The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1899-05-11
BEEF INQUIRY.
The Report and Findings of the Mill
tary Court Given TO the Public.
Charges by Gen. Miles InvestIgated-AIie-
cations That the Refrigerated Beef for
the Army Was Treated with CheInI-
calls Not Established.

WAsHISeToY. May s.-By direction
Of the president, who approves tho
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. Niles, COM
manding the army, that the beef sup
Piled to the army during the war was
unfit for the use OF the troops. Tho
most important features Of the report
are:
The finding that the generals allie
cations that the refrigerated beef was
treated with chemicals were not estat-
llshed; that his allegations concerning
the canned fresh or canned roast beef
were sustained as to Its unsuitability
for food as used on the transports and
as long continued field ration; CEN
sure OF Gen. Mics for terror" in failing
to promptly notify the secretary of war
when he first formed the opinion that
the food was unfit; censpre Of the
commissary general (then Gen. Ea-
gam 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 10 the army were of the same
quality as those supplied to the trade
generally and the recommendation
that no further proceedings will he
taken in the premises.
The conclusion of the court. adverse
to further proceedings based upon tho
charges, is as follows:
at 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-
prietics which dignity high military
but the court is of the opin-
ion that the mere statement in
the official report of the facts develop.
ed meets the ends Of discipline, and
that the interest of the service will be
best subscrved If further proceedings I
be not taken" {
There is moro or less criticism of '
zen. Miles in various parts OF the re- !
bort. Probably the most direct in c
tance Is the one which strces that be- |
'ond the criticism of officers found /
Elsewhere is the report: THE court
lnds that against none of the officers '
commanding corps divisions, brigades !
nd regiments and their staff officers I
houd a charge OF guilty be brought. d
"The court also finds that the major t
eneral commanding the army had no r.
efficient justification for alleging that a
he refrigerated beef was embalmed or n
'as unfit for issue to troops. 1t also IT
nds that he committed an error in h
nat, having belief or knowledge. as o.
aimed, that the food was unfit; that II
caused sickness and distress: that II
'me of it was supplied under pre- ~
'nse of experiment; that other beef 1
as embalmed, he did not Immediate
report such knowledge or belief to
le secretary of war to the end that
proper remedy might be promptly
'plied."
THE censure Of Col. Maus. inspector St
neral on Gen. Miles staff, is based da
ION his failure to call attention to tr
argos concerning the beef at Chick an
lauga contained in report of in nc
cction made by DR.. Tor Mai) DAILY Ca
the Goth of October last, in which TO
stated his belief that the beef was W
treated. he
The silence of Col. Maus,' says the la,
art ION so important matter as III
: chemicalized beef reported by fec
j. DAILY and personally known to
nself Is most remarkable" sh,