The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-20
IN DEFENSE OF MILES
John III. O'COnner of Winfield Argues
the Beef Question.

winfield, Kan, Jan. 19.-TO the Editor
OF the Eagle: Does it not appear that
the newspaper criticisms of Lieutenant
Miles are somewhat unjust? Does the
vituperation of General Eagan prove Ea-
gan right and Miles wrong?
1t viii be remembered that General Miles
(rot West Pointer entered the arnav a
volunteer. served honorably and won pro-
motion by courage and ability His ca
reer since the war has been that of a sue
cessful Indian fighter. Though much has
been said of his showiness and love of dis
play, he has never failed to enter the field
in person and endure all the hardships of
campaign along with the enlisted men.
1t will be remembered that it was not the
fault Of General Miles that he did not COM
mand the Santiago expedition In person.
Is it not in evidence that he wished and
expected it. and that the order from the
president that he should take command
was held up in tht department for weeks?
He did command in Porto Rico and al. the
reports mot OF the army, mind you agree
that it vas a well conducted campaign,
vastly different from that in Cuba. Wit
ness such observers as Remington and
Davis.
Was it not a fact that General Shafter
considered the army defeated before San
tiago and would have withdrawn but for
his subordinate officers? Is it not also a
fact that General Miles took the same
view that the subordinstes had and per-
emptorily ordered Shafter 10 demand the
surrender? Whose judgment was correct
and who stood with the men who did the
fighting?
Some weeks ago the Eagle said that
no army could be successful except on
sow-belly and bareback; that attempts to
feed anything else 10 troops in the field
were experiments, doomed to failure This
is not strictly so. for troops in the field
may be supplied with fresh bread and
fresh beef when conditions are favorable.
But for transportation long distances. for
keeping a long time. and for hearteaing up
a hard-wOrked soldier. no meat can ,aks
the place Of bacon. So when General
Miles testified that "embalmed beer was
sent under pretense OF an experiment"
ne was trying 20 express the intensity OF
his feelings as he thought OF the unneces-
sary suffering OF the enlisted men.
Two hundred thousand volunteers ana
80 ~ regulars VIII testify that the canned
cooked beef issued for travel ratioas. was
unfit 70 eat Rather than eat Il. they went
without meat for days and lived On hard
tack canned beans and cofss-when they
could get the beans The cans Of meat
thrown ont o. the car windows and given
away a the stations witness 70 This. At
Ter meal Or two from Il. il became nsu-
seating - any but the strongest stomachs
The fresh beef issued az Chickarnauga
park had something wrong with il. L
looked % Be good quarters. fresh a. the
average On he markets TIE expert butch
e-s detailed % cut Il I'D fo7 the regiments
said = vas good meat. Yet vhe1 Il was
cooked It was a sickeuing mess % eat
Many q III men did not Ga; II; many very
ittle- Those who did 10 ear II remained
vel There ware men who wen. hungry
rather than eat t. but who drilled and
worked hard without complaint. and never
lost day from sickness Time and again
other men who axe heartily % he b..
had % b. carried in from 6rTI 7r csre-
monies Only hslf meat rsti1us xe-. il
sired fl fresh beef 20 regiments Par =
this vas l0t issued 20 compaa.ss BIT
IN spite O. shortage. there was z-xavs
enough FOR those who ATE g. Over hsIt
tae me- bought over half they ate Nc.
simply PIES and cakss~ Which are co--
ceunet as uuwaelesarue bur such xho,e-
NE articles IS mix. eggs. cheese f-.Sh
vegetables and canned fruits and vsg---
so-es- The regimen-al excharse dIs a
thriving business Il many STAPLE groee-.e.
Hundreds o hGoksters througe6 ,a= roads
1ear me cazp and usually lad al ,he.r
wares sold bet9re middle Ok Afternoon. TIE
p-0i-s q the exchange were fran S5a %
$50 each Eoath. o. a ve-y narrow mar
gin so ir vas ei2IrsssJ q selling ever cost
price Al ,a-s vas without arr Surplus
Il rzI5S1s except cotse and bacon
The eoauisss-ies AID The packers have