The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-05-24
THE ARMY Beef REPORT,
Scne Of General Miles's Allegations
Found to Be True.
PRESIDENT APPROVES FINDINGS.

Canned Beef Undesirable For Use on
Transports-Charge Of Use OF Chem
icals Not tSustained-General Miles Cen.
sured-Sharp Criticism of Eagan--Tec-
ommendation OF No Further Action.
WASHINGTON, D. G. (speciaD. The re-
port Of the Army Beef Court Of Inquiry,
appointed to investigate General Mies's
charges regarding the food supply Of the
army in tho war With Spain, is approved by
the President in the following indorse.
ment:
"The findings OF the Court Of Inquiry are
approved. WILLIAM MCKINLEY"
The court finds that General Miles's ale.
cations that the refrigerated beef was EN-.
lalmed, or was unfit for issue to tr oops,
were not sustained, and that he had n OF
sufficient justification for these charg es.
With regard to tho canned roast beef the
court sustains so much OF the affegatio ne
OF the Maj jor-General commanding as re-
late to its unsuitabilIty for food, as act".
ally used on the transports, and as to its
extensive or long-continued use as q field
ration. None Of the other charges as ia
canned beef are sustained. The court
finds that certain individuals failed to per.
form their full duty, but the opinion is e1.
pressed that the mere statement In the OF.
f1cial report OF the facts developed meets
the end OF discipline and that the interests
OF the service'will be best subserved II
further proceedings be not taken. The
court spares neither the Major-General
commanding nor the Commlssary-General
IN the criticism. It holds that both officials
committed error. It finds that General
Niles committed an error in that, having
pellet or knowledge, as claimed, that the
food was unfit. that 1t caused sickness and
distress, that some Of 1t was supplied under
The pretelce OF experiment, that other
beef was embalmed, he did not imm ediate.
ly report such knowledge or belief to the
Secretary OF War, to the end that proper
remedy might be promptly applied.
Attention Is called by the court to the
'act that but little testimony was sub
:nitted by General Miles In support Of his
contention that the refrigerated beef had
been treated with preservattves. It re-
marks that his failure to draw special at.
tention to the report Of Major Daily until
his testimony before the War Investigating
Commission is not explained, although
one. II not two, OF his staff officers knew
OF the beef which Major DAILY said was
positively "hurtful to health" The re-
port refers to General Miles's suspicion
regarding the refrigerated beef while at
Ponce, and declares, that 1t was his
bounden duty instantly to take the most
effective measure within control to ascer-
tain the actual fact and to correct the
wrong, II any should be found.
As to the character Of the refrigerated
beef the report says that It's use on shore
after the troops had secured convenient
harbors and landing facilities was wise and
desirable. It was the meat OF commerce,
and was received by the troops at first with
issuing It and transporting 1t to the camps
were neither adequate nor efficient. As a
consequence considerable portion OF the
beef became tainted before 1t reached the
regimental camps, and was either rejected
altogether or trimmed down before being
cooked. ut does not appear" says the
report, "that the troops were lnsu aiciently
fed as a consequence OF such reflections.
The court holds that the refrigerated beef
issued to them In good condition. 1t would
not have been prudent to have made the
eIpe ditions to Santiago and Porto Rico
without the refrigerated teef' and until the
avail Liability Of native beef had been estab-
lished. There was no better food than re.
friSerated beefthat was practicable. and
no reliance should have been placed On
the cattle in Cuba and Porto Rico as cer-
tain means Of subsistence"
As to the canned roast beef 1t Is the opin.
ion OF the court that It was fresh, wa s, not
OF old date, WAS the meat Of commerce,
and inspected by the Government iuspec-
tors as provided by law. Some injury was
doubtless caused by rough handling in
transportation, or was due to exposure to
the climatic influences 1.-THE tropics. The
court holds, however, that 1t was not suit
able as atravel ration, on transports, consid-
ering the absence OF cooking facilities and
the absence from that ration offresh re9eta-
bles and condiments. For use on shore as a
field ration 1t Is suitable for issue two days
In ten, but not for two days in succession.
With respect to its being a necessary ar
ticle for use on the expeditions to Cuba
and Porto Rico the court believes that 1t
would not have been imprudent to have
left It behind. In this connection the court
finds that the allegations OF General Miles,
so far as they relate to the unsuitabitty OF
the canned fresh beef for food as actually
used ON the transports, and as to its extern
sive or Iong-continued use as field ration,
are sustained.
The Commlssary- General Is criticised for
having purchased such large quantities Of
this article, considering the little use that
had been made Of 1t in the regular army,
the probability that the volunteers were en-
tirely ignorant OF it, and that its use as
part OF the field ration had never been
sanctioned by the President or Secretary Of
War. Regarding this, the court says: "The
court can but characterize the action OF
the Commissary- General as unwarranted
and reckless, In that he ordered the pur-
chase of such enormous quantities OF a
food that WINS practically untrled and u1-
known, and the court SO finds. The court
also finds that there is no ground for any
imputation OF any other actuating motive
on the part OF the Commissary- General
than the earnest desire to procure the best
possible food for the troops. The court
pronounces this act OF the Commissary-
General OF Subsistence colossal error,
for which there Is no paillation."
One OF the most important findings OF the
court is contained In the concluding para
graph OF the report, which recommends
that no further proceedings be taken, the
best interests OF the service, IN the opinion
OF the court, being best subservsd by such
course.
The report Is signed by General James
F. Wade, President OF the Court, and by
Colonel George B. Davis, the Recorder.
The only comment by President Mckinley
Is his approval OF their findings, quoted |
above. Attached to the report is ah order
by the Secretary OF War dlssolvlng the
court.
Spanish Soldiers Sail From Manila.
The Snantqh ef an m ar G,tolu a In aaIIad |