The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-05-08
Appointed to Investigate Charges
of General Miles IN Regard to
"Embalmcd" Beef.
THE GENERAL is CENSURED
For Error" in Failing to Notify
Secretary OF War of Opinions
He Had Formed.
No CHEMICAL TREATMENT
OF Refrigerated Beef .. Courts
Report on Canned Meats
and Other Matters.

and nt1,o,. NJ
: = -
"AoaiNGioN, May by direction
VI '"e fies'uehE' VINO approves the find
ihs' Ac''ns secretary Of War Meikle-
Johi. 'o'uay mada public the report and
iiiiui''eS OIL tfe military court appointed
" investigate the charges made by
fhuJor General Miles. commanding tho
army 'hat the bee: supplied to the
HriiS curing the war with Spain was
un'il LOT the use OF the troops. The
most important features of the report
ire:
4he hhding that the generals allega-
'lohs thnt the refrigerated beef was
treated Win chemicals were not estab-
lsheo' that his allegations concerning
the canned fresh or canned roast beef
were sustained as to Its unsutabllity
Tor FOOD as used on the transports and
us lohs-continued field ration: CEN
sure OF General Miles for error" in
railing TO promptly notify the secretary
OF war when he first formed the opin-
Ion that the food was unfit: censure Of
the commissary general Chen General
Eagan) Tor the too extensive purchases
or the canned beef as an untried ration;
censure Of Colonel Maus, of General
Miles ssaff; the finding that the puck
ers were not at fault and that the
meats supplied to the nrny wera of
the same quality as those supplied to
the tTaue generally and the recommcn-
ua''on tiue no lurther proceedings be
taken III the premises.
me conclusion on the court adverse
10 Iurther proceedings based upon the
charges Is us follows:
IL mas Deea developed In the course
OF the inquiry as recited IN this report
that IN some instances certain indivld-
uais failed TO perform the full measure
OF duty or to observe the proprietles
whica dignity high military command
but the court Is OF the opinion thnt the
the facts developed meets the ends of
discipline. and tina: the interests of the
service Will BE best subserred II fur
thcr proceedings be not taken"
There Is more'or less criticism Of Cen
eral Miles In various parts Of the re-
port. Probably the most direct instance
Is the one which states that beyond
the criticism of officers. found else
whero. Is the report:
Miles and Maus Ccnsurcd.
THE court finds that agalns. none OF
the officers commanding corps. divls-
| Ions, brigades and regiments and their
staff officers should IL 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 cmplamed or
was unit for Issue to troops. II also
| finds thnt he committed nm error I'm
| that, having belief or knowledge. ns
claimed. that the food was unfit, that
It caused sickness and distress, that
some Of It was suppled under the pre-
tense OF experiment, that other beef was
cmba!mcd, that he did not Immediately
report such knowledge or belief to the
secretary of war to the end that a
proper remedy might be properly up
piled"
The censure OF Colonel Maus, inspec.
| tor general on General Miles stnfr, Is
based upon his failure to call attention
to charges concerning the beef at Chic
kamauga contained in q report of in
| spection made by DR.. for Ma1or) DAILY
on the 20 tn OF October last, in which
he stated his belief that the beef was
chemically treated.
"The silence OF Colonel aIaus." tho
court says "on SO important q matter
Ms the chcmical!zed beef reported by
Major DAILY and personally known to
himself, is most remarkable"
The remark is also made that General
Miles failure 10 draw special attention
| to this report Is "unexplaincd."
Commenting upon General Miles tes
| timony that no had first formed the
opinion last August that the rcfr,gern-
ted beef hod been proccssed. the court
remarks:
"Whatuvur the date upon which he