The sun., 1899-02-10
MILES COURT OF INQUIRY.
HIS CHiRGES REG ARDING ARMY BEEE
10 NE INVESTIG4TED


| auirc Into the Whole Beef Controversy
and to submit nm opinion on the Merits
of the Case NoDody on Trial in This Case.
| WAsHINGroN. Feb. 0--Thc expected order
! Tor the appointment Of Il court Of inquiry 10 in
| Vestgate the charges made by Maor-Gen.
! Miles in regard to the character OF beef fur
| nished to the American soldiers IN the war
with Spain was issued 10y the Secretary OF War
to-day. II provides for II sweeping invostga-
! tion. and directs the court to submit an opin-
| ion on the merits of the case and to make rec
| concentrations as to what further proceedings
are necessary. The order is az follows:
WAR DEPARTMENT
WASHINGTON. Feb. y. lSJD
I'm accordance with the instructions Of the
| President er Feb. 3. 1892. n court OF inquiry.
TO consist OF the following named officers. is
| hereby appointed to meet In this city on Feb.
| 10 1891:
"Detnil for the court: Major.Ge James
! F. Wade United States Volunteers: Brig. Gen.
George b. Davis. United States Volunteers:
| Col. George l.. Gillespie, Corps Of Engineers.
! Cnited States Army: Lieut.. Col. George b.
Davis, Deputy Judge Advocate General,
| United States Army. Recorder
The court is hereby directed to investi-
gate certain allegations of the Major General
! commanding the army IN respect to the unfit.
| ness for Issue OF certain articles Of food fur
nished by the Subsistence Department 10 the
| troops in the field during the recent opera.
tlons in Cuba and Porto Rico. In addition TO
| its findings Of fact. the court will submit an
| opinion upon the merits OF the case. together
| with such recommendation TO further pro-
| reeGinZs as may seem TO lie warranted by the
! facts developed in the course of the ilQuiry.
The officers named will repair to this city
| for the purpose here indicated and upon the
| adjournment OF the court will return to their
proper stations. The travel enoned is neces.
sary for the public service.
| "R. A. ALGER. Secretary OF War"
As shown in the order. the directions 10 issue
it were given by the President 10 Secretary
Alger on Friday last. 1t was on that day that
the Cabinet discussed the Miles case and
agreed with the President that something
should be done in connection with the alaga-
tions appearing in the newspapers in inter
views with Gen. Miles or in articles attributed
to him. After the meeting the directions to
order Il court OF inquiry were given to the
Secretary OF War by the President. but il was
deemed best to hold the formal issue of the
order until action had been taken in the
| case of Commissary- General EaEan. whose at
| tack OH Gen. Miles was provoked by Gen. Miless
| charges about the refrigerated beef furnished
| to the army by the Subsistence Department
ne itllel tlldt IIlt lTeSluell was WltnnDlUlDR
official action in the Miles case until the War
Investigation Commission had submitted its
report was not fulfilled as the order for the ap-
pontment Of the court of inquiry was issued
several hours before the commissions report
was placed in the hands of the President.
1t came out to-day that two days ago Gen.
Miles had addressed formal communication
to the Secretary OF War. requesting that a
court of inquiry be appointed to determine the
responsibility for the issue 70 the army OF un-
wholesome beef He was answered that on
Feb 3 the President had directed that a court
of inquiry be appointed to probe to the bottom
OF the beef question. Gen. Miles had. OF course,
seen the newspaper reports published before
the request was made that the President had
determined to appoint the court. but It is not
known whether he had information from other
sources that the President had definitely de-
termined on that course. The court was
request from the MAJOR General commanding
Another interesting thing in connection with
Is ~ SS t o hee ssn tn % as 10 me
were preferred by Gen Miles. Tho statements
made by. him before the War Investigation
porting to have been held with him are men,
toned in the order as certain allegations"
plant from the commanding General in regard
Intimate friends Of Gen. Miles said this after
noon that he was perfectly satisfied with Tie
] peared T. to crtcse the anp6ntmen Of the court
or its personnel. In military circles. the dis
position, Of the attcris regarded as absolutely
arous to Gen Miles 4 great many army Of
fcers believed that the court would be, re-
Miles, which, in ordinary circumstances.
would have been the S%Hteomse Of the
is regarded as an exceedingly able one and
Ts{s Ta4s sna GS Dali. I%s
rgEdEe HdyocatS of the EaE?n gan
during tie, CIsyeland Administrator was in
charge OF the, War Records office, He was APP
May last, and was recently assigned TO the
Command Of M q brigade station in Pinar del Rio
Washington. having been summoned by tele
graph when tho President decided to order the
court OF inquiry.
A court OF inquiry is military grand Jury,
and ard, iISe @ a clyil Gmhhd Juryi vii SIT behind
SSr epopf nnyth%c EXCEPT nGnGs o fact
less specifically directed to do so. The direc-
tlons to the court to give its opinions as to the
merits OF the case and TO report whether fur
OF the Presidents determinat lon TO settle the
Gen % Miles Without regard for the tie feeiinss
Of anybody concerned. The court must say
recommend that, Major; Gen. Miles be tried by
tOuTt-nlhTtlhl. ~ SnOulu ne llnueTbtOOQ, now
ever, TINT nobody win be on trial before the
court The proceedings are not against Gen.
Miles. Gon. EaRan. Secretary Alger or anybody
else. On the contrary, Gen. Miles has the
status Of the accuser and not Of the accused.
The scope Of the investigation is practically
court may not only inquire into the justifca-
tion OF Gen. Milcs's charges. but ascertain
Whether he was reSronlSSibe for the intrryiews
report. in accordance with the directions.
whether anybody is liable 10 prosecution for
completely in the matter and whether proceed
ings against such person OF persons should be
taken.