Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-05-08

Generals Miles and Eagan Come In for
the Most Severe Criticism, One for Talk
ing Too Late and the Other for Buying
Too Freeiy-Beef Was All Right, Ex-
cept That 1t Was Not Satisfactory
Ration for Steady Use.
Washington, May S.-By direction of
the president. who approves the find
ings. Acting Secretary of War Meikle-
john yesterday made public the report
and findings of the military court APP
pointed to investigate the charges made
by Major General Miles that the beef
supplied to the army during the war
with Spain was unfit for the use of the
troops The most important features of
the report are: The finding that the
generals allegations that the refriger-
ated beef was treated with chemicals
We're not esta blished; that his allega-
lions concerning the canned fresh or
canned roast beef were sustained as to
its unsuitability for food as used on
the transports and as a long continued
field ration; censure of General Miles
for error in failing to promptly notify
the secretary of war when he first
formed the opinion that the food was
unfit; the finding that the packers were
not at fault and that the meats sup
piled to the army were of the same
quality as those supplied to the trade
generally.
Further Discipline Not Necessary.
The conclusion of the court adverse to
further proceedings based upon the
charges is as follows: 1T has been
developed in the course of the inquiry
as recited in this report. that in some
instances some individuals failed to
perform the full measure of duty to
observe the proprieties which dignity
high military command, but the court
is of the opinion that the mere state
ment in the official report of the facts
developed meets the ends of discipline,
and that the Interests Of the service will
be best subserved if further proceedings
be not taken"
Criticism of General Miles.
There is more or less criticism of
General Miles in various parts of the
report. Probably the mcst direct in
stance is the following: The court also
finds that the major general command
ing the army had no sufficient justifica-
ton for alleging that the refrigerated
beef was embalmed or was unfit for is
sue to troops. 1t also finds that he
committed an error in that having be-
lief or knowledge, as claimed, that the
food was unfit; that it caused sickness
and distress; that some of it was sup
piled under the pretense of experiment:
that other beef was embalmed-he did
not Immediately report such knowledge
or belief to the secretary of war to the
end that a proper remedy might be
promptly applied The silence of
Colonel Maus," also says the court, ION
so important a matter as the chemical
ICED beef reported by Major DAILY and
personally known to himself, is most
remarka ble.' Maus is on Miles staff.
Eagan Is Severely Criticised.
The report places the quantity of
canned roast beef purchased for the
war by the commissary department at
6.S47,174 pounds. including $500 pounds
which was brought from Liverpool and
other English ports. This amount is
characterize q as excessive, and the COM
nissary general (Eagan) is severely
criticised in several parts of the docu-
ment on this score. One of the severest
rebukes is as follows: The court pro-
nounces this act of the commissary
general Of subsistence a colossal error
for which there is no palliation."