The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-05-08
ARMY-BEEF COURTS REPORT
FINDINGS APPROVED BY M,KIN-
LEY AND MADE PUBLIC.

MILES, Allegations That Refrigerated
Beef Was Chemically Treated Not su..
tained- Respecting Canned
Beef Upheld-Court Admits Food Wa.
an Experime ent-Its Purchase by Eagan
In Such Enormous Quantities ga Col.
Iossal Error''-niIes Censurcd for Not
ExOnerated.
Washington, May by direction Of
the president, who approves the find
ings, Acting Secretary of War MeiSle-
John to-day made public the report and
findings of the military court appointed
to investigate the charges made by Ma
jor General Miles, commanding the
army, that the beef supplied to the army
during the war with Spain was unfit for
the use Of the troops. The most impor-
tant features of the report are: The
finding that the generals allegations
that the refrigerated beef was treated
that his allegations concerning the
canned fresh or canned roast beef were
sustained as to it's unsuitability for food
as used on the transports and as a long
continued field ration; censure of Cen
eral 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 then
commissary general General Eagan)
for too extensive purchases of the
canned beef as an untried ration; CEN
sure of Colonel Maus of General
Miles staff; a finding that the packers
were not at fault and that the meats
supplied to the army We're 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:
ut has been developed in the course
of the inquiry, as recited in this report,
that in some instances certain idividu-
ais failed to perform the full measure
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 end OF
discipline and that the interests of the
service will be best subserved it fur
ther proceedings be not taken"
4'svxr ", rayfN Nsatr <nf
eral Miles In various parts Of the report.
Probably the most direct instance is the
one which states that beyond the crit
icism of officers found elsewhere in the
report, ''the court finds that against
none of the officers commanding corps,
divisions, brigades and regiments and
their staff officers should charge of
guilt be brought. The court finds that
the major general commanding the ar
INV had not sufficient justification for
alleging that the refrigerated beef was
embalmed or was unfit for issue to the
+roops. 1t also finds that he commit
ted an error in that, having bellet or
knowledge. as claimed, that the food
was unfit. that it caused sickness ana
d,stress. that some of it was supplied
under the pretense of experiment, that
other beef was embalmed, ne ala not
report such knowledge or
belief to the secretary OF war, TO 'he
.rd that a proper remedy might be ap-
Piled"
rho censure of Colonel Maus Is bas-
od unon his failure to call attention to
ohoroes concerning the beef at Ch1cka-
manga. contained in a report OF 1nspec-
nYt the 18th OF |
October last. in which he stated his
belief that the beef was chemlcaily
treated. '"The Silence of Colonel Maus,
saws the court ''on so important mat
ter as the chemically treated peer as
reported by Major Daily and personally
known to himself, is most remarkable
The remark is also made that General
M;les' failure to draw special attention |
10 this report is unexplained.
Commenting upon General Miles tes-
+imony that he had first formed the
,ninion last August that the refr1gefat-
ii beef had been processed the court
.en,arks: "Whatever the date upon
which he formed a belief, or reason
,hle suspicion, that the health OF the /
he troops was being impaired by the
,se of deleterious food, it was his
,ounden duty, in the opinion of the
,o,,rt TO take the most effective meas
,res within his control to ascertain the
,ct,1al facts, and correct the wrong, If
inv should be found. 1t would have
,een practicable to obtain samples OF
he beef then being supplied to the
rmy by contractors and to have sub
nitted these samples to chemical exam
which would have resulted in
he detection of the presence or alb
ence of boric and salycilic acids, or
nv other chemical agent that may
ave been used as preservative agent
1et no such precaution as that sug-
,ested was taken by the major general I
at that time or at any
time SO far as has been
earned by the court ]
"The court finds that the allegations
/ the major general commanding to
he effect that the refrigerated beef ,
Implied to the troops was treated :
With chemical preservatives have not ,
cen established. The court also finds
hat SO much of the allegations of the 8
major general commanding in respect
, the canned roast beef, as relates to :
he unsuitahillty for food, as actually +
sed on the transports and as to its ,
xtensive and long continued use as ,
eld rations are sustained In the opin- ,