The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-05-12
Erred in Failing to Notify the
Secretary of War That the
Food Was Unfit.
NO CHEMICALS WERE USED
Allegations to That Effect Held
Not Established by the
Testimony Given.
General Eagan Reproved for
Too Extensive Buying of
Untried RationS.

WASHINGTON, May S.-By direction
of the president, who approves the find
ings, Acting Secretary of War Meikle-
john has made public the report and
findings of the military court appointed
to investigate the charges made by
Major General Miles, commanding the
army, 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 findings that the generals allie
cations that the refrigerated beef was
treated with chemicals were not estab-
lished; that his allegations concerning
the canned fresh or canned roast beef
were sustained as to its unsuitability
for food as used on the transports and
as long continued field ration; censure
of General Miles for ''error" in failure
to promptly notify the secretary of war
when he first formed the opinion that
the food was unfit; censure of the COM
missary general (then General Eagan)
for the too extensive purchases of the
SdL4Oo OCC1 do OIL tI1G1 lCO
Adverse to Further Proceedings.
That the allegations of General Miles
that the refrigerated beef was
piled to the army was of the same quail
ity as that supplied to the trade gener-
ally, and the recommendation is that
no further proceedings be taken in the
premises.
The conclusion of the court, adverse
to further proceedings based upon the
charges, is as follows:
SIT has been developed in the course
of the inquiry, as recited in this report.
that in some instances some individuals
failed to perform their full duty or 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"
There is more or less criticism of
General Miles in various parts of the
report. Probably the most direct in
SldllC0 10 lu0 lOl1OWluS.
General Miles Action Unjustifiable.
'The court finds that against none of
the officers commanding corps, divi-
sions, brigades and regiments and their
staff officers should charge of guilt be
brought.
''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 it
was supplied under the pretense of ex-
pertinent, 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 be promptly applied"
The censure of Colonel Maus, in
spector general on General Miles staff,
is based upon his failure to call atten-
ton to charges concerning the beef at
Chickamauga.
Beef on the Hoof Impracticab1e.
The report declares that it would
have been impracticable to land beef
cattle on the hoof in Cuba, the remarks
of the court on this point being as fol-
lows:
"The commanding general of the ex-
petition characterized as absurd such
propos1u1on, ana many VI ais COM
manding officers, whose opinions are
given in the testimony, conceded with
him in the impracticability or mex
pediency of such a project. The court
concurs in the opinion" ..
Summing up the reports of the inves-
LEGATIONS of the chemists employed by
the court, the court says:
"The contents of all the cases, which
consisted of boiled rather than roast
beef, were found to be perfectly sweet
with an odor of cooked meat. The beef
in nearly all the cans appeared to have
been softened by exposure to heat, but
apparently without injurious effect as
to its quality; apart from this the meat
contents were found to be in a good
state of preservation in every case. No
trace of preventative acids We're found
in any of the cans"