Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-16
ALL MEMBERS HERE
Informal Meeting Of the Miles Court
of Inquiry.
MAKING UP A LIST OF WITNESSES
The Commanding General Expect
ed to Appear First.
OF COUNSEL

All the members of the court of inquiry
convened by order of the President to
investigate the charges of Major General
Miles concerning the food furnished the
army have arrived in Washington, with
the expectation of organizing the court to-
day. Major General James F. Wade, presi-
dent of the court, finally got through the
snow blockade between here and Pitts
burg late last night. Brigadier General
George w. Davis also arrived here from
Cuba last night Colonel George L. Gil
lespie came on from New York, where he
is stationed, and Lieutenant Colonel Davis,
the recorder of the court, also turned up
this morning. The court was ordered to
meet yesterday, but the snow blockade pre-
vented literal compliance as to time of
meeting.
General Miles, whose charges led to the
court of inquiry, had returned today, after
being snowbound at New York
The quarters for the court are those in
the Lemon building recently used by the
war commission.
Assembling of the Court.
Colonel Gillespie was the first member of
the court to put In an appearance today,
and was followed by General Wade, who
was in civilian dress, not being sure that
the court would begin its sessions today.
General Wade said that the court probably
would organize today and clear the way
Tor the inquiry proper to proceed tomorrow,
The court is directed ito investigate certain
allegations of the major general comma nd
ing the army in respect to the unfitness
for issue of certain articles of food fur
nlshed by the subsistence department to
the troops in the field during the recent
operations in Cuba and Porto Rico. In ad-
i1Cr- ~ faaf
submit an opinion upon the merits of the
case, together with such recommendations
as to further proceedings as may seem to
be warranted by the facts deyeloDed in the
course of inquiry"
Col. Davis, the recorder, wearing fatigue
UNIFORM, came to the court with a large
bundle of documents and a copy of the
army regulations Soon after a messenger
from the war Department arrived with
another bundle of documents. Gen. Davis
Just up from Cuba, where he has been in
command of the Department of Pinar del
Rio, was the last member of the court to
put IN an appearance. He is bronzed
veteran, and his service in a tropical
climate was indicated by his coming
through the sleet and snow without an
oNercoat. He wore fatigue uniform with
adler.
This brought all the members Of the
court together for the first time Gen.
Wade sat at the head of the long table
him were grouped the other members of
the court in an informal discussion of the
line of action to be adopted. As Col. Gil
lespie was the only one in full uniform the
court did not present that briiiancv which
characterizes the formal meeting of a mill
tary court. Individually the members were
OF distinguished bearing and dignity.
Eorn,,, vo...
Deierfed.
AS a result OF the informal conference,
Col. Davis announced that the formal
meeting, of tho court ,,,o,,15 -, -
min +or,o,ro,,, - - - D' ueierreu
v" iiioi l4ilis' o"ihg 10 the alb
sehce from the city of the President and
Secretary OF War. the members of the court
could not mako tho ,,e,,oI coll of ,,,.-