The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1899-05-12

Washington, Nay S.-By direction OF
the president, who approves the ind
ings, Acting Secretary Of War Meikle-
john made public the-repOrt and find
ings Of the military court appointed to
investigate the charges made by Mai.
Gen Miles, commanding the army,
that the beef supplied to the army dur
ing the war with Spain was unfit for
the use Of the troops. The most i'm
portant features Of the report are:
The finding that the generals finding
that the refrigerated beef was treated
with chemicals was not established;
that his allegations concerning the
beef were sustained as to its
on the transports and as a long
continued field ration; censure Of Gen.
Miles for error In falling to promptly
notify the secretary Of war when he
first formed the opinion that the food
was unfit; censure of the cOmmissary
general (then Gen Eagan) for the too
extensive purchase Of the canned beef
as an untried ration; censure Of Col.
Maus. Of Gen. 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 sup
piled to the trade generally, and the
recommendation that no further pro
ceedings be taken IN the premises
The conclusion Of the court adverse
to further proceeding based upon the
charges is as follows:
It has been developed in the course OF the in
quiry, as recited IN this report that in some in
stances some individuals failed 70 perform the
full measure OF duty OF 70 observe the prOprle-
ties which dignity high military command, but
the court is Of the opinion that the mere state
ment in the ohdcial report Of the facts developed
meets the ends OF the discipline and that the
interests Of the service will be best subserved
II further proceedings be not taken
There is more or less criticism Of
Gen. Miles in various parts of the re-
port. Probably the most direct in
stance is the one which states that,
beyond the criticism Of officers found
elsewhere in the report,
The court finds that against none Of the
officers commanding corps, divisions, brigades
and regiments and their stan officers should a
charge Of guilty 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
knowledge. as claimed. that the food was unfit,
that IL caused sickness and distress, that some
Of Il was supplied under the pretenss Of expert
ment, that other beef was embalmed, he did not
Immediately report such knowledge or belief
70 the secretary Of war TO the end that proper
remedy might be promptly applied
Speaking of the ration as a whole,
the court says:
As to the eject Of the food supply having re-
gard 70 both suhciency and quality. 1t seems 20
be clearly established that the army ration as
supplied. without modification, to the troops
serving in the West Indies was by no means
adapted for use in a tropical climlte. II
this be true, the unfitneSs Of the ration should
have manifested itself by its failure 70 keep the
troops which subsisted upon il in the best pos
sfble condition for service in hot climates This,
in the opinion OF the court, is fully established
In evidence The insuhciency Of the food sup
ply in Cuba and the irregularity attending upon
its distribution, due primarily TO a marked de-
fciency in transportation facilities and 70 the
conditions OF the weather and the roads, ap-
pear 70 some extent as causes Of sickness among
the troops who were thus fnsUd1ciently and ir-
regularly subsisted-
Gen Miles, when asked last night
whether he had any comment to make
upon the beef report, replied that he
had read it, but I have nothing TO
say" he added, 'either about the re-
port, the method Of testimony or the
conclusions reached"