The true northerner., 1899-05-10
REPORT Of BEEF INQUIRY
Finding of the Military Court Con.
cerning Charges That Were Made
by Maj. Gen. Miles.
ALLEGATIONS WERE NOT ESTABLISHED,


The General Censured for Delay
In Giving His Opinions-Gen. Engan
Rehuxed Packers Exonerated-
NO Further Proceedings.
Washington, May 5. - BY direction
of the president, who approves the find
ings, Acting Secretary of War MeilNle-
john has made public the report and
findings of the military court appointed
to investigate the charges made by Maj.
Gen. Miles, commanding the army, that
the beef supplied to the army during
the war with Spain was unfit for the use
of the troops.
Its Findings.
The most important features of the re-
port are: The finding that the generals
allegations that the refrigerated beef was
treated with chemicals were not estab-
lished: that his allegations concerning the
canned fresh or canned roast beef were
sustained as to its 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 UNI
fit; censure of the commissary general
(then Gen. Eagan) for the too extensive
purchases OF the canned peer as an un-
tried 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.
Oppose Further Proceedings.
The conclusion of the court adverse to
further proceedings based upon the
charges is as follows: 1T has been devel-
oped in the course of the inquiry, as recited
in this report, that in some instances some
individuals failed to perform the full meas
ure of duty or TO observe the proprieties
which dignity high military command, but
the court is Of the opinion that the mere
statement in the official report OF the facts
developed meets the ends of discipline, and
that the interests of the service will be best
subserved If further proceedings be not
taken"
, Criticism OF Miles.
Commenting upon Gen. Miles testimony
that he had first formed the opinion last
August that the refrigerated beef had been
processed, the court remarks: Whatever
the date upon which he formed belief or
a reasonable suspicion, that the health of
the troops was being impaired by the use
of deleterious food, ii was his bounden
duty, in the opinion OF the court, instantly
TO take the most effective measures with
in 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
TO have submitted these samples TO chem
zeal examination, which would have re-
suited i'm the detection Of the presence OF
absence Of boric and salicylic acids or any
other chemical agent that may have been
used as a preservative agent. Yet no such
precaution as that suggested was taken
by the major general commanding at that
time or at any subsequent time, so far as
has been learned by the court"
Rebuke for Engnn.
The report places the quantity Of canned
roast beef purchased for the war by the
commissary department at 6SfL1H pounds,
including 350, 900 pounds which was brought
from Liverpool and other English ports.
This amount is characterized as excessive.
and the commissary general (Gen. Eagan)
Is severely criticised i'm several parts Of
the document on this score.
other conclusions.
Replying specifically to other questions
set out by the president. the court says:
That the canned beef was described as
'fresh" because ii was not salted bat that
the meat was not old or stale
That the refrigerated beef furnished the
army was mot doctored or treated with
any other agency than cold air"
That the meat purchased for the army
was the meat OF commerce; that both
kinds-refrigerated and canned-were such
as are well known in both hemispheres
commercial articles of which there is and
has been very large consumption not only
by the trade generally but by the United
States navy and by the armies and nayies
OF Europe"
That no reports of unfitness or unsuita-
bility of the beef sent from the United
States were forwarded to the war depart
ment by any general officer serving in Cuba
or Porto Rico while the field operations
were in progress. nor were any such reports
received until more than month after hos
tilities ceased
That, barring some defects in methods OF
inspecting the beef on it's delivery to the
subsistence department, the deterioration
of the meat in shipment was due to the
fault of no one.
Miles Charges.
The charges of Gen. Miles, as made in
newspaper interviews, as well as those
made before the war investigating commits
sion, are referred to al length among them
being the interview with the general sent
out from the New York office of the Asso-
ciated Press on the 31st OF January, in
which Gen. Miles was quoted as saying that
he had overwhelming evidence that the
beef was treated with chemicals TO preserve
II and that he had affidavits from men who
saw the beef undergoing the embaming
process" The court notes the denial which
Gen. Miles made of this part of the conver-
sation as IL was printed in the New York
Herald, but prints the charge as part of
the allegations, saying on this point: THE
testimony of both Mr.. Reid and Mr.. Berry,
of the New York Times. agree in the verify
of the interview as reported by the former,
and this is found in the Herald clipping.
The court does not therefore ignore this
paragraph, but treats IT part of the AL
legations which are under investigation"
Several pages Of the report are devoted
TO the consideration of the allegation made
by Gen. Miles that the refrigerated beef
was treated with preservatives, but the
statement is made upon the threshold Of
this question that but little testimony was
submitted by him in support OF this con-
tention." The inference drawn by the
court from the absence OF such testimony
Is adverse TO the existence of the practice
alleged to prevail by the major general
commanding.
Approved by the President.
The report closes with the following state
ment: THE court with deep sense Of the
responsibilities devolvng upon IL has la
bored zealously to bring out the truth and
believes that IL has fully covered all the
matters referred TO IL for investigation.
That the calling OF more witnesses from the
large number suggested by the major gen.
eral commanding, including all those who
have taken part in the operations Of the
xuo xvoI1ld onlX have ad In a.