Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-08
10 PALLlATloN FOR EAGANS BLUNG>
His Excessive Purchase of Untried Ration is
Without Excuse.
LITTLE FAULT FOUND WITH BEEF ITSELF
Allegation that Chemicals Were Em-
ployed is Not Sustained and Meat
is Found to lie Usual Article
Supplied to Trade.

WASHINGTON, May by direction of
the president, who approves the findings,
Acting Secretary of War Meikejohn today
made public the report and findings of the
military court appointed to investigate the
charges made by Major General Miles, com
manding the army that the beef supplied to
the army during the war with Spain, was un-
fit for the use of the troops.
The most important features Of the report
are: The generals allegations that the re-
frigerated beef was treated with chemicals
were not established; his allegations con-
Cerning the canned fresh or canned roast
beef were sustained as to its unsutabilty
for food as used on the transports and as
long continued field rations; General Miles
is censured for error" in failing to promptly
notify the secretary of war when he first
formed the opinion that the food was unfit;
the commissary general (then General
Eagan) is censured for the too extensive pur-
chase Of the canned beef an untried ra-
tlon Colonel Maus of General Miles staff
is also censured. The finding states 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 gen.
orally, and the recommendations made that
no further proceedings be taken in the
premises.
The conclusion of the court adverse to
furtAer proceedings based upon the charges
Is as follows:
1t has been developed in the course of the
inquiry, as rected in this report, that in
some instances some individuals failed to
perform the full measure of duty or to OBJ
serve the proprieties which dignity high
military command, but the court is of the
opinion that the mere statement in the
official of the facts dpVplOnpl
the ends of discipline and that the interest
of the service will be best subserved If
further proceedings be not taken
There is more or less criticism of General
Miles in various parts of the report. Prob
ably the most direct instance is the
which states that beyond the criticism OF
officers found elsewhere is the report:
The court finds that against none of the
officers commanding corps, divisions,
brigades and regiments and their staff Off
GERS should charge of guilty be brought.
The court also finds that the major gem
erar commanding the army had no sufficient
Justification for alleging that the refrig-
Grated beef was embalmed was unfit for
issue to troops. 1t also finds that he com
mitted an error in that, having belief or
knowledge, as claimed, that the food was
unfit; that 1t caused sickness and distress;
that some OF 1t was supplied under he pre-
tense OF experiment.; that other beef was
embalmed, he did not Immediately report
such knowledge or belief to the secretary OF
to the end that proper remedy might
be promptly applied
Strange silence of Maus.
The censure of Colonel Maus, inspector
general on General Miles staff, is based
upon his failure to call attention to charges
concerning the beef at Chickamauga con-
tained in a report of inspection made by
Doctor (or Major) Daily on October 26 last,
in which he stated his belief that the beer
was chemically treated.
Tho silence of Colonel Maus," says the
court "on so important a matter as the
ohemicalized beef reported by Major Daily
and personally known to himself is most re-
n arkabe."
The remark is also made that General
Miles failure to draw special attention to
this report is unexplained"
Commenting upon General Miles testi-
mony that he had first formed the opinion
last August that the refrigerated beef hao
been processed, the court remarks: What
ever tho date upon which he formed a be-
lief, or a reasonable suspicion, that the
health Of the troops was being impaired by
the use of deleterious food it was his evi-
dent duty in the opinion of the court, In
stantly to take the most effective measures
within his control to ascertain the actual fact
and to correct the wrong, If any should be
found, 1t would have been practicable to
obtain samples of the beef then being sup
piled to the army by contractors and to have
submitted these samples to chemical exam
ination which would have resulted in tho
detection of the presence or absence or
borio or salicylic acids or any other chemi-
cal that may have been used as a preserva,
tive agent. Yet no such precaution as that
suggested was taken by the major general
commanding at that time or at any subse-
quent time so far as has been learned by the
court"
The court finds that the allegations OF
the major general commanding to the eff
feet that the refrigerated beef supplied to
the troops was treated with chemical pre-
servatiyes have not been established. The
court also finds that so much of the al
legations of the major general commanding
In respect to the canned roast beef as re-
hates to its unsuitability for food, as actu-
ally used on the transports, and as to its
extensive or long coutinued use as a field
ration, are sustained. In the opinion of
the court none of the other allegations in
relation to the canned roast beef are sus-
tained. The evidence shows that Colonel
John +. Weston, assistant commlssary gem
eral of subsistence, recommended the
adoption of the canned roast beef as COM
ponent OF the field ration, and to this ex-
tent he is responsible
Excessive Purchase of Beef.
The report places the quantity OF canned
roast beef purchased for the war by the
Commiasary department at 6,Si7,l74 pounds,
including $50, 900 pounds which we're brought
from Liverpool and other English ports
This amount is Characterized as excessive
aud the commissary general General Eagan) |