The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-05-01
WAS NO EMBALMED BEEF
The Inquiry Court Censures General
Miles.

Washington, April 80 The Wade court
of inquiry today concluded it's work In
connection with the allegations of Gen.
Miles concerning the beef supplied to the
army during the war with Spain. The
report was signed at $50 y. m. by every
member of the board and soon afterwards
the members OF the court left the Le-
mon building where all the meetings in
this city have been held. Col. Davis,
the recorder Of the court, CARRIED the otfic-
ial copy of the findings to the War De-
partment, and 11.the absence OF SecI etary
A lger, delivered 1t to Acting Secretary
MeiklejohD. Mr.. Meikeljohn Immediate
ly sealed the document in an envelope
and forwarded 1t to the White House
whence 1t was despatched forthwith to
the President In New York. The report
is about $4,000 words and goes fully into
the questions which have been raised In
connection with the army beef. The text
has not heentmade public and.will not
be until after the President shall have
read IL. 1t will then rest with him to
say when the report shall be given to the
public.
The verdict, however, is known to be
that the allegations which Gen. Miles
made before the war investigating com
mission are not sustained with reference
to the refrigerated beef although his CON-
tention that the canned roast beef was
not q suitable continuous ration is ad-
mitted. There is direct criticism of Gen.
Miles for failing to promptly bring to
the attention of the war department the
reports made TO him concerning bad beef
and several individuals" are censured
for failing to observe the properties OF
their position as commanding officers in
this and other respects.
Of the n q mazda nv
the Associated Press on the 18th instant,
was an accurate one. AS was then stat
ed, the court takes the position that the
testimony is conclusive that both the re-
frigerated beef and the canned beef were
in good condition when delivered to the
sued to the troops, except in especial in
stances where the deterioration was due
to accidental conditions in transporta.
tion or to the influences Of the tropical
climate. The report admits the liability
of refrigerated beef to faint quickly after
removal from the Ice chests. The court
finds the charges of "embalming" the
fresh beef to have been substantiat ed
by the testimony and says no chemicals
we're used 10 preserve 1t. 1t also finds
that 1t would have been impracticable
to secure beef on the hoof for the Cuban
campaign. The finding is likewise in
opposition to the assertion Of the part
of Gen. Miles that the use of the beef
was an experiment.
Much attention is given to the charges
concerning the canned roast beef, and 1t is
stated that ths testimony proves it to
have been wholesome and nutritious
when used in moderation 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 1t was unpala-
table and found un desirable as con-
tinuous ration. The fact is set forth that
the canned roa. beef had not been used
to any appreciable extent before the be-
ginning OF this war and 1t is therefore
regarded as practically untried ration.