Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. IV.djvu/101

WILLIAM McKINLEY 73 as the date of meeting of commissioners to settle the terms of peace between this country and Spain. Now that the war was practically over, it became necessary to withdraw as many of the U. S. troops as possible from the unhealthy situation in Cuba. A camp was hastily provided at Montauk Point, Long Island, and hither the troops were hurried from Cuba. Suffering could not be avoided, of course, and from Camp Wikoff at Montauk Point, and from the twelve other chief army camps as well as the smaller ones, went up a cry that the troops were not receiving the careful attention they de served. President McKinley made a personal visit to Montauk Point in August to satisfy himself as to the actual state of affairs. In September he ap pointed a commission to investigate the charges of criminal neglect of the soldiers in camp, field, hos pital, and transport, and to examine the administra tion of the war department in all its branches. The commission met first on September 27, sat in many places, and heard witnesses in city and camp. Gen. Miles, in his testimony, described the beef furnished the troops as "embalmed," and in reply on January 12, 1899, Commissary-Gen. Eagan denied the charge, and made such a bitter personal attack upon Gen. Miles that the president ordered his trial by court-martial, with the result that he was found guilty of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gen tleman, and sentenced to dismissal from the army.