Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-10
COURT TO TRY MILES.
1T IS DULY APPOINTED AND WILL
MEET NEXT WEEK.
WILL INVESTIGATE MEAT CHARGES.
OstcnsibIy to Look Into state OF
Things Only, hut May Recommend
ward the General.

WASHINGTON, February e-The Pres
ident has appointed a court Of inquiry to
examine into the charges touching the
meat furnished the American army du-
ring the war with Spain. and other mat
tiers involved in the charges made by Cen
eral Miles against the administration OF
war affairs. The court will consist Of Ma
jor-General James +. Wade. L. S. v; Bri-
gadler- General George r. Davis. L. s. V;
Colonel George L. Gillespie. Corps of En-
g.neers. L. s. A., and Lieutenant Colonel
George p. Davis. deputy judge-advocate-
general.
The order for the court OF inquiry.
which was issued BY the Secretary Of
War. SAYS: "The court is hereby direct
ed TO Investigate certain allegations Of
the maior-general commanding the army
IN respect to the unfitness Tor issue Of
certain articles Of food furnished by the
subsistence department to the troops in
the field during the recent operations i'm
Cuba and Porto Rico. In addition 10 its
findings Of fact the court will submit an
opinion upon the merits Of the case, to-
gcther with such recommendations as 10
further proceedings as may seem TO he
warranted by the facts developed In the
course of the inquiry"
The court will convene I'm this city on
the 18th instant
MILES HAS NOTHING TO SAY.
General Miles. when seen. had nothing
| to say respecting the appointment Of the
/ court. H has been accommodating a large
amount OF evidence along the lines OF the
/ inquiry. but he has not chosen any coun-
/ sci. and large part OF his evidence has
/ been already transmitted 10 the War IN
/ vestigating Commission.
/ This court Of inquiry. IL is said by per-
sons versod I'm military Jurisprudence,
will be unique, I'm that II will be directed
| I'm its investigations against state OF
affairs and not against a person, FOR al
though General Miles is named as the
author Of certain allegations in the for
nal order. il is these allegations that are,
and not General Miles. that is the subject
/ of inquiry. The only regulation in the
| army manual bearing on courts or IN
quirv provides that they may be appointed
l TO inouire into any allegation against the
conduct Of an officer or an enlisted man
but nothing Is said about an inquiry int
a state Of things. IL IS 20 be assumed
Of course. that the President mas mo
roughly satisfied himself as 10 the lesall
~ of this order before issuing It, The
!
r,onv of civilian witnesses.
The court. should it find that Genera
NuIes's charges are not sufficiently estab
ushed may express an opinion as u
what course should be pursued towar'
him.
INQUIRY MAY BE LENGTHY.
Inasmuch as the court Of inquiry VII
have TO take up the whole subject OF IN
meats furnished 10 the army, and ascer
tain the exact state OF this meat as
left the packers hands, as well as 100
into the preliminary operations Of slaugn
tsring. packing canning, and rerrlse
rating. a good deal Of time Will be cor
sumed In the inquiry. II may be nece.
sarv also 10 call personally before IN
court all OF the officers cited In criucisI
Of the meat By General Niles, numoefln
between sixty and seventy, in when cas
a good deal OF expense VIII be incurre'
and stil more time consumed. Inc az
rninistrs ton takes the position that the'
T. charges against the character OF the me-
suDply shall be thoroughly sifted' ana
v-~cY,, has been done, that II shah
corrected