The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-01-13

| tary Alger down 90 the lowest COM
| missioned officers. Bur privately IL was
! evident that nearly all regretted the
incident and depored II as calculated
10 injure the whole army. It was point
ed out that the immediate effect would
be 10 assentuate the division of the
army into two camps. and thus 10 in
1ure the chances of the enactment of
legislation favorable TO the military es-
tablishment.
The sober second judgment of the
coolest minds on both sides, meaning
by that the friends OF Gen. Eagan and
the friends of Gen. Miles. inclined TO
the opinion that no action will follow
yesterdays eruption. 1t has already
been intimated at army headquarters,
disclaimer OF his responsibility to the
major general commanding the army
as binding, that this places the respon-
sibllIty for anything he says or does on
the department. The department itself
however, is stopped from action i'm this
case, no matter what the inclination of
the officials might be. by the fact that
the president has given his solemn
promise TO protect the witnesses who
might appear before the war investi-
eating commission from the conse-
quences of any testimony they might
give there. He was compelled to give
this pledge at the beginning of the in
vestigation by the open intimations i'm
certain quarters that army officers
would not dare to testify To all OF the
things they knew that would reflect
upon the administration of the war
department.
When Gen.Miles made his first state
ment before the commission i'm which
he spoke of embalmed beef as being
furnished the soldiers. Gen. Eagan re-
gaptal fbis htIf fonpJ-ttt,,,t,- sspnnISp..-
the officials of the department. that ne
could not prefer charges against Gen.
Miles OF slandering him as he desired
To do, because the presidents promise
protected the commanding general as
wen as all other witnesses. This led 10
Gen. Eagan's attempt, by "A letter adj
dressed To Gen. Miles 10 learn IL he had
said the things published i'm the news
papers as part of his testimony. The
purpose was TO secure repetition If |
possible, outside OF the commissions |
chambers OF the offensive statements |
i'm which case the foundation Gen
Eagan thought might have been laid |
for formal charges. This attempt fail |
ed. however. and Gen. Eagan. being |
thrown back upon the testimony given |
by Gen. Miles before the commission, |
and finding him beyond reach accord |
ing to the rules military law. aVailed |
himself Of the same means, according |
To MS friends, OF TtUIeSSlng ms grew /
ances. According To this view, there
fore. the matter has narrowed down TO /
n personal issue between the two Off
GERS for. from the reasons already
stated. the army officials advancing
his now state that ntv-her the presi-
lent the commandcr-in-chicf OF the
army: the secretary OF war nor any
army officer or war department. official
IAN take cognizancc OF ~.
gen. Eagan was at work in his office
promptly as usual. He refused 10 say
inything beyond what he had given 10
he war commission yesterday. saying
hat his statement then was n fun dec
aration of his feelings and his beliefs.
General Miles yhcn asked what OFF,
'lal action. " any would bc taken re-
yarding Gen. Eagan's attack, to-day re-
llicd that he had not made any stat9-
uont on the subject andd Id not intend
% f,feCrst the faoceedings Df .c v"r
department.. When 10 was suggested
hat the war department was tstopDcd
rom any proceedings against Gen. |
tagau oIe The ground of the protection
promised by the president o. all VT
lesses I'm their testimony before the |
var investigating commission Gen.
Niles said that there might be come !
question as 90 the dividing line between |
estlmony and personal abuse. that in |
~ Op.n On. any court or Justice. or |
or hat matter n police court would |
.nyo stopped witness who had used
'eforc Dc such language as was u-tI