The times., 1899-05-09
A SIGH OF RELIEF.
1t Goes Up From the War Depart
ment Over the Reef Report

IL Goes Up From the War Depart
ment Over the Beef Report.
There was great deal of gossip in
circulation at the War Department yes
terday regarding the findings OF the Wade
Beef Court of Enquiry. Although opin-
ions expressed by Army officers on the
various features of the report were diver
sified the almost universal judgment was
expressed that the report as a whole could
not be considered otherwise than a COM
promise so far as 1t affected most OF the
officials involved. Army officers were also
unit in the belief that the findings of
the Court would put an end to the beef
controversy and that as far as the service
may be concerned, the whole matter would
be allowed to drop.
A convincing indication of this fact was
found in the case of Colonel Maus, OF
General Miles staff, who was so unjustly
criticised by the Court. 1t will be re-
called that Colonel Maus was not invited
to appear before the Court and submit
his testimony in person but was allowed
simply to testify by means of a written
statement. Army officers say that under
these circumstances, Colonel Maus would
be justified in calling for another court of
enquiry, privilege which is accorded
him under military rules and regulations,
but he declared yesterday that he had no
intention of doing so, and that so far as
he was concerned the whole matter had
terminated.
officers at General Miles headquarters
professed to be Indifferent to the recon-
mendations of the Court and especially
that portion of the document directed at
the Commanding General of the Army.
1t was perfectly obvious. however, that
General Miles staff officers were disap-
pointed at what the Court had to say OF
General Miles conduct In not reporting
his discoveries to the War Department at
an earlier date. General Miles was seen
but declined to say anything about the
report. 1t Is believed, however, that he
deems it best to discontinue his efforts
to get at the facts for the reason that
it would be impossible to attain any ma
terial results under current conditions.
The Commissary Department, which was
subjected to the EXTREMIST structures the
Court ventured upon, was probably the
most emphatic in its denunciation of the
report, although none of the officers in
the bureau would be quoted General
Weston. who succeeded Eagan as Chief Of
the Bureau. was greatly surprised at the
criticism directed at him. The Court held
that General Weston was blamable in that
he recommended the adoption of canned
roast beef as a component ration for the
troops. In speaking of the subject yester-
day General Weston said: "It is true that
1 recommended the adoption of the canned
roast beef but at the same time l recon-
mended that it be used in conjunction with
vegetables. which are furnished to soldiers
in the service Other officers of the
bureau declared that General Weston's
recommendations were not carried out and
that therefore, he should not have been
| held responsible. Adjutant General Cor
bin was closely questioned but none of the
enquiries propounded to him ELECTED a
reply.
Although the report was unsatisfactory
to a large majority of the officials OF the
department there was, nevertheless, a
feeling of relief that the subject had been
disposed of for the time being. The beef
controversy has been nightmare to all
the staff officers, involving as it has, the
| regulations of great many of them. and
the whole scandal was so replete with
determinations and malignant accusations
that for the sake OF the department they
congratulated themselves that the eonten-
| tion had passed away temporarily. 1t is
regarded as an assured fact that there
will be no changes in the personnel of
| the Army as a result OF the findings of
! the Court and the talk that General Miles
is to be forced out of the Army and sue
ceeded as commander by General Merritt
is entirely discredited, both at the former s
! headquarters and at the other bureaus Of
| the department.