The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-13


the adjutant general of the army. but di-
rect and without the knowledge OF the sec
rotary OF war or the adjutant general of
the army. Your commission viii readily
see az once how far this thing has gone
and 10 what extremes these men 60 10
establish and make a case. General
Breckenridge has also addressed. 1 am
credibly informed a similar letter direct
70 the surgeon general
WHY HIS ENEMIES ARE BOLD.
Il and my department, who are con-
cerned in this matter, are being tried, not
with sworn evidence, nor with opportunity
20 confront the witnesses, stiu less the
opportunity to refute any statements
made. because they refer 10 things gone.
TO things consumed, things not in exist
ence. and therefore everyone Is given a
free hand and free license 70 comment as
they please, because OF the inability 10 re-
flute with any evidence whatsoever. the
statements that have been made BY peop.e
who know that their statements cannot De
controverted. because the evidence in tAa
case is out OF existence"
IGNORANT ACCUsERs
General Eagan said il appeared from the
seeking Of these reports. that the sub
ordinates were inspecting their superiorS
trying them by exparte reports obtained
at their own instance. He referred to
the reports from officers and submitted
BY General Miles as irresponsible state
ments, and said that few army officers
would take advantage Of the situation
70 make statements which they knew
there was no power nor means upon earth
10 disprove. because the substance they
spoke OF have passed out OF existence.
the proofs are gone. One of these officers
goes outside 10 tell you about comDeti-
ton for contracts and what was used in
canning, both things without his possible
knowledge. II General Miles had inform
ed himself as much about the army "a
tons as he pretends 10 have informed
himself about refrigerated beef. which
he calls 'embalmed' beef then he should
have been able TO inform you that this
very timed beef we are speaking OF has
been a part OF the army ration since
February 1855 Whether General Miles is
ignorant Of this I do not pretend 10 say
but ne takes il upon himself when asked
who fixed ii as part or the army ra-
ton, TO say, You will have 20 ask some
one here in Washington This implica-
ton shows how reliable his statements
are"
eral Miles chief commissary, selected by
him over experienced officers. had public
subsistence funds in his possession. but
could not use them for lack OF a check
book. though Colonel Sharpe, chief COM
missary on General Brooke's staff, who
because he did not happen 10 be a selec-
ton of General Miles. had sense enough
TO provide himself with a check book.
He questioned the right OF General Niles
70 divert the customs of funds TO the pur-
chase Of beef when the subsistence depart
ment had over $4,000 available.
I'm MILES JUDGMENT"
Having traversed General Miles state
ments," ne said. having shown him 10
you as having been liar. having demon
strated the animus that pervades this
whole matter. now go back TO his state
ment that, in his judgment the food was
one Of the serious GAUGES of so much sick
ness and distress Of the troops. The de-
sign to say, TO imply, TO assert, TO in
sinuate, that sickness was caused for such
reason IN Porto Rico l. 70 make an as
sertion wholly untrue. devoid Of fact. de-
void Of truth and can only be prompted
by base motive and under cover CT the
qualification in my Judgment
Questioning General Miles course in
submitting briefs OF reports from reEi-
mental commanders. General Eagan says
this course is unprecedented in the his
tory OF the army. not within his prov
ince. nor contemplated by law and regu-
lation. and there would be just as much
justice in the president or secretary Of
war sending out a circular letter inyit-
ing criticisms on the conduct Of General
Miles during this war.
WHY NOT INVESTIGATE MILES,"
General Eagan said the first intimacon
Of chemical treatment ne had had was in
General Miles statement and il seemed
to him "the raving nonsense Of mad
man His own (Eagan's) conduct and
work had been looked into; he saw no
reason why General Miles conduct and
work should not he looked into on TINS
showing. adding. 1T IS high time and
proper that this committee should ex7
anime into the truth and falsehood OF the
statements and examine into bis conduct
OF the war"
Further he said General Miles legally
had no control OF the purse. as he as
sumed in Porto Rico. nor does the law
authorize him TO set aside funds furnished
under thelaw but It does determine now
to hold accountable the party furnishing
improper food
He charged tat II Chief Surgeon DAILY.
with General Miles, had ever made an
expert examination Of the beef. then. he
"wilfully and deliberately falsihed the
facts"
A CATACLYSNIC ROAST
General Pagan concluded as follows:
General Miles was asked by your COM
rnittee how timed fresh beef became a
part Of the army ration. His answer IS:
You had better ask the secretary % war
OF the commissary general. ! think they
can tell you 1 know Il was sent 70
the army as food and the pretense is that I
Il was sent as an experiment General (
Miles IN saying that this food was sent
10 the army as q pretense for an expe-
riment' says that watch implies corrup-
ton. which q ou- OF every 100 people viii /
understand 70 mean corruption. because
II was a pretense OF experiment, he /
saws. not even giving credit 70 me for fur
n.shing il as an experiment. but that I
furnished Il under the 'pretense % an I
experiuert' This Il a serious charge,
and should not be made BY any man I
lightly or without ample evidence % sup I
port it Tskiu the statement IL the sense /
4 vas probably intended. the sanse that /
VII be accepted b. the country a. large. I
the sense that already the press almost
wholly q the United States has accepted {
ft-indeed some q that press because % /
IL called for NY dismissal from the army
and nv court martial answer thai =
was not furnished under the prstense o.
eTperimeut nor even as an experiment {
ard when General Mes charges that .
was furnished as q pretense o. expert
uent' he lies n his throat BE les IN MS
heart. he les in every hair % rs head
and every pore q his body. ne lies vii
fully. deliberately. Intentionally ard ma
liciously II his statement - true that
this was furnished under 'D-etense q al
experiment. then ! should be dr1Tnned
out q me army and inca-csratsd n prism
zith other iIbAlers RS statement is z
scan5alo1s libel rejecting upon the honor
n eva-- Officer n TIE Gsozr-nert Who