The record-union., 1899-04-30
Report Signed by Members Of the Board
and Forwarded TO the President.
The Charges of General Miles Re-
garding Refrigerated Beef Not
Sustained, Though His Conten-
ton That the Canned Roast
Beef Was Not Suitable Con-
tinuous Ration is Admitted.

WASHINGTON, April 29.-The Wade
Court of Inquiry to-day concluded its
work in connection with the allegations
of General Miles concerning the beef
supplied to the army during the war
with Spain The report was signed at
2;30 p. NJ by every member of the
board, and soon afterward the members
of the court left the Lemon Building,
where all the meetings in this city have
been held.
Colonel Davis, the Recorder of the
court, carried the official copy of the
findings to the War Department, and
in the absence of Secretary Alger, de-
livered it to Acting Secretary Meikle
john, who Immediately sealed the docu-
ment in an envelope and forwarded it
to the White House, whence it was dis
patched to the President in New York.
The report is about 10000 words, and
goes fully into the questions that have
been raised in connection with the army
beef. The text has not been made pub
lie, and will not until after the Presi-
dent shall have read it 1t will then
rest with him to say when the report
shall be given to the public. The YER
dict, however, is known to be that the
charges which General Miles made be-
fore the War Investigating Committee
are not sustained in reference to the
refrigerated beef, although his conten-
ton that the canned roast beef was not
a suitable continuous ration is admitted.
There is direct criticism of General
Miles for failing to promptly bring to
the attention of the War Department
fbQ
beef, and several individuals are CEN
Nsured for failing to observe the proprie
ties of their positions as commanding
officers in this and other respects.
The forecast of the report as made
by the Associated Press on the Sth in
slant. was an accurate one. AS was
then stated, the court takes the position
that the testimony is conclusive that
both the refrigerated beef and the
canned beef We're in good condition
when delivered to the Government, and
continued SO until issued to the troops,
except in special instances, when the
deterioration was due to accidental
conditions in the transportation or to
the influence of the tropical climate
The report admits the liability of re-
frigerated beef to faint quickly after
removal from the ice chests The court
finds the charges of "embalming' the
fresh beefsto have been upsubstantiated
by testimony, and says no chemicals
We're used to preserve it. 1t also says
that it would have been impracticable
to secure beef on the hoof for the Gu
ban campaign. The finding is also adj
verse to the assertion on the part of
General Miles that the use Of the beef
was an experiment. -, a.
Much attention is given to the
charges concerning the canned roast
beef and it is stated that the testimo-
ny proves it to have been wholesome
and nutritious where used in modera-
ton and under favorable circumstances.
The position is taken that too much of
this article of food was supplied to the
men, and that under the circumstances
it was unpalatable and found undesir-
able as continuous ration. The fact is
set forth that the canned roast beef had
not been used to any appreciate ex-
tent before the beginning of this war,
and it is Therefore regarded as a practi-
cally untried ration. In view of this
fact, the Commissary General of Sub
sistence is roundly criticised for the
purchase of the meat in such extensive
quantities. As to the character of the
meat for Wholesomeness and nutrition,
the reports of Professors Atwater and
Chittenden are quoted at length, sus-
tanning the claims in this respect.
Accordingly, the court finds that the
meat was not "doctored''; that it was
the beef of commerce; that there was no
more neglect than was incidental to the
hurried preparation for the war; that
the inspection, while generally accord
ing to regulations, was not always up
to the requirements: and that the sick
ness of the troops was not to any great
degree occasioned by the use of either
the canned or the refrigerated beef.
On TIL other hand, it is explained that
General Miles himself did not report
during the war that the beef, either re-
frigerated or canned, was unfit as a ra-
ton. Other officers who gave their tes-
timony before the court were found also
to have neglected what the court con-
ceives to have been their duty in this
respect, and all ar blamed for this
failure. But the court does not think
further proceedings necessary