The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-05-11
BEEF INQUIRY.
The Report and Findings OF the Mill
tary Court Given e the Public.
Chsfges BY Gen. Miles Investigated Allie
cations That the Refrigerated Beef fes
the Army Was Treated With Chclni.
Gals Not Established.

WASH >aroN. May s.-By direction
of the president, who approves the
findings, Acting Secretary of War
Meiklejohn Sunday made public the
report and findings of the military
court appointed to investigate the
charges made by Maj Gen. Miles, COM
manding the army. that the beef sup
piled to the army during the war was
unfit for the use of the troops. The
most important features of the report
are:
The finding that the generals allie
cations that the refrigerated beef was
treated with chemicals were not estab-
lished; that his allegations concerning
the canned fresh or canned roast beet
were sustained as to Its unsuitability
for food as used on the transports and
as long continued field ration; cen-
to promptly notify the secretary of war
when he first formed the opinion that
the food was unfit; censure of the
commissary general, then Gen. Ea-
gan) for the too extensive purchases
of the canned beef as an untried ration;
censure of Col. Maus. of Gen. Miles
staff; the finding that the packers were
not at fault and that 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
The conclusion of the court, adverse
to further proceedings based upon the
charges is as follows:
ut has been developed in the course
of the inquiry, as recited in this re-
port, that in some instances some in.
dividuals failed to perform the full
measure of duty or to observe the pro-
prieties which dignity high military
command, but the court is of the opin-
ion that the mere statement in
the Official report of the fzcts develop
ed meets the ends of discipline, and
that the interest of the service will be
best subserved If further proceedings
be not taken"
Gen. Miles in various parts of the re-
port. Probably the most direct in-
stance is the one which states that be.
yond 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 officers
should 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
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 pre-
tense of experiment; that other beef
was embalmed, he did not Immediate
ly report such knowledge or belief to
the secretary of war to the end that
a proper remedy might be promptly
applied"
"The censure of Col. Maus. inspector
general on Gen. Miles staff, is based
upon his failure to call attention to
charges concerning the beef at Chick
amauga contained in a report Of in-
spection made by DR.. Tor Mail Daily
on the Goth of October last, in which
he stated his belief that the beef was
chemically treated.
'The silence of Col. Maus," says the
court, ION so important a matter az
the chemicalized beef reported by
|. Maj. DAILY and personally known to
himself is most remarkable"