Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-08
Gen. Miles Will Not Discuss the Beef
Court Report.
CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY LOOKED FOR
indignation of the Commanding
Generals Friends.
WILL LET THE MA TIER DROP

THE President is commander in-chief of
the army and my superior. He has ap-
proved the findings of the Wade court of
inquiry. Therefore, have no comment to
make. 1t would be an unsoldierly act were
l to do So
With these words General Miles courte-
him for a moment today with regard to the
probable action he would take in view of
the adverse report of the court.
viii you formulate protest to the
Prestdent?'' was the next question.
Il have nothing to say. No, SIR" replied
the general.
"Will you inspire a congressional investi-
gation?"
NO sir. 1 will not talk upon the sub
ject."
DO you believe Congress will rectify the
matter?"
Il do not know what Congress will do
nor have L any means of knowing in ad-
vance what verdict the result of an investi-
cation might develop. | have no comment
criticism or statement to make in this mat
ter, and you may take 1t as certain that
any alleged interviews or intimations to the
contrary said to come from me or near me
are wholly and unqualifiediy false
L was, and am, now actuated solely by
the consideration of health, lives and in
Gen. Miles excused himself from further
conversation the subject and resumed
his frugal luncheon of apples and cheese
on the desk at his side.
Will Let the Matter Rest.
1t can be accepted as an indisputabie
fact that Gen. Miles will let the army beef
matter rest where 1t is. His friends are
anxious that he shall say no more and take
no further steps. On all sides he has been
advised that the public does not give full
faith and credence to the findings
1t is the general belief however. among
Gen. Mi!as' friends. that a congressional in
qufry Is inevitable. The pressure for this
they say, Will come without any impetus
aGded by Gen. Miles
The attack upon Col Maus," remarked
an army officer today was wholly unex-
pscted and undeserved. A more honest or
faithful officer never lived.
He never saw the daily report and never
heard of 1t. There was absolutely no rea-
son for the court to refer to him. He is
affecting the lives and honor of the army
the officers and men who ate the meat
should have been heard. Undergraduates
could easily have been sent to them with
Instructions to state Wher her the meat was
good or was bad.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES could have been
agreed upon. An interrogatory was sent by
the court to man named Armstrong in
leNdS. why could not 10000 q day have
been sent out? 1t would have been easy.
"Of ffty-four witnesses for Gen Miles as
to characterization of beef only sixteen
were called and the others were refused a
hearing
Officers stopped From Acting.
Another close friend of Gen. Miles and an
officer of the army, when asked if there
was anything for the general to do in re-
gard to the report, replied: There is moth
Ing for him to say or do. The report has
been approved by the President and the
President is the commander-in-chef of The
army. Criticism of the report or any other
acton would be a violation of military
duty"
Inquiry was made as to the legal status
OF the ofhcers criticised and what course
they might pursue, and 1t was stated that
as military proposition it was Impossible
Tor any action to be taken by any of the
officers aggrieved They might demand a
court of inquiry, but 1t was a court of in
qulry which recommended that no further
action be taken; this being approved by the
president precluded any further inquiry.
Lieut.. Col Maus one of the officers criti-
clsed, feels it keenly. His friends say he
was among the witnesses whom General
Miles asked to be called, and was not call
ed by the court, and they think an injus-
tlce has been done him in this matter. Col.
Maus has been for some time past an Of
Hcer on the ste IF of Cen Miles