The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-14

fore that IL would have been much better
had the officers of the war department,
who have an charge the care and proper
feeding OF the soldiers, been allowed to at
tend 10 these matters quietly in their own
way"
Eagan Has Nothing to Say.
Gen. Eagan, when seen to-day, had uoth-
ing to say. He regretted, he said The
newspaper notoriety which it had already
involved. The controversy was not Of his
seeking, and he should decline to say any
thing further regarding it.
In the excitement created by this Incl
dent, the pending issue before the commits
sion, the quality of the army beef was
well nigh lost sight Of There were, how
ever, two picquant additions to that part
of the proceedings, one consisting of the
testimony of Gen. Wood, to the effect that
no one who amounted to anything had
made any complaint as to the rations, and
the other of letter from Theodore Roose-
welt, making a very severe complaint re-
garding the beef.
Roosevelt Says 1t Was BAD.
Gov. Roosevelts letter was to Gen. Miles
and is as follows;
"State of New York Executive Chamber,
Albany, n. Y, Jan. 9.-Gen. Nelson A.
Miles, War Department, Washington. My
Dear Gen. Miles: I do not distinctly un-
derstaud about this beef controversy, but
possibly what I have to write may be of
some use
"The canned corned beef we found to
be good. The so-called canned roast beef
that was issued 10 US for travel rations.
both on the transport and on the train,
and which we occasionally got, even at
the front, was practically worthless I'm
less very hungry, the men would not touch
it, and even when suffering from lack of
food they never ate a fifth of it. AT the
best it was tasteless; at the worst, it was
nauseating.
There was only a supply of beef Qn
the shape of quarters) which was put
aboard our transport at Tampa. 1t was
supposed to be fitted by some process
to Withstand tropical heat. 1t at once be-
came putrid, and smelt so that we had
to dispose of it for fear of its creating
disease I think we threw it overheard.
At any rate, it was condemned. The beef
we got in Santiago after about the oath
or 25th of July-that is after the siege
had ended, and when my brigade had been
without fresh meat or vegetables for a
month-was generally good. BY that time
the cavalry division was in a sickly condi-
ton.
"The fact that the meat ration was 50
bad as generally to be inedlble caused very
their supply of food below what was nee
essary TO keep them in proper condition.
Very sincerely yours, Theodore Roose-
velt."
Eagan Tells why He Did 1t.
Commissary General Eagan consented to
be interviewed tonight. When the sub
ject of his testimony before the investi-
eating commission was broached, Gen.
Eagan first made clear the fact that he
aud he alone, was responsible for the
statement, both as to facts and language
II had my own grievance" Gen. Eagan
said. "a terrible charge was brought
against me. 1 was accused of cheating;
no. 1 mean 1 was accused of poisoning
soldiers under the pretense of experiment
If it had not been for that charge I might
not have spoken before the commission as
1 did.
For three weeks I chafed under the
charge of having poisoned soldiers under
the pretenses yes, under the pretense of
experimenting with chemicals. If it had
not been for this charge, perhaps I would
not have used such language before the
commission. Let those that criticise my
language be placed in the position in
which I was placed; let them be charged
as 1 was charged and they will under
stand my language better 1t is the gored
bull that feels the pain"