Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-05-09
MILES KEEPS SILENT.
Will Make No Comment on Army Beef
Courts Report.
WHICH Is ADVERSE TO HIM.
General EaEan and Colonel Weston
Are Also Scored by the Inves-
tiEatOrs In Regard to
the Canned Beef.

Washington, May 2. - General Miles
declines to make any statement regard
ing the report of the army beef court
Of inquiry just made public. He merely
remarked that he had mo comment
whatever to make" He has carefully
discussed the report with his friends.
In its report the court declares that
the allegation of General Miles that
the refrigerated beef was embalm-
ed Is not sustained. The canned roast
beef is declared to be unsuitable for use
as field ration, but to have been good
and fresh when delivered, and the pack
ers are not to blame.
General Eagan Is condemned for pur-
chasing such large quantities of the
canned article when it was an untried
ration, and General Miles is sharply
criticised for not promptly reporting to
the secretary Of war his knowledge or
belief that the food was unfit and caus-
ed sickness. Finally the court recon-
mends that no further proceedings in
the matter be taken. The following eX-
tracts give the more important por-
tions Of the report:
The Refrigerated Beef.
1.-THE testimony shows that the re-
frigerated beef was received at first
with great satisfaction. The arrange
ments for issuing TIE beef and trans
porting it to the camps do not seem to
have been either adequate or efficient.
1.-THE court finds that the allegations
of the major general commanding, to
the effect that the refrigerated beef
supplied to the troops was treated with
es ablished. The court also finds that
50 much of the allegation of the major
general command ng in respect to the
canned fresh beef. as relates to it's UNI
suitability for food, as actually used on
the transports and as to it's extensive
or long continued use as field ration
are sustained.
I'm the opinion of the court. none of
the other allegations in relation to the
canned fresh beef is sustained The
evidence shows that Colonel John F.
Weston, assistant commissary general
of subsistence. recommended the adop
ton of the canned roast beef as COM
ponent of the field ration and to this
extent he is responsible
Engan's Share of Blame.
"Considering the little use that had
been made of this beef in the regular
army. the probability that the volun-
teers We're entirely ignorant of it and
that its use as a part of the field ration
had never been sanctioned by the presi-
dent or secretary of war, the court can
but characterize the action of the COM
misSaly general of subsistence as I'M
warranted and reckless, in that he or
dered the purchase of such enormous
quantities of a food that was practical
ly untried and unknown, and the court
so finds.
"The court also finds that there is no
ground for any imputation of any other
actuating motive on the part of the
commissary general than the earnest
desire to procure the best possible food
for the troops. The court pronounces
this act of the commissar general of
subsistence a colossal error. for which
there is no palliaton.
THE court also finds that the major
general commanding the army had no
sufficient justification for alleging that
the refrigerated beef was embalmed or
was unfit for issue to troops. 1t also
finds that he committed an error in
that, having belief or knowledge, as
claimed. that the food was unfit, that it
caused sickness and distress. that some
of 1t was supplied under the pretense OF
that other beef was en-
balmed, he did not Immediately report
such knowledge or belief to the secre-
tary of war. to the end that proper
remedy might he promptly applied"