The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-05-02
iTCRl1lClSES GEN. MILES
AND CENSt RES OTHER offl'
GERS FoR lMrRot n..4ilES.
GENERAL tA6AN Gsvs A DOUBLE SHARE
Canned Beef an Ua,fied Ration that Should
MOI Have Seen Bough'in Such Quantities
Doe'ulog Of Be,f Unsupported
bv Testimony.

Washington. April a9,-The Wade
court OF inquiry today conrn'"V" ''S
work in connection with the ateS''
films of General Miles concerning me
beef supplied Ia the army during 'he
war with Spain, Col. Davis, the re-
cortler of the court, carried the on''
cial copy of the findings 10 the war
Departmeht. and in the absence OF
Secretary Alger. delivered 1t to .Nc'-
ING Secretary Meiklejohn. Mr.. Meikle-
John Immediately sealed the docu-
ment in an envelope and torwarded
it to the White House, whence II WAS
dispatched. The report rs OF aoou'
30 900 words and goes fully INTO the
questions which have been raised IN
connection with the army beef. Inc
text has not been made pubnc anu
will not be until after the President
shall have read it.
The verdict. however, is known to
he that the allegations which General
Miles made before the war investigat-
ing commission are not sustained with
reference to the refrigerated beef, al
though his contention that the cam
ned roast beef was not a suitable con-
tinuous ration is admitted. There is
direct criticism of General Miles for
failing to promptly bring the atten-
ton of the War Department to re-
ports made TO him concerning bad
beef. land several individuals are
censured for failing to observe the
proprieties of their positions as com
handing officers in this and other
respects.
The court takes the position that
the testimony is conclusive that both
the refrigerated beef and the canned
beef were in good condition when de-
livered to the Government ard con-
tinued so till issued to the troops eX-
cept in especial instances, when the
deterioration was due to accidental
conditions in transportation or to the
influences of the tropical climate. The
report admits the liability of refrig-
Grated beef to faint quickly after re-
moyal from ice chests. The court
finds the charges of '.embalming' the
fresh beef to have been unsubstan-
tiated by the testimony and says no
chemicals were used to preserve it.
1t also finds that it would have been
impracticable to secure beef on the
hoof for the Cuban campaign. The
finding is likewise in opposition to
the assertion on the part of General
Miles that the use of beef was an ex-
pertinent.
Much attention is given ID the
charges concerning the canned roast
beef, and it is stated that The tes-
timony proved it to have beea whole
some and nutritious where used in
moderation and under favorable cir
cumstances. The fact is set forth that
the canned roast beef had not been
used to any appreciate extent be-
fore the beginning of this war, and
it is therefore regarded as practi-
cally untried ration. In view of this
fact the Commissary General is round
ly criticized for the purchase of the
meat in such extensive quantities.
The court finds that the beef was
not doctored; that there was no more
neglect than was incident to the hur-
red preparation for war: that the in
spection while generally according
to regulations, was not always up to