The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-05-08
THE BEEF
FINDINGS ]
Report Of the Wade Court of In
quiry Given to the Public.
MILES AND BAGAE OENsURBD.


Court Recommends That No Further
Proceedings BE Taken.
Washington, May S.-By direction OF
the president. who approves the find
ings, acting Secretary Of the War
Meikeljohn yesterday 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:
legations that the refrigerated beef
was treated with chemicals we're not
established; that his allegations con-
corning the canned fresh or canned
roast beef were sustained as to its un-
suitability for food as used on the
transports and as a long continued
field ration; oensure of General Miles
for error" In failing to promptly no
tify the secretary of war when he first
formed the opinion that the food was
eral (then General Eagan) for the too
extensive purchases of the canned beef
as an untrled ration; censure of Col
onel Maus of General Miles staff; the
finding that the packers were not at
fault, and that the meats supplied to
the army we're of the same quality as
those supplied to the trade generally.
and the recommendation that no furth-
er proceedings be taken in the prem
ises
The conclusion of the court ad-
verse to further proceedings based
upon the charges is as follows:
1T has been developed in the course
OF the inquiry that in some instances
certain individuals failed to perform
the full measure 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 de-
veloped meets the ends of discipline.
and that the interests of the service
will be best subserved II further pro-
ceedings be not taken"
There Is more or less criticism of
General Miles in various parts of the
report. Probably the most direct in
stance is the following:
The court finds that against none
or the officers commanding CORDS, d.
visions, brigades and regiments and
their staff officers should a charge of
guilt be brought.
THE court also finds that the major
general commanding the army had not
suticient justification for alleging that
the refrigerated beef was embalmed or
was unit for issue to troops. It also
hnds that he committed an error in
that having belief or knowledge as
claimed that the food was unfit, that II
caused sickness or distress, that some
or 1t was supplied under the pretense
of experiment, that other beef was en-
balmed, he did not Immediately report
such knowledge or belief to the score
tary OF war, to the end that a 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 at
tention to charges concerning the beef
at Chickamauga.
THE silence of Colonel Maus." saws
the court, 'on an important matter. as |
the chemicalized beef reported by Ma
jor DAILY and personally known to him |
self, is most remarkable" The remark |
is also made that General Miles failure |
to draw special attention to this report |
is unexplained.
Commenting upon General Miles'
testimony that he had first formed the
opinion last August that the refrig-
Grated beef had been processed, the
court remarks:
Whatever the date upon which he
formed a belief, or a reasonable sus-
picion, that the health of the troops
was being impaired by the use of dele |
terious food, II was his bound duty.
In the opinion OF the court, instantly |
10 take the most effective measures |
within his control to ascertain the |
actual fact and to correct the wrong, IL
any should be found.
"The court finds that the allegations
Of the major general commanding to
the effect that the refrigerated beef |
supplied to the troops was treated with
chemical preservatives have not been
The court also finds that
20 much of the allegations OF the major
general commanding in respect to the
canned roast beef, as relates to its un-
for food as actually used on
The transports, and as to its extensive
or long continued use as a field ration
are sustained, In the opinion of the
court none of the other allegations In
relation to the canned fresh beef are
The report places the quantity of |
canned roast beef purchased for the
war by the commissary department at |
5,S47174 pounds, including $50, 900 |
pounds which was brought from Liver
pool and other English ports. This
amount is characterized as excessive.
and the commissary general General |
1agan) is severely criticized in several
parts Of the document on this score.
One OF the severest rebukes is as fol- |
ows:
Considering the little use that had
been made Of this beef In the regular
army, the probability that the yolun- |
teers were entirely ignorant of It. that |
It's use as a part of the field ration had |
never been sanctioned by the president |
or secretary of war, the court can but
characterize the action of the commits |
sary general of subsistence as unwar-
ranted and reokless-in that he ordered |
the purchase Of such enormous quanti-
ties of food that was practically un-
tried and unknown, and the court 40 |
finds, The court also finds that there |
Is no ground for any imputation, what |
ever, of any other actuating motive ON |
the part of the commissary general |
than the earnest desire to procure the |
best possible food for the troops. The |
court pronounces this act OF the COM |