Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1899-05-13
CENSURE FOR THREE,
Miles, Eagan and Maus Criticized
by Court of Inquiry.
synopsis of the Report-Chnrge That
Refrigerated Beef Wns Treated by
Chemicals Not Estnblished-
Some Other Features.


Washington. May S.-By direction of the
president, who approves the findings, Act
ing Secretary of War Meiklejohn has made
public the report and findings of the milf
tary court appointed to investigate the
charges made by Maj Gen. Miles, COM
manding the army, that the beef supplied
to the army during the war with Spain
was unfit for the use of the troops.
Its Findings.
The most important features of the re-
port are: The finding that the generaFS
allegations 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 unsuitabllity for food
used on the transports and as long
continued field ration; censure OF Gen.
Miles for error in failing to promptly
notify the secretary of war when he first
formed the opinion that the food was un-
fit censure of the commissary general
(then Gen. Eagan) for the too extensive
purchases of the canned beef as an un-
tried ration; censure of Col. Maus, of Gen.
Miles staff; 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,
and the recommendation that no further
proceedings be taken in the premises.
Oppose Further Proceedings.
The conclusion of the court adverse to
| further proceedings based upon the
| charges is as follows: "It has been devel-
| oped in the course of the inquiry, as recited
| in this report, that in some instances some
| individuals failed to perform the full meas
ure of duty or to observe the proprieties
| which dignity high military command, but
| the court is of the opinion that the mere
statement 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 Miles.
Commenting upon Gen. Miles testimony
| that he had first formed the opinion last
| August that the refrigerated beef had been
| processed, the court remarks: Whatever
| the date upon which he formed a belief or
a reasonable suspicion, that the health of
| the troops was being impaired by the use
| of deleterious food, 1t was his bounden
duty, in the opinion of the court, instantly
| to take the most effective measures with
| in his control to ascertain the actual fact
| and to correct the wrong, II any should
be found. 1t would have been practicable
to obtain samples of the beef then being
supplied to the army by contractors and
| to lave submitted these samples to chem
ical examination, which would have re-
suited in the detection of the presence or
absence of boric and salicylic acids or any
other chemical agent that may have been
| used as preserVattVe agent. Yet no SUCH
| preCaullOn as tndt suggested was taken
| by the major general commanding at that
time or at any subsequent time, so far as
has been learned by the court"
Rebuke for Eagan.
The report places the quantity of canned
roast beef purchased for the war by the
commissary department at 6,Si7,lE pounds
including $50, 600 pounds which was brought
from Liverpool and other English ports
This amount is characterized as excessive
and the commissary general Gen. Eagan.
is severely criticised in several parts OF
the document on this score.
other Conclusions.
Replying specifically to other questions
set out by the president, the court says:
That the canned beef was described al
fresh" because it was not salted, but tina
the meat was not old or stale.
That the refrigerated beef furnished tbs
army was mot doctored or treated will
any other agency than cold air.
That the meat purchased for the army
was the meat of commerce; that "bott
kinds-refrigerated and canned-were sucl
as are well known in both hemispheres a.
commercial articles, of which there is ant
has been very large consumption not onl!
by the trade generally, but by the United
States navy and by the armies and navie
of Europe"
That no reports of unfitness or unsuita
bility of the beef sent from the Unite'
States were forwarded to the war depart
ment by any general officer serving in Cubs
or Porto Rico while the field operation
were in progress, nor were any such report
received until more than month after hos
| tilities ceased.
That, barring some defects in methods o
Inspecting the beef on its delivery to tn
, subsistence department, the deterioration
Of the meat 'n shipment was due to tn
iault of no one.
Miles Charges.
; The charges of Gen. Miles, as made Il
newspaper interviews, as we'll as thos
made before the war investigating commits
sion, are referred to at length, among theT
being the interview with the general sen
out from the New York office of the Asso
, ciated Press on the S1st of January, i
: which Gen. Miles was quoted as saying tina
he had Overwhelming evidence that tn
beef was treated with chemicals to preserv
II ard that he had affidavits from men VIII
saw the beef undergoing the embalmin
process" The court notes the denial whic
Gen. Miles made of this part of the convel
l sation as ii was printed in the New Yor
/ Herald. but prints the charge as a part c
the allegations, saying on this point: 18th
testimony of both Mr.. Reid and Mr. Berr!
of the New York Times, agree in the VERT
of the interview as reported by the forme
ard this is found in the Herald clipping
The court does not therefore ignore tn
paragraph. but treats 1t as part of the a
legations which are under investigation.
r Several pages of the report are devote
oy Gen. Miles that the refrigerated bee
was treated with preservatives, but III
statement is made upon the threshold
8 this question that but little testimony wa
r submitted by him in support of this col
tention." The inference drawn by til
D court from the absence of such testimon
Q Is adverse to the existence of the practiI
I alleged to prevail by the major generi
n commanding.
Approved by the President.
a The report closes with the following stat
ment: THE court with deep sense of IL
s. responsibilities devolving upon it has Ii
Il bored zealously to bring out the truth ar
n believes that 1t has fully covered all Il
matters referred to it for investigatio
D That the calling of more witnesses from Il
e large number suggested by the major ge
= eral commanding, including all those WI
a have taken part in the operations of Il
war would only have resulted in addition
l. testimony on the same lines as those pu
sued, without throwing further light upt