The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-05-09
VERDICT In BEEF CASE.
President Approves Findings of
Inquiry Board.
GENERAL MILES is oENsURED.

Declared an Unsuitable Ration-Gen-
eral Egan Blamed for Shortcomings
Court DESTROYS of Dropping Discussion.
WASHINGTON, May 8.-By direction
OF the president, who approves the find
ings, Acting Secretary of War Meikle-
john yesterday made public the report
and findings of the military court ap-
pointed 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 re-
port are: The finding that the generals
allegations that the refrigerated beef
was treated with chemicals were not es-
tablished; that his allegations concern
ing the canned fresh or canned roast
beef were sustained as to its unsuitable
ity for food as used on the transports
and as long continued field ration;
censure of General Miles for ''error" in
failing to promptly notify the secretary
Of war when he first formed the opin-
ion that the food was unfit; censure of
the commissary general (then General
Eagan for the too extensive purchases
Of the canned beef as an untried ration;
censure of Colonel Maus of General
Miles staff; the finding that the packers
were not at fault, and the meats sup
piled to the army were of the same
quality as those supplied to the trade
generally, and the recommendation that
no further proceedings will be taken in
the premises.
Adverse to Further Agitation.
The conclusion of the court adverse to
further proceedings based upon the
charges is as follows: cit has been de-
veloped in the course of the inquiry
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 of the official report of the
facts developed meets the ends Of disci-
pine, and that the interests of the SER
vice will be best subserved if further
proceedings are 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 one which states that be-
yond the criticism of. officers found else.
where in the report: "The court finds
that against none of the officers COM
handing corps, divisions, brigades and
regiments and their staff officers should
no charge Of guilty be brought.
The court also finds that the major
general commanding the army had no
sufficient justification for alleging that
the refrigerated beef was embalmed or
was unfit for issue to troops. 1t also
1 finds that he committed an error in that,
having belief or knowledge, as claimed,
that the food was unfit; that it caused
sickness and distress; that some of it
was supplied under the pretense Of ex-
pertinent; that other beef was en-
balmed, he did not Immediately report
such knowledge or belief to the secre-
tary of war to the end that proper
remedy might be promptly applied"
Colonel AIaus Censured.
The censure of Colonel Maus, in
spector general on General Miles staff,
is based upon his failure to call atten-
ton to charges concerning the beef at
Chickamauga contained in report of
inspection made by DR.. Major DAILY on
the 26th of October last, in which he
stated his belief that the beef was chem
ically treated. 'The silence of Colonel
Maus, says the court, ION SO import
ant matter as the chemicallzed beef
reported by Major Daily and personally
known to himself, is most remarkable. :"
The remark is also made that Gen
eral Miles failure to draw special atten-
ton to this report is unexplained.
Commenting upon General Miles
testimony that he had first formed the
opinion last August that the refrigerated
beef had been prooessed, the court re-
marks: Whatever the date upon which
he formed belief, or reasonable sus-
picion, that the health of the troops was
being impaired by the use of deleteri-
Gus food, it was his bounded duty, in
the opinion of the court, instantly to
take the most effective measures within
his control to ascertain the actual fact
and to correct the wrong, if any should
be found. It would have been prac-
ticable to obtain samples of the beef
then being supplied to the army by con-
tractors and to have submitted these
samples to chemical examination, which
would have resulted IN the detection of
the presence or absence of boric or sail
cylic acids, or any other chemical agent
that may have been used as preserya.
tive agent. Yet no such precaution as
that suggested was taken by the major
general commanding at that time or at
any subsequent time so far as has
been learned by the court.
Beef Not Emllalmed.
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 haye not been established.
The court also finds that SO much of the
allegations of the major general COM
manding in respect to the canned roast
beef as relates TO it's unsuitability for
food, as actually used on the transports,
and as to its extensive or long continued