Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-08
THE BEEF FINDINGS
Miles, Eagan, Maus and Weston
Criticised.
some OF THE ALLEGATIONS SUSTAINED
The Court Recommends That No
Further Proceedings Be Had.
PRESIDENT HAS APPROVED

The findings Of the beef court of inquiry
were approved by the President last Satur-
day. and Acting Secretary of War Meikle-
john made the report public yesterday.
The conclusion is that in some instances
certain individuals failed to perform the
full measure of duty or to observe the pro-
prieties which dignity high military COM
mand. but the court is of the opinion that
the mere statement in the official report of
the facts developed meets the ends of dis
ciDline. and that the interests of the SER
vice will be best subserved if further pro-
ceedings be not taken"
The individuals referred to are Mai Gen.
Miles, Commissary General Eagan, Acting
Commissary General Weston and Inspector
General Maus of Gen. Miles staff. Beyond
these the court finds that against none of
the officers commanding corps, divisions,
brigades or regiments, and their staff Off
GERS should a charge of guilt be brought"
No EmbaImed Beef
Concerning Gen. Miles, the report states:
The court also finds that the major gen.
eral commanding the army had no suff1-
cient Justification for alleging that the re-
friSerated 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 1t caused sickness and distress,
that some of 1t was supplied under the
pretenSe of experiment, that other beef
was embalmed. he did not Immediately re-
port such knowledge or belief to the Sec
rotary of War, to the end that proper
remedy might be promptly applied"
The findings state that the canned roast
beef. under the conditions existing was not
suitable ration for extensive issues and
continue as follows:
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 pre-
servatives, nave not been established. The
court also finds that so much Of the allega-
tons OF the major general commanding, in
respect to the canned fresh beef, as re-
lates to its unsuitability for food. as actual
~ used on the transports, and as to its
extensive or long-continued use as field
ration. are sustained. In the opinion of the
court none Of the other allegations in rela-
ton to the canned fresh beef are sus-
tanned"
Eagan's Action Reckless.
Concerning Gen. Eagan, in connection
with the canned roast beef, the findings
state:
considering the little use that had been
made of this beef in the regular army, the
probability that the volunteers were entire
ly ignorant of it. that it's use as a part of
the field ration had never been sanctioned
by the President or Secretary of War, the
court can but characterize the action of
the cOmmissary general of subsistence as
unwarranted and reckless. in that he or
dered the purchase of such enormous guam
titles of a food that practically untred
and unknown. and the court so finds. The
court also finds that there Is no ground
for any mputatiOn of any other actuating
motive, on the part of the cOmmissary gen
eral, than the earnest desire to procure
the best possible food for the troops. The
court prOnOunces this act of the commits
sary general Of subsistence a colossal error,
for which there is no palliation.
IN respect to the quantity of canned
fresh beef purchased, the court finds 1t
difficult to escape the conclusion that it was
excessive. unnecessary, and not demanded
by the emergencies of the existing situa-
tiCn. Assuming the necessity Of providing
twenty days supplies for the 10000 men
comprising the original Cuban expedition,
and that it also necessary to provide
much sixty days supplies for the 90,
900 troops assigned to the expedition to
Manila, the total purchase of 100000
pounds would have been amply sufficient
In point of fact. nearly 7.0o0o0a pounds
were actually purchased and delivered,
quantity far in excess of the actual
prospective needs of the military service
and to the detriment. rather than the ad-
vantage. of the public interests
Col. Westons share of the blame is con-
tanned in the following paragraph in the
report:
THE evidence shows that Col. John F.
Weston. assistant commissary general of
subsistence, recommended the adoption of
the canned roast beef a component of
the field ration, and to this extent he is re-
sponsible.'
Col. Mnus' silence Remarkable.
Col Naus is censured for his failure to
call the attention of tie War Department
to DR.. Days report. October % last, that
the refrigerated beef had been treated with
personalities, in the following words:
The silence of Col. Maus on so impor-
tant a matter the chemlcalized beef re-
ported by Mai. DAILY, and personally known
to himself. is most remarkable"
Gen. Miles Allegations.
The report in the outset summarizes the
allegations OF Gen. Miles as follows
81 That the refrigerated beef furnished
to the troops in Cuba, Porto Rico. Tampa,
Chickamauga and Jacksonville was en-
baImed. or treated with chemicals to pre-
serve it, of which overwhelming proof ex-
is ted.
''2. That refrigerated beef was a serious
cause of sickness and distress among the
troops in the places above named.
'3. That the canned roast beef was fur
nished to the army under pretense of an
experiment.
81. That the canned roast beef was also
a cause of sickness and distress among the
troops. and is unfit for issue as food In any
country.
-. That what is called canned roast beef
is really beef pulp ifom which the beef eX-
tract of commerce had been boiled out.
80. That the bacon issued to the troops In
Porto Rico was. not suitable food for use
In the tropics
The court points out that In the exam
nation of Gen. Miles, on the first day of
the inquiry, as to the alleged interview in
the New York Journal, Friday, December
% his answers to several pointed In
quiries by the court were not specific and
several times were irrelevant. AS to this
the report concludes:
LAS Gen Miles failed to point out spe-
cific statements containing inaccuracies, |
and the strongest term he used in dis !
the report expression of
opinion only that it was not in the main
correct the court Is unable to identify |
any inaccuracies. and therefore treats all
the allegations in the report as uncontra-
dicted and therefore part of the allega-
tons under investigation"
Gen. Miles Interviews
At the same time, the court reports, Gen,
Miles was questioned to the New York |
Herald interview with him, published Feb |
ruary l last; that the general declared GER |
tain statements certainly were not made !