The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-02
|COURT-MARTIAL FOR MILES?
THE COMMANDING GENERAL WAY RE
SUMMONED FOR Thrill.

His Latest Contribution to the Press Has
About Exhausted the Patience of the
Administration-The War Commission to
Make Further Inquiry Into Army beef.
WAsuINGToN. Feb. THE reiteration BY
Major. Gen. Miles. in a statement given out for
publication in New York last night. that the
beef served to the soldiers in the war with
Spain had been poisoned by chemicals and
was UNIT to eat. may have n decided bearing
on the official future Of the Major-General
commanding the army. Up 10 this time Gen.
Miles has been protected from being called to
account for his criticism of the Administra-
ton. through the promise OF immunity from
prosecution TO witnesses testifying before the
War investigating Commission. and because
he declined to acknowledge responsibility for
the interviews purporting to have been had
with him by newspaper reporters. The pa
thence of the Administration has been severe
iy tried and the latest contribution OF the
commanding General has about exhausted It.
There Is reason tn believe that the Admin
istrntion is collecting 1ata in regard to the
public criticisms OF Gen. Miles and having an
inquiry made into the military law affecting
his status. The purpose OF this action has not
been Disclosed. but it is evident that the Ad-
mtnistration contem plates some action with
ICHuld " WV VI w
General.
II Gen. Miles is DESTROYS OF being tried by
court martial. as many army officers believe.
there Is considerable probability that he will
be gratihed. II may be accepted as true that
the latest contribution OF Gen. Miles to the
beef controversy has irritated a Number Of
those prominent in the councils OF the Ad-
ministration. who believe that It IL going be-
You'd the bounds OF military discipline for the
senior officer OF The army to use the public
press In circulating charges that should be
preferred to the proper authorities for investi-
Ration in the regular official manner.
In the statement which he gave out in New
York last night Gen. Miles is quoted as saying
that the canned roast beef served TO the SOL
diers was unnutrltious and nauseating. A
sun reporter was told to-day that the War In
vestigation Commission had received from the
Var Department the copy OF a communication
TO the department from Gen. Miles dated Oct.
IL. 1897, in which he recommended the use OF
canned roast beef for the soldiers who were TO
be sent to Alaska at that time. This communi-
cation. which contains statements in direct
contradiction to the remarks attributed to
Gen. Miles in his New York interview. was re-
ceived by the Investigation Commission only
a few days aRo. 1t was not discovered by the
War Department officials until then.
The work OF the War Investigating Com
mission will not be concluded for several
days. The report that was expected to be
ready for delivery to the President to-day
is not half finished. and it is impossible 10
fix a day when it will be concluded, be-
cause OF the intention Of the commission to
make a complete and thorough investigation OF
the food supply OF the army. Several members
OF the commission believe that a further in
Quiry into the beef question is unnecessary
but others are not satisfied TO let the matter
rest until every indication Of the use OF chemi-
calls is inquired into.
Reports OF several of the members of the
commission on different subjects have been
completed and read to the commission for dis,
s Sp 81 Gen T Beaver Sepi Ii 6 re Gsmtp wien i fe fs% Of fse
operations Of the army from the landing OF the
troops at Bai9uiri to the surrender Of the city
The responsibility for the fght, at, Las Quasi
mas is given in the report. and the facts re-
speeding every move OF the army are related in
the commission and as understood by every
member of the War Commission.
a report ON It2Sa the camps Of tie troops IN The
United States. 1t opens with a general history
Of the camps and q statement as TO their selec-
sponsibIe' for the selection Of the different
camps. 1t viii say that Chickamauga Park
was an excellent place for the en%campment OF
troops. but that better Judgment could have
been exercised In the placing OF the regiments
on thr Ero o nerea a t 70 M1 1n : hnfis ,h els Gom rnnsd
have been selected for the encampment OF the
convalescent and returning soldiers from Cuba
II will be shown conclusively by reference e
the testimony before the commission that Sec,
rotary IAlger was not pecuniarily Interested IN
the selection OF any campw whatever. and the re
port that he was interested in the camp at Fer
nandinn, Fla, will be declared without the
slightest foundation. 1t will be found that
Gen. Miles recommended the camp u, Chicka'
manga. but the report Will not say that his
recommendation was not proper. On the CON
trary. ChickamauRa Park as II camp site viii
he praised, and only IFS management vii
receiv" criticism.
Neither Capt. Evan =. Howell OF GeorRia. tc
whom has been assigned the subject OF trans.
ports. nor DR.. Phineas Conner If Cincinnati
who has the medical department to review. ha.
completed his report. but it is believed tina
they will be readyto report to the commission
some time this week.
Other subjects have been assigned 10 the
different members. but no unnouncem ent has
been made OF them yet. The question that il
delaying the commission is the beef supply
After an executive session to-day il was de
cided to reopen the subject. and a summon.
was sent to James Farnan Of Chester. Pa. ask
ing him to appear before the commission ant
testify regarding the alleged injections o
chemicals into the refrigerated beef furnishe,
the troops. Farnan IL, said to have. written
letter TO DIR. Maxwell Christine In Philadelphia
confirming the latter'S charges that he saw
fluid injected into some meat in an Omaha
Neb.. packing house. Earnan says he was EN-
p'oyed at the Omaha Exposition. and visitet
the packing house frequently and observed tn
preparation.