciation Of the
fine beef, which he calls the finest he ever
ate'-this same refrigerated beef-not en-
balmed beef-that is spoken of by General
Niles in his statement THE words NOT
sworn TO have been erased here made 20
your commission.
You have before you reports of various
officers describing the character of the
superior and fine cattle % that Porto Rico
has furnished TO the United States troops
al the low price mentioned by Gen. Miles
bulls, stays. runts. reformed cattle which
means old work oxen-a class and char
acter Of beef that the subsistence depart-
ment never purchased in this country nor
anyw here else II 1t could do better Ger
talnly not II II could get good rrfrigerata cd