The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-07
VILE. nUsr PROVE HIS CHARGE
As to ID Character Of the Army nee."
re President TO Cause Eh0rousA
Urva~ar,.t ton 90 be Made

Inxe..,oas.s ton 90 be Made
Washington, February S.-The pul7
pose of the president to terminate the
unsatisfactory state Of affairs that
has existed for some time as The result
of the numerous charges and
charges and interviews respecting the
character of the army beef, by insti-
tu:ing a formal inquiry into these Eat-
tiers and ~endeavoring 10 place the re-
sponsibility where it belongs, was
made known today. This inquiry will
not be undertaken before the commits
sion to investigate the conduct of the
war has made its report 10 the presl-
dent. The scope Of this new inquiry
has not been defined, but it certainly
will embrace the allegations made By
General Miles as to the character of
the army supplies and will involve that
officer to the extent that he must
make these charges good, and TO that
degree he will be on trial himself in a
replinary n Should the charges
be found well established a heavy re
sponsibility would be placed Upon the
packers and persons concerned in the
meat inspection and perhaps others;
should they fall unsupported General
Miles may be obliged to answer TO a
court-martial for rejecting upon the
character of other officers.
There are two methods by which
such an investigation may be conducted
according to established military
usage. The first is by the appointment
Of a court of inquiry; and the second
by the appointment of what is known
as an officers or inspection board.
In the former case, it would be neces-
sary to name some officer who is to be
the subject of the investigation. In
the latter the board is charged simply
to inquire into a state of facts, or al
legged facts, without reference to any
particular person, and to place respon-
sibility, if possible, for anything OF
which complaint is made. Their find
ings may serve as the basis for a
court-martial quite as effectually as
the findings of a court of inquiry, and
has some advantages in that it does
not begin with the presumption of. a
court of inquiry. Where a court Of in
quiry is ordered, it is said there is
conveyed a distinct reflection upon the
officer named.
1t is not possible at present to learn
in which direction the president leans,
but he has been in conference~on the
the attorney general and the matter
was discussed in the cabinet today to
some extent.
1t was agreed that General Miles
should not be suspended from his Of
flee as commander of the army pend
ing the investigation, as it was not in
tended that ever by any inference
should he be prejudged of I'M wrong
doing in this connection.
Up to the close of the day General
Miles positively declined to discuss in
any the events of the day SO
far as they relate to himself or to dis
cuss any statements contained in any
of the interviews attributed to him.
1t may be said of these interviews that
while it is conceivable they might fig
ure in the inquiry, they would not do
SO of necessity, for the matters to be
first looked into are those connected
with the character of the army beef.
1t is suggested that it will be a matter
of difficulty to secure the personnel for
W a court of inquiry with its limi-
ted membership, without employing
some of the officers who have already
taken some part in the controversy be-
tween General Miles and General Ea.
gan. This is on account Of the search
ty of available officers of sufficient rank
to warrant their assignment to this
duty.