The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-01-13

ba for their guidance and In compliance
In similar cases"
HAD NO RIGHT
Il had no right" General Eagan ex-
planned. "to send that dispatch but took
II upon myself 10 send out this authority
fearing a refusal would be Interpreted by
the world at large that the department,
was afraid OF any kind OF investigation.
when l Informed the secretary of war;
the following day and he understood and
realized that the inspector general doubt.
less at the instigation OF the nior major
general of the army. was nauEurating
a system Of inspection not contemplated
by the regulations. nor authorized by ,he
proper authority he promptly informed
me he would not have approved my
course, although he thought pcrhaps
was right"
inspector General Breckenridge has
| recently addressed letters direct 60 ofn-
GERS OF my department calling for re-
ports TO him about the various articles
Of food furnished during the past year
to the army. lie does this without the
authority of the secretary OF war. In eff
feet we have in these two officers OF the
army-General Miles and General Breck-
inrdge-who take upon themselves 10 in
vestigate matters pertaining solely and
| exclusively to the secretary OF war; 20
call for ex parte reports and TO do this
directly, not through the adjutant gem
eral OF the army, but direct ana without
the knowledge OF the secretary OF war or
the adjutant general OF the army. Your
commission viii readily see at once how
far this thing has gone ana 10 what OK
tremes these men go 60 establish and
make a case.
General Breckenridge has also address
ed ! am credibly informed. a similar let
ter direct 10 the surgeon general I and
my department. who are concerned in this
matter, are being tried not with sworn
evidence, nor with opportunity 10 con-
front the witnesses, stll less the oppor-
tunity TO rofuto any statements made be-
cause they refer 10 things gone; 90 things
consumed things not IN existence, and
therefore every one r. given a free hand
and free license to comment ass they
please because OF the inability 10 refute
with any evidence whatsoever the state
ments that have been made by pople
who know that thir statements cannot
be controverted because tho evidence in
the case b out Of existe1oe"
sUBoRDrNATEs INSPECT SUPER,
TORS
General Eagan said It appeared from
tho seeking Of these reports that the
subordinates were inspecting their super
ior, trying him by eX parte reports OBJ
tanned at their own Instance. lie referr-
ed 10 the reports from officers ana sub
mtted by General Miles as irresponsible
statements. and said that few army Off.
GERS would take advantage OF the situ.
? alton 10 make statements which they
knew there was no power nor means upGl
earth 10 disprove. because the substances
D they speak Of have passod out OF exist
, ence tho proofs are gone ono Of thes'
10 officers goes outside 20 ten you abou
e competition for contracts ana what use,
4 IN canning. II General Miles had Inform
b ed himself as much about the army ra
r ton az he pretends 10 have Informed him
, self about refrigerated beef which h
8 falsely calls 'embalmed beef then h
q should have been enabled 20 Inform yol
q that this very timed beef we are speak
q lHg Of has been a part OF the crmy ra
10 tlon since February g. 1895 Whethe
e General Miles Is ignorant Of this I q
e not pretend 70 say, but he takes q upo
8 himself when asked who fixed Il as
Il part OF the army ration 10 say You wi
% have 10 ask some one here IN Washing
70 ton This Implication shows how rela
. bic his statements are"
IS QUESTIONS RIGHTS OF MILES
- General Eagan went on 20 say tha
General Miles chief cJnmissary selec
D. ed by him over experienced officers. ha
public subsistence funds In his posse
sion but could not use them for lack
~ "A check book, though Colonel sharp
'n chief commissary on General brooke
III stan, who, because he did not happs
20 20 be selection OF General Miles. "hs
sense enough 20 provide himself with
a. check book lie questioned the rigl
Of General Miles % divert the oustan
ei funds TO the purchase az beer when a
ot subisist see department had over ti00,l
ne available Having traversed Gener
H. Miles statements. he said, "having SHOW
OF him 90 having been liar. having der
,er onstrated the animua that pervades n
n whole matter, now go back 10 hls stat
en ment that IN his judgment food was o
OF the serious causes Of 80 much sis
,is ness and distress Of the troops, ~
Ae design 10 say. % imply, 90 asert 10
~ slnuete. that sickness was caused
ri such reason In Porto Rico f. 70 ma
~, an assertion wholly untrue, devoid
- any facts. devoid OF truth. and can on
be prompted by q base motive and o
~ dec cover of the qualification 10 o
~" judgment
ust LETTER INvITIN GcRITlcIsM
de, Questioning General Miles course
~ submitting briefs OF reports from rel
ted mental commanders. General Eagan 30
'ct- this course tx unprecedented IN tho n
in tory Of the army. not within his pfoWn
OF nor contemplated BY law and reguiau
Gu and there would be just as much Just