The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-02
REPORT OF THE WADE COURT
General Miles Loses HIS Case Against
the canned and the Refrigerated
Beef-The Generals Conduct CrItis
cfsed

ASC
Washington, April 29.-The Wade
court Of inquiry today concluded its
work il connection with the allegations
Of General Miles concerning the beef
supplied to the army during the wal
with Spain. The report was signed at
2:30 o'clock p. m. by every membe Of
the board and soon afterward the
members of the court left the Lemon
building, where all the meetings in the
city have been held. Colonel Davis,
the recorder of the court, carried the
official copy of the finding to the war
department, and in the absence Of Sec
rotary Alger, delivered it to Acting
Secretary Meiklejohn.
Mr.. Meiklejohn Immediately sealed
h document in an envelope n for
warded it to the White house, whence
il vas dispatched forthwith to the
president in New York
The report is of about 10000 words
and goes fully into the questions which
have been raised in connection with
the army beef. The text has not been
made public and will not be until after
the president shall ave read it. Il
will hen rest with him to say when
the report shall be given to the public.
The verdict, however, is known 10 be
that the allegations which General
Miles made before the war investigat-
ing commission are not sustained with
reference to the refrigerated beef, al
though his contention that the canned
roast beef was not a suitable continu-
Gus ration is admitted. There is direct
criticism Of General Miles for failing
to promptly bring the attention of the
war department TO reports made 10
him concerning bad beef and several
individuals are censured for failing
to observe the proprieties of their po-
sitions as commanding officers in this
and other respects.
The forecast of the report as made
by the Associated Press on the 18th
instant was an accurate one. AS was
then stated, the u takes the posi-
ton that the testimony is conclusive
that both the refrigerated beef and the
canned beef were in good condition
when delivered to the government and
continued SO till issued to the troops,
except in especial instances, when the
deterioration was due to accidental
conditions in transportation or to- the
influences of the tropical climate.
The report admits the liability of re-
frigerated beef to faint quickly after
removal from ice chests.
The court finds the charges of EN-
balmlng" the fresh beef to have been
un~SubStantiated by the testimony and
SayS no chemicals were used to pre-
serve it. 1t also n d that it wou
ave been ~impracticable to secure beef
OF the hoof for the Cuban campaign.
The finding is likewise in opposition to,
the assertion or the part of General
Miles that the use of the beef was an
experiment.
Much attention is given to the
charges concerning the canned roast
beef, and it is stated that the testi-
mOny rOved it to have been whole
some and nutritious where used in
moderation and under favorable cir
cumstances. The position is taken that
o much of this article of food was
supplied to the men and that under
n circumstances it was unpalatable
and found undesirable. The fact is set
forth that the canned roast beef had
not been used to any appreciate ex-
tent before the beginning of this war,
and it is, therefore, regarded as a prac-
tically untried ration. In view of this
fact the commissary general of sub
sistence is roundly criticised for the
purchase of the meat in such extern
sive quantities. AS to the character of
the meat for wholesomeness and nutri-
ton b reports Of Professors Atwater
and Crittenden are quoted at length,
sustaining the claims in this respect.
The instructions of the president are
followed closely in order and all the
points indicated by him as being those
upon which he desired that inquiry
should be made are covered.