The Mena star., 1899-02-15
REVIEW OF FINDINGS
War Commission Makes Report on
 Investigation of Charges.
Says War Department Lacked Complete Grasp of the Situation ( pm mission Finds Embaimsd Beef Charges Un-
 founded d--Hecommendntions.

Washington. Feb. l4.-The report of "the commission appointed by the president to investigate the conduct of the war department in the war with Spain" was given publicity last night Exclusive of the testimony, the review and the findings make a book of 12b pages The most important chapters are those relating to canned meats. and ''the Santiago campaign" The secretary of war is not wholly spared from criticism. Upon Secre- tary Alger the commission bestows this discrimin ating attention:
 The records of the war department, which have been laid before us. show that the score tary of war extended to all chiefs of bureaus cordial and full support and promptly re- sponded to every proper demand made upon him by commanding officers. No testimony has been presented showing intentional neg feet Of duty nor any attempt to serve personal interests The charges that the secretary of war was pecuniarily interested in contracts purchases and other transactions of the war department have been thoroughly examined and found baseless In the judgment of the commission there was lacking in the general administration Of the war denar tmen. during the continuance of the war with Spain that complete grasp Of the situation which was essential to the highest eficiency and disci- pline of the army
 The unclaimed beef" charges are found to have been wholly without foundation, but inferentally Gen. Miles comes in for severe criticism be- cause of misconception of his rela- tions to the president and secretary of war. Under the caption of "authority ci ha tnins the following:
 For many years the divided authority and responsibility in the war department has pro- duced friction for which, in the interest of the service. remedy, if possible, should be applied The constitution makes the president the com mander-in -chief of the army and he cannot transfer that authority to any other person The president selects his secretary of war who has hts confidence and who is his confidential adviser The commanding general is assigned to duty as such by the president and under the military laws of tho United States his duties are defined as follows:
 ''1'he command exercised by the command ing general of the army. not having been made the subject of statutory regulation Is deter mined by the order of assignment It has been habitually composed of the aggregate of the several territorial commands that have been or may be created by the president The mili- tary establishment is under orders of the com-
 
 pertains to it's discipline and military control The fiscal affairs of the army are conducted by the secretary of war through the several stan departments. All orders and instructions from the president or secretary of war relating to military operations or affecting tho military control and discipline of the army will be pro- mulgated through the commanding general"
 No part of the report will be read with so much public interest probably a haf lof tr,fr f<, nf, n <.f Miles regarding the dressed or refrig- erated beef. The report says:
 Immediately upon hearing the testimony of Dr. Daly, on the 2)th of January. telegrams were sent to all issuing commissaries in Cuba, Porto Rico and Ut the various home camps oc- cupied by troops, asking that samples of re- frigerated beef be at once taken placed in glass jars securely sealed and forwarded to the commission In response to this request many samples have been received and later sent to the chemists of the agricultural and interior departments for careful chemical examination. The result of analysis has been reported to us in oS cases and. will be seen by the reports appended in no specimen examined has either boric or salicylfc acids or other deleterious chemicals been found. In view of the facts nbove set forth the commission is Of the opin- ion that no refrigerated beef furnished by con- tractors ::;sa issued troops during tho war with Spain was subjected to or treated with any chemicals by the contractors or those in their employ
 In conclusion the resport says:
 The result of the Santiago campaign was the complete realization of the several objects con- templated: The capture Of the city with it's Qualifications and munitions of war together with immense supplies of food stuffs and nm- munition: the surrender of the entire province of Santiago dc Cuba, with all the troops gar- risoning the same; the destruction by the navy of Admiral Cervera's fleet, after it's departure from the harbor, and the general demoraliza- tion of the Spanish forces and the disoomfiture of the Spanish government and people, lead- ing almost immediately to overturcs for peace by Spain. This was accomplished without the loss of prisoner, gun or a color. and with list of casualties aggregating in Killed less than 250 and in wounded less than l. 400--losses which. in comparison with results. are loss than have heretofore occurred in modern war fare
 The report also deals with the trans portation of troops, the medical and other departments and makes many suggestions.
 Hnunuat in in Hounr