The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1899-02-18
REVIEW OF FINDINGS
War Commission Makes Report on
Investigation Of Charges.
says War Department Lacked a Complete
Grasp of tho situation-commission
Finds Embalmsd Reef Charges TN
foanded-Recomm m en- dations.

Washington, Feb i4.-The report OF
the commission appointed by the
president to investigate the conduct OF
the war department In the war with
spain" was given publicity last night
exclusive Of the testimony, the review
and the findings make book Of 1875
pages The most important chapters
are those relating TO canned meats"
and ''the Santiago campaign"
The secretary OF war Is not wholly
spared from criticism. Upon Secre-
tary Alger the commission bestows
this discriminating attention.:
The records OF the war department which
have been laid before US show that the see re-
tary OF war extended 10 all chiefs Of bureaus
cordial and full support and promptly re,
sponded TO every proper demand made upon
him by commanding of1cers No testimony
has been presented showing Intentional neg :
lect OF duty nor any attempt TO serve personal
interests The charges that the secretary of
war was pecuniarily Interested In contracts,
purchases and other transactions Of the war
department have been thoroughly examined
and found baseless In the Judgment Of the
commission there was lacking In the general
administration OF the war department during
the continuance Of the war with Spain that
complete grasp OF the situation which was
essential to the highest eficlency and disc-
pline Of the army
The "embalmed beer charges are
found to have been wholly without
foundation, but inferentially Gen.
Miles comes In for severe criticism be-
cause of misconception OF his rela-
tions to the president and secretary OF
war. Under the caption OF authority
and responsibility" the report con
tains the following:
For many years the divided authority ant
responsibility in the war department has pro
duced friction for which. In the interest Of tn,
service, aromedy. II possible, should be applied
The constitution makes the president the com.
mander-ln-chiet Of the army aud be canno
transfer that authority 10 any other person
The president selects his secretary OF war, VII,
has his confidence and who Is his confdentla
adviser. The commanding general Is assignee
to duty a. such by the president and under tn,
military laws of the United States his dutie
are defined as follows;
The command exercised by the command
ing general Of tho army, not having been mad
the subject OF statutory regulation, Is deter
| Anihtd W Nut oTutT VI u15lHuiutut ~ uu3 Detl
habitually composed OF the aggregate OF tn
several territorial commands that have beel
or may be created by the president The mill
tary establishment Is under orders Of the com
manding general OF the army In that whic
pertains 10 Its discipline and military control
The fiscal AFFAIRS OF the army are conducted b
the secretary OF war through tha several sta
departments All orders and INSTRUCTIONS fron
the president or secretary Of war relating /
military operations or affecting the militar
control and discipline OF the army will be pro
muigated through the commanding general"
No part Of the report will be rea
with SO much public interest probabl,
as that relating to the charges of Gen
Miles regarding the dressed or refrig
Grated beef. The report says;
Immediately upon hearing the testimony {
DIR. DAILY on the 2)th OF January. telegram
we're sent to all issuing commissaries In Cub
Porto Rico and at the various home camps o,
cupied by troops. asking that samples OF rt
frigerated beef be at once taken, placed
glass Jars. securely sealed and forwarded TO IL
commission In response 10 this request mar
sar~ pies have been received and later sent
the chemists OF the agricultural and interit
departments for careful chemical examination
The result OF analysis has been reported to |
II
appended, in no specimen examined has eltht
borie or salicylic acids or other deleterlov
chemicals been found. In view Of the fact
above set forth the commission Is OF the opir
lon that no refrigerated beef furnished by COT
tractors and issued TO the troops during II
D war with Spain was subjected 10 or treats
with any chemicals by the contractors or tho'
IN their employ
In conclusion the resport says;
The result OF the Santiago campaign was Il
complete realization Of the several objects col
templated; The capture Of the city with 4
iortifications and munitions Of war togethl
with immense supplies OF food stu1s and an
munition the surrender OF the entire provlnI
Of Santiago de Cuba, with all the troops ga
risoning the same; the destruction by the nay
OF Admiral Cervera's feet after Its departu
from the harbor. and the general demorallz
n ton OF the Spanish forces and the dlscomfitu
OF the Spanish government and people, leai
ing almost Immediately 10 overtures for pea
by Spain. This was accomplished without u
loss OF prisoner a gun or color, and with
IT list OF casualties aggregating In killed lie
than 2t0, and In wounded less than !, ,4Oo-loss
which. In comparison with results, are 10
than have heretofore occurred In modern wa
= Isre.
The report also deals with the tran
portation OF troops, the medical al
re other departments and makes man
auU0estionq