The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-05-08
Findings Given Out Approved BY
the President
GENERAL MILES REBUKED
For Not Making Report on In
ferior Beef
WHEN He FIRST DISCOVERED IT
Famous "EmbaImed Beef Phrase
Entirely Unwarranted.
BEEF NOT GOOD FIELD RATION
And Eagan Severely Condemned for
Buying 1t in Great Quantities When
It Was an Experiment Further
Investigation III Advised.

Washington, May by direction of the
president, who approves the findings, Act
ing Secretary of War Meikeljohn today
made public the report and findings of the
military court appointed to investigate the
charges by Major General Miles, command
ing the army, that the beef supplied to the
army during the war with Spain was unfit
for the use of troops The most important
features are:
The finding of the generals allegation
that the refrigeration was treated with
chemicals and that his allegations con-
cerning the canned fresh or canned roast
beef were sustained as to its unsuitability
for food as used in transports.
Censure of General Miles for error in
failure to promptly notify the secretary of
war when he first formed the opinion that
the food was unfit.
Censure of the commissary general (then
General Eagan) for the too extensive pur-
chases of the canned beef as an untried
ration.
Censure of Colonel Maus, of the general
staff.
The finding that the packers were not at
fault and that the meats supplied to the
army were of the same quality as those
supplied to the trade generally and the
recommendation that no further proceed
ings would be taken in the premises.
Against Further Proceedings
The conclusion of the court adverse to
further proceedings based upon the charges
is as follows:
az 1t has been developed In the course of
the inquiry as recited In this report
that In some instances some 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 develop
ed conditions that discipline and inter-
ests of the service would be best SUBJ
served If further proceedings be not
taken
There is more or less criticism of Gem.
eral Miles in various parts of the report.
Probably the most direct instance is this.
1.-THE court finds that against no officers
commanding corps divisions, brigades and
regiments and their staff officers should a
charge of guilty be brought.
"The court also finds that the major general
commanding the army had no justification
for allef1ing that the refrigerated beef was
cmbalmed, was unfit for issue to troops. 1t
also finds that he committed error In that
: his belief or knowledge, as claimed, that the
food was unfit, that 1t caused sickness and
distress; that some of 1t was supplied under
the pretense of experiment, that other beef
was embalmed, he did not report such imme-
diately to the Department.
The censure of Colonel Maus, inspector
general on Miles staff, is based upon his
failure to call attention to charges con-
cerning the beef at Chickamauga In a re-
port of inspection made by Major DAILY on
the 9Th of October last in which he stated
his belief that the beef was chemically
treated
: .sThe silence of Colonel Maus," says the
court ION such important matters as the
chemicalzed beef reported by Major Daily
: this personally known to himself is most
remarkable
The remark Is also made that General
Miles failure to draw special attention to
this report tss'unexplained."
A1BIow At Miles
s.f commenting upon General Miles testi-
Smony that he had first formed the opinion
Hast August that the refrigerated beef had
been processed, the court remarks:
Sa$ss ss+ +ss 80 sss -
- tsWhatever the date upon which he
formed belief or reasonable sus-
picion 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 within his >
control to ascertain the fact and control
the wrong If any should be found"
. s-s =
Miles Took No Precautions
It would have been practicable to obtain
samples Of the beef, 1t being supplied to
the army by contractors, and to have sub
niittcd these SAMPLES to chemical examina-