When Patton and his army entered Messina (16 August 1943), General Eisenhower wrote him, saying he had received word of the slapping incidents. Eisenhower told Patton there was no excuse for losing his temper in front of his soldiers. He said there was no excuse for brutality of the sick and injured. He ordered Patton to publicly apologize to their divisions and to the two men personally. Patton wrote Eisenhower a note of apology, then he proceeded to address his troops as he was ordered. On 30 August, he was giving his public apology for the third and last time to the 3rd Division: Patton was giving his short speech when his troops sensed he was about to apologize. They started chanting "No general, no, no; General, no, no." They cut him off from his apology and would not let him give it. Overcome with emotion Patton left the stage.