Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-05-08
THE WH|TtWASH REPORT
Upon the Beef Charges Made by Gen
eral Mills.

6rdl Mills.
THE COMMANDING GENERAL IS
CRITICIZED AND CENSURED,
AND THE COURT FINDS THAT
THERE SHOULD BE NO CHARGE
OF GUILT AGAINST CORPS,
DIVISION, BRIGADE OR REGI-
MENTAL COMMANDERS, AND
THAT GENERAL MILES HAD
NO JUSTIFICATION FOR HIS
CHARGES = HIS INSPECTOR
GENERAL AND THE COMMITS
SARY GENERAL ARE ALSO
CENSURED.
Washington, d. c., May by direc-
ton of the President, who approves
the findings, Acting Secretary Of War
Meiklejohn to-day made public the re-
port and findings of the military court
appointed to investigate the charges
made by Major General Miles, COM
handing the army, that the beef sup
piled to the army during the war with
Spain was unfit for the use of the
troops. The most important features
of the report are:
The finding that the Generals al
legations that the refrigerated beef
was treated with chemicals were not
established; thfE his allegations con-
corning the canned fresh or canned
roast beef were sustained as to its I'M
suitability for food as used on the
transports and as a 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 gem
eral (then Gen. Eagan) for the too ex-
tensive purchases 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 sup
piled to the army were of the same
quality as those supplied to the trade
generally, and the recommendation
that no further proceedings be taken
in the premises.
The conclusion Of the court adverse
to further proceedings based upon the
charges is as follows:
ct has been developed in the course
of the inquiry as recited in this re-
port, that in some instances certain
individuals failed to perform the full
measure of duty or to observe the pro-
prieties which dignity high military
command, but the court is of the opin-
ion that the mere statement in the Off
cial report of the facts developed meets
the ends OF discipline, and that the in
terests of the service
WILL BE BEST SUBSCRIBED
If further proceedings be not taken"
There is more or less criticism of
Gen. Miles in various parts of tne re-
port. Probably the most direct in
stance is the one which states that be-
yond the criticism of officers found
elsewhere in the report:
THE court finds that against none of
the officers commanding corps, divis-
ions, brigades and regiments and their
staff officers should a 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 was 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 pre-
tense Of experiment, that other beef
was embalmed, he did not Immediately
report such belief or knowledge to the
Secretary of War to the end that a
proper remedy might be properly ap-
piled"
THE CENSURE OF COL. MAUS,
inspector general on Gen. Miles's staff,
is based upon his failure to call atten-
ton to charges concerning the beef at
Chickamauga contained in report of
inspection made by Dr.. Tor Major)
Daily on the Goth of October last, in
which he stated his belief that the
meat was chemically treated.
THE silence of Col. Maus," says the
report, ION so important a matter as
the chem called beef reported by Major
Day. and personally known TO himself,
is most remarkable
The remark is also made that Gen.
Miles's failure to draw special attention
to this report is unexplained.
Commenting upon Gen. Miles's tes-
timony that he had first formed the
opinion last August that the refrigerat-
ed beef had been processed, the court
remarks:
Whatever the date upon which he
formed a belief or a reasonable sus-
picion, that the health of the troops
was being impaired by the use Of dele
terious food, it was his bounden duty.
in the opinion Of the court, instantly
to take the most effective measures
within his control to ascertain the
actual fact and to
CORRECT THE WRONG.
if any should be found. 1t would have
been practicable to obtain samples of
the beef then being supplied to the
army by contractors and 10 have sub
mitted these samples to chemical ex-
animation, which would have resulted
in the detection OF the presence or alb
sence Of boric and salicylic acids. or