The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-08

Held Free From BIame-No Fur
ther Proceedings Advisable in
the Opinion of the officers Who
Heard the Evidence.
WASHINGTON, May by direction
of the president, who approves the find
ings, Acting Secretary of War Meikle-
john today made public the report and
findings of the military court appointed to
investigate the charges made by Maj.
Gen Miles, commanding the army, that
the beef supplied to the army during the
war with Spain was unfit for the use of
the troops. The most important features
OF the report are:
Gen. Miles allegations that the
refrigerated beef was treated with
chemicals were not established.
Gen. Miles allegations concern
ing the canned fresh or canned
roast beef were sustained as to its
unsuitabiIity for food as used on
the transports and as a long con-
tinued field ration.
Censure of Gen. Miles for Der
the secretary of war when he first
formed the opinion that the food
was unfit.
Censure of the cOmmissary gem
ernI Chen Gen. Eagan) for the too
extensive purchases of the canned
beef, as an untried ration.
Censure of Col. Mnus, of Gen.
Miles staff.
The packers were not at fault,
and the meat supplied to the army
was of the same quality as that sup
piled to the trade generally, and
the recommendation that no fur
ther proceedings be taken in the
premises.
NO FURTHER PROCEEDINGS.
The conclusion of the court, adverse to
further proceedings, based upon the
charges, is as follows:
.It has been developed In the
course of this inquiry, as recited In
this report, that in some Instances
some individuals failed to perfor IN
their full duty or to observe the
prOprieties which dignity high mil
itary command, but the court is of
the opinion that the mere statement
in the official report of the facts
developed meets the end of disci-
pIine and thats the interests of the
service will be best subserved If
further proceedings be not taken -
GEN MILES CRITICISED.
There is more or less criticism of Gen.
Miles in various parts of the report Prob
ably the most direct instance is the one
which states that beyond the criticism of
officers found elsewhere is the report
The court finds that against none of the
officers commanding corps, divisions, brig
AIDES or regiments and their staff officers
should charge of guilt be brought
THE court also finds that the major
general commanding the army had no
sufficient justification for alleging that
the refrigerated beef was embalmed or
vas 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 it caused
sickness and distress, that some of it was
supplied under the pretense Of experi-
ment, that other beef was elnbalmed he
did not Immediately report such knoWl-
edge or belief to the secretary of war to
the end that proper remedy might be
promptly applied"
The censure of Col Maus inspector
general on Gen. Miles staff, Is based upon
his failure to call attention to charges
concerning the beef at Chickamauga
contained in report of inspection made
by DR.. (or Major) Daily, ON Oct. 26 last.
III which he stated his belief that the beef
was chemically treated.
SILENCE OF AIAUs.
1.-THE silence of Col. Maus," SAYS the
court, ION so important a matter as the
chemicalized beef reported by Maj DAILY
and personally known to himself is most
remarkable"
The remark is also made that Gen.
Miles failure to draw special attention
to this report is unexplained"
Commenting on Gen. Miles testimony
that he had first formed rhe opinion last
august that the refrigerated teef had
been processed, the court remarks:
Whatever the date upon which he
formed belief or a reasonable suspicion
that the health of the troops was being
Impaired by the use of deleterious food
1t was his bounden duty, in the opinion
of the court, instantly to take the most
effective measures within his control tc
ascertain the actual fact and TO correct
the wrong if any should be found. II
samples of the beef then beng supplied
to the army by contractors and to have
submitted, these samples to chemical ex.
animation, which would have resulted in
the detection Of the presence or absence
OF boracic and salycilic acids, and any
other chemical agent that may have beer
used as preservative agent Yet no sucl
precaution as that suggested was taker
by the major general commanding at thai
time or at any subsequent time, SO fal
as has been learned by the court
BEEF WAS BAD.
Continuing the report says: 1.-THE cour-
finds that the allegations of the maio,
general commanding, to the effect thai
the refrigerated beef supplied to the
troops was treated with chemical pre-
servatives, have not been established.
''The court also finds that "a
much of the allegations of the ma.
jOr general commanding, in respec,
to the canned roast beef, as relates
to it's unsuitabiIity for food as ac.
tuaIIy used on the transports and
as to it's extensive or long contin.
ned use as a field ration are sus.
tained.
In the opinion of the court none o.
the other allegations in relation to the
canned fresh beef are sustained
The evidence 0hou,c +1,o+ (so1 49,. II,