Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1899-05-11
THE BEEF INQUIRY.
The Report Of the Wade Military
Court Made Public.
IMPORTANT POINTS OF THE REPORT,
The Court Adverse 20 Any Further Pro-
osedIngs In the Matter-Gen. Miles
Refuses to Express Ills Opin-
lon of the Report.

Washington, May s,-By direction OF
the president, who approves the lind
ings, Acting Secretary Of War Meikle-
John made public the report and find
ings of the military court appointed to
investigate the charges made by MAJ
Gen. Miles, commanding the army,
that the beef supplied to the army dur
ing the war with Spain was unfit for
the use of the troops. The most i'm
portant features of the report are:
The finding that the generals finding
that the refrigerated beef was treated
with chemicals was not established;
that his allegations concerning the
canned fresh or canned roast
beef were sustained as to It's
unsuitability for food as used
on the transports and as long
continued field ration; censure of Gen.
Miles for "error" in failing to promptly
notify the secretary of war when he
first formed the opinion that the food
was unfit; censure of the commissary
general (then Gen. Eagan) for the too
extensive purchase 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 supplied to the army
were of the same quality as those sup
Piled to the trade generally, and the
recommendation that no further pro-
ceedings be taken in the premises.
The conclusion of the court adverse
to further proceeding based upon the
charges is as follows:
II has been developed in the course OF the in
curry, as recited In this report, that In some in
stances some individuals failed to perform the
full measure OF duty or TO observe the proprie-
ties which dignity high military command, but
the court is OF the opinion that the mere state
ment in the Official report Of the facts developed
meets the ends of the discipline and that the
interests Of the service will be best subserved
| II further proceedings be not taken.
There is more or less criticism OF
Gen. Miles in various parts of the re-
port. 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, divisions, brgade'
and regiments and their staff officers should 6
charge Of guilty 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 wal
unfit for issue to troops. 1t also finds that hi
committed IN error in that, having belief OF
knowledge, as claimed, that the food was unfit
that II caused sickness and distress, that Som'
of 1t was supplied under the pretense OF expert
ment, that other beef was embalmed, he did no
Immediately report such knowledge 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 baseC
upon his failure to call attention t,
charges concerning the beef at Chicka
manga, contained in report of inspec
ton made by DR.. Tor Mai,) DAILY on tn
Goth of October last, in which he statet
his belief that the beef was chemical,
treated. THE silence of Col. Maus,
says the court, con so important mat
ter as the chemicalized beef reported
by Maj. DAILY, and personally know
to himself, is most remarkable"
Speaking of the ration as whole
the court says:
AS to the effect OF the food supply having re
gard to both suGiciency and quality, 1t seems
be clearly established that the army ration a
supplied, without modification, to the troop
serving in the West Indies was by no mean
ADAPTED for use in q tropical climate.
this be true, the unfitness Of the ration Shout
have manifested itself by its failure to keep tn
troops which subsisted upon it in the best pos
sible condition for service in hot climates Thi
In the opinion of the court, is fully establishe
In evidence. The insuniciency OF the food SUI
ply in Cuba and the irregulOrity attending upo
its distribution, due primarily to IL marked de
nciency in transportation facilities and to tn
, conditions of the weather and the roads, al
pear to some extent as causes Of sickness amor
the troops who were thus insuflciently and Il
regularly subssted.
Gen Miles, when asked last nigh
whether he had any comment to max
upon the beef report, replied that h
had read it, "but have nothing
saw" he added, "either about the +,
port, the method of testimony or tn
conclusions renched -