The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1899-02-17
WAR INVESTIGATORS.
Review Of the Findings Made BY
the Presidents Commission.
War Departments CFItieIsed-COmmis-Ion
uFH Say II Lacked That CompIste Grasp
Essential 70 the Highest Emoieney
OF the Army.

Washington, Feb. 1.-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 ths review
and the findings make 3 book Of 125
pages The most important chapters
sre those relating 70 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 secrs-
tsry o. war extended % all chiefs Of bureaus
cordial and full support and promptly re-
spOnded 70 every proper demand made upon
him b. commanding officers No testimony
has been presented showing Intentional neg
lect Of duty nor any attempt 20 serve person i
interests The charges that the secretary Of
war was pecuniariIy interested In contracts,
purchases and other transactions o. the war
department have been thoroughly examined
and found bsseless In the judgment Of the
commission there was lscElng IN the general
administration Of the war department during
the continuance Of the war with Spain that
complete grasp OF the situation which wa5
essential TO the highest efficiency and disci-
pline Of the army
The "embalmed beef charges are
found to have been wholly without
foundation, but inferen tally Gen.
Miles comes in for severe criticism be-
cause Of a 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 and
responsibility in the war department has pro-
duCed friction for which. in the interest OF the
service, q remedy, II possible, should be applied
The constitution makes the president the COM
mander-in-Chief Of the army and he cannot
transfer that authority TO any other person
The president selects his secretary OF war. who
has his confidence and who is his confidential
adviser The commanding general is assigned
70 duty as such By the president and under ths
military Laws OF the United States his duties
are defined as follows
THE command exercised by the command
ing general Of the army not having been made
the subject OF statutory regulation IS deter
mined By the order OF assignment II has been
habitually composed Of the aggregate OF the
several territorial commands that have been
OF may be created By the president The milf
tary establishment is under orders OF the com
handing general OF the army in that which
pertains 70 its discipline and military control
The fiscal affairs Of the army are conducted by
the secretary Of war through the several stan
departments All orders and Instructions from
the president or secretary Of war relating 10
military operations or affecting the military
control and discipline OF the army viii be pro-
mulgated through the commanding general
No part of the report viii be read
with so much public interest probably
as that relating to the charges Of Gen.
Miles regarding the dressed or refrIg-
Grated beef The report says:
Immediately upon hearing the testimony Of
Dr. DAILY, on the 2Jth Of January. teleZrams
we're sent TO all issuing C0mmissaries in Cuba,
Porto Rico and a. the various home camps OC-
Cupisd by troops, asking that samples Of re-
frigerated beef be ct once taken placed in
glass Jars securely sealed and forwarded % the
commission In response 70 this request many
samples have been received and later sent 20
the chemists Of the agricultural and interior
departments for careful chemical examination
The result OF analysis has been reported to Us
IN Sc cases and. as viii be seen BY the reports
appended, in no specimen examined has either
bOric or salicylio acids or other deIeterious
chemicals been found In view Of the facts
above set forth the commission IS OF the opin-
ion that 10 refrigerated beef furnished b. cou-
tractors and issued 20 the troops during the
war with Spain was subjected 70 or treated
with any chemicals By the contractors or those
in their employ
In conclusion the respOrt says:
The result OF the Santiago campaign was the
complete realization Of the several objects con-
tsmplated: The capture Of the city with its
fOrtihcations and munitions OF war together
with immense supplies OF food stuhs and am
munition: the surrender Of the entire province
Of Santiago de Cuba, with all the troops gar
risOntng the same; the destruction by the navy
Of Admiral Cervera's feet after its departure
from the harbor, and the general demOraliza-
ton OF the Spanish forces and the discontinue
Of the Spanish government and people. lead
ing almost Immediately 70 overtures for peac5
By Spain This was accomplished without the
loss Of q prisoner, a gun or q color. and with .
list Of casualties agEreEating in killed less
than 80, and in wounded less than I. z00-lOsSes
which. in comparison with results are less
than have heretofore occurred in modern war
fare
The report also deals with the trans
pOrtatiOn of troops, the medical and
other departments and makes many