Connecticut western news., 1899-05-11
BEEF COURT REPORTS
MILES AND PAGAN ARE STRONGLY
 CENSURED.

IENoOheD.
 Buying So Much Canned Beef a Co., 1ossaI Mistnke-Not n Suitable Field Ration - Packers Exonerated - Nc
 Further Proceedings.
 Acting Secretary of War Meiklejohn has made public the report of the mili- tary court appointed to investigate the charges made by Major. 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 report bears President Me- Kinley's official approval.
 The most important features of the report are the findings that the gen. erals allegations that the refrigerated beef was treated with chemicals were not established, that his allegations concerning the canned fresh or canned roast beef wsre sustained as to its un- suitability for food as used on the transports and as a long continued field ration, censure of General Miles for Ger ror' in failing to promptly notify the secretary of war when he first formed the opinion that the food was unfit, cen sure of the commissary general (Gen- eral Eagan) for the too extensive pur- chases of the canned beef as an untried ration, censure of Colonel Maus of Gen. eral Miles staff, the finding that the packers were not at fault and that the meats supplied to the army were of the same quality as those supplied to the trade generally, and the recommends ton that no further proceedings be talk en in the premises. The conclusions of the court based upon the charges are as follows:
 Tt has been developed in the course of the inquiry, as recited in this report that In some instances certain individ- 'uals failed to perform the full measure of duty or to observe the proprieties which dignify 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"
 Miles Censured.
 There Is more or less criticism of Gen. eral Miles in various parts of the report. Probably the most direct instance Is the one which states that beyond the criti- cism of officers found elsewhere In the report "the court finds that against
  divisions, brigades and regiments and their staff officers should 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. It also finds that he committed an error in that, having belief or knowl- edge as claimed that the food was unit. that it caused sickness and distress. that some of it was supplied under the pretense of experiment and that other beef was embalmed, he did not imme- diately report such knowledge or belief to the secretary of war, to the end that proper remedy might be applied"
 "rhe evidence shows that Colonel John F. Weston, assistant commissary senefal of subsistence. recommended the adoption of the canned roast beef as a component of the field ration. and to that extent he Is responsible"
 The censure of Colonel Maus, inspect or general on General Miles stan, is based upon his failure to call attention to charges concerning the beef at Chick amauga contained in a $eport of in- spection made by Dr. Cor major) Daly on the 26th of October last, in which he
 
 chemically treated.
 The report places the quantity of can ned roast beef purchased for the war by the commissary department at 6,s47,174 pounds, including S50.ooo pounds which was brought from Liverpool and other English ports. This amount Is charac- terized as excessive, and the commissa- ry general General Eagan) is severely criticised in several parts of the docu- ment on this score. One of the severest rebukes Is follows:
 Eagsn's Colossal Mistake.
 Considering the little use that had been made of this beef in the regular ar my, the probability that the volunteers were entirely ignorant of 1t, that its use as a part of the field ration had never been sanctioned by the president or sec- retary of war, the court can but charac- terize the action of the commissary gen. sral of subsistence as unwarranted and reckless, in that he ordered the pur- chase of such enormous quantities of food that was practically untried and unknown, and the court so finds. The court also finds that there fs no ground for any imputatlon whatever of any other actuating motive on the part of the commissary general than the ear nest desire to procure the best possible food for the troops. The court pro- nounces this act of the commissary gen. eral of subsistence a colossal error, for which there Is no palliation."
 The court finds that there was neglect in Cuba and to a less degree in Porto Rico in delivering the refrigerated beef.
 '"The court" says the report, does not wish to state the case more strongly fx fhof ha fe, be warranted that too much time was consumed in distributing this perisha- ble article. The fault, if any there was, rested with the brigade and higher conn manding officers and their commissaries and quartermasters. but the testimony Is not so definite or specific as to war rant the naming by the court of any particular officers.
 "The court Is of the opinion that the canned roast beef was not suitable as a travel ration on transports, consider ing the absence of cooking facilities and the absence from that ration of fresh vegetables and condiments. For use on shore as a food ration where the com panies had their camp cooking equi1- ment and vegetables were available canned roast beef is suitable for issue, say two days in ten, but not for two days in succession. For any use ex- ceedng one day in five the court finds this beef unsuitable.
 "The refrigerated beef is. in the opinion of the court, a suitable ration for troops when 1t can be issued to them in good condition"
 English Victory on the Nile. The English foreign office has re- ceived news from Unyoro that Colonel