Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-05-11
DEALS OUT REBUKE.
Court of Inquiry Arraisns Several Oficers


Court of Inquiry Arraisns Several 0Hcers
In Authority.
WASHINGTON, May Spy direc-
ton of the president, who approves
the findings, Acting Secretary of War
.Meiklejohn yesterday made public the
report and findings of the military
court appointed 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 tn use of the
troops.
The most important features of the
report are: The generals allegations
that the refrigerated beef was treated
with chemicals were not established;
his allegations concerning the canned
fresh or canned roast beef were sus-
tanned as to its unsuitability 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 first formed the opinion that the
food was unfit; the commissary gener-
al (then General Eagan) is censured
Ava eAiS wv SAIChSlNS PulClldSS VI lLo
canned beef as an untried ration; Col
onel 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 sup
piled to the trade generally, and the
recommendations made that no fur
ther proceedings be taken in the prem
Uses.
The conclusion of the court adverse
to further proceedings based upon the
charges is as follows:
1t 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
proprieties which dignity high mill
tary command but the court is of the,
opinion that the mere statement in the
official report of the facts developed
meets 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. Probably the most direct in
stance is the one which states that
beyond the criticism of officers found
elsewhere in the report:
The court finds that against none
of the officers commanding corps, d.
visions, brigades and regiments and
their staff officers should charge Of
guilty be brought. The court also
finds that the major general command
ing the army had no sufficient justifi-
cation for alleging that the refriger-
ated beef was embalmed or was unfit
for issue to troops. 1t also finds that
he committed an error in that, hay
ing 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 Sec
rotary of war to the end that a proper
remedy might be promptly applied.
The censure of Colonel Maus, in
spector general on General Miles
staff, is based upon his failure to call
attention to charges concerning the
beef at Chickamauga contained in a
report of inspection made by Doctor
Tor Major) Daily On October 26 last,
in which he stated his belief that the
beef was chemically treated.
THE silence of Colonel Maus," says
the court, "on so important a matter
as the chemicalized beef reported by
Major Daily and personally known to
himself is most remarkable"
The remark is also made that Gener-
al Miles failure to draw special atten-
ton to this report is unexplained"