The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1901-01-03
ALGER ROASTS MILES
Ex:Sercetary Of War Has Breezy
Article In North American.
REHASH OF "EMBALMED "BEEF
Charges Made By General of the
Army are Brought Forth and
"Dissected" Thoroughly.

The North American, in its next
issue, will contain an article on "The
Food of the Army During the Spanish
War;" by former Secretary OF War
Russell A. Alger. The article cites
the creation of the war investigation
commission, and says:
"On the 2lst day of December, 1898,
the major general commanding the
army of the United States appeared
before the commission, then sitting in
Washington, and made his statements
with respect to the canned, fresh and
refrigerated beef furnished to the
army during the war. The article
says:
"General Miles refused to be sworn
or affirmed, as every other OF the 495
witnesses had been, declaring in sub
stance that he would make his state
ment without being sworn, and was
responsible for what he said.'
although the commission had been
sitting three months. the charges with
respect to canned and refrigerated
beef were now made for the first time;
and, stranger and more inexcusable,
and more unsoldierly still. during ali
those months, with this pretended
knowledge of facts which, if they e1-
listed, should have been made known
to the secretary of war for the protec-
ton of the army, General Miles never
mentioned the subject. Nor did I
ever hear rumor of chemically treat
ed beef being purchased for the army
until the generals testimony was
given before the commission"
In answer to inquiries as to how
canned beef became part OF the
army ration. reciting General Miles
charges, the ex-secretary says:
eff General Miles did not know
that canned fresh beef was part OF
the army ration, then he displayed an
ignorance in an important matter OF
his profession that is, to say the least,
most remarkable. If he did not know
that canned fresh beef was recog-
nized part of the ration, then his alle-
CATION to the contrary is mnch more
reprehensible.
"Ihe allegations of General Miles
that canned fresh meat was rot part
of the army ration, and that it was is-
sued as the spretense Of an expert
meut," were not only contrary to fact,
but we're made absolutely without a
particle of evidence or excuse.
"If General Miles really believed
his serious charges, his conduct is all
the more blameworthy, in that he ap-
parently made no effort to assure him
self of their truthfulness, nor to report
them to the secretary of war before
publicly uttering them.
"If we are to believe written evil
dence' to the contrary, it does not ap-
pear that General Miles was even hon.
est in making his dilatory charges
that the timed beef was issued as the
pretcnse of AZ experiment.
"The charges of General Miles,
twice proven false in spirit and sub
stance, are the more heinous in their
effect because of the false impression
they prodnced about the food furnish
ed the army.
"Yet the present congress promoted
General Miles to lieutenant general,
and has TINS far failed to give to Gen.
eral Shaf'ter the rank of major general
to retire upon his old age, and this
after his magnificent campaign at San
tiago, as we'll as his former distin-
guished services.
"General Miles said in the charges
which will be recalled:
"'You had better ask the secretary
of war or the commissary general as to
the beef. I think they can tell you, /
krow it was sent to the army as food,
aud the pretense is that it was sent as
an experiment. 50 There was
sent to Porto Rico 337 tons of what is
known as, or called, refrigerator beef,
which you might call embalmed beef d
The article closes with severe roast
of General Miles for publicly utterinR
the above "grave" and "scandalous'
charges.