Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-01-05

ponents can be changed only by the
president Of the United States. II Gen.
eral Miles did not know that canned
fresh beef was a part OF the army RAJ
ton, then he displayed an ignorance In
ar important matter Of his profession
that Is, to say the least, most remark.
able; IL he did nov that canned beef
was a recognized part OF the ration.
then his allegation to the contrary IL
30 much mofe reprehensible.
THE allegations of General Miles that
the canned fresh beef was not a part or
the army ration and issued al the pre-
tense OF an experiment were not only
contrary to fact, but were made abso.
lutely without a particle OF evidence or
excuse. Fresh canned beef was pre-
ferred over corned canned beef be-
cause OF the fact that the salt In the
latter produced thirst-a decided objec-
ton I'm a tropical country, but the
canned beef should have been used only
when cooked with vegetables and prop
erIy seasoned. The only fault found
with the ration Is that 1t was u%npalata-
bic when served without additional
cooking and without vegetables and
condiments.
Investigation by he Government.
After the charges made by General
Miles. the most expert and scientific
IltH III tIC Country WtIt tntTtlOTG Eli
ployed by the government to further
the investigation.
The court Of inquiry visited several
OF the packing houses. The result Of
personal examinations and OF the In
vesGigatlons OF the experts employed
c~onclusively showed that there was no
foundation for the charge that the
canned fresh beef was not a part OF the
ration, or that II had been furnished
=. 49, -. 81
IL was the pulp from beef. In the haste
under which the Santiago expedition
left Tampa, proper provisions for cook
ing the food OF the men on the trans
ports seem to have been either neg
lected or impossible on account of the
lack Of time. General Miles arrived at
Tampa on June ], for the purpose OF
rendering assistance to the command
ing general Of the Santiago expedition.
III General Miles did not look into the
question Of food for the Santiago ex-
petition he was az culpable as though
he had failed to inspect all other i'm
portant matters.
Besides finding hat canned fresh
beef was unsuitable when not cooked
with vegetables, the court of inquiry
also expressed the opinion that the our
chase of several million rations by the
commissary general, during the first
TWO ilOLllUb Vi the war Will Spain,
was a Colossal error for which there is
no palliation.' This, of course, is a
question for judgment as between the
court of inquiry and General Eagan.
The ration was not a p~erishable article,
and / do not think that the expression
colossal error as applied to this pur-
chase was warranted.
Refrigerated Bcef.
Mr.. Miles charges with respect to re-
frigerated beef were much more serious
than hts imputations regarding canned
beef. His allegations In substance were
that the beef furnished the army had
been artiicially preserved by injecting
into IL chemicals which were Injurious TO
health, that he had overwhelming proof
that this 'embalred beef had been treat
ed with chemicals. 1t IL significant to OBJ
serve hat the war investigation commits
"'of the witnesses examined by this
commission, General Miles and DR.. DAILY
OF chemically treated beef. Astounding
as this statement may seem, General
Miles did not base his allegations upon
personal experience or submit proof In
"His allegations that the food furnished
the army was the cause OF much OF the
sickness seem to have been as little In
vestigatej or to rave had az little war
rant for It's utterance as the other
charges"
In conclusion ex-secretary Alger says:
lit ARMY Ildu WOn lie DdlllcS III NuDd
and In the Philippines; Porto Rico had
peacefully come INTO our hands after q
few skirmishes, the protocol had been In
operation over four months, and even
the treaty OF peace had been signed at
Paris. Then comes the major general
commanding the army OF the United
States with his charges. While the alle-
cations of General Miles were not based
upon fact, and were conclusively. dis
proved by two tribunals, unimpeachable
in their composition and methods Of in
vcstigation, the irrepagable damage had
been done. a brave, honest and faith
ful officer, suffering under the lash OF
such cruel, unwarranted and unjustifled
imputations, while eXonerated from the
heavy odium OF these charges, was, be-
cause OF them. sacrificed on the altar of
his own passion, righteous In Its exist
eIcc, but inexcusable in its expression.
Besides this, a false impression had been
orcated throughout the country as to
tho food furnished the army, which may
never be removed. The charges of Gem
eral Miles, twice proven false in spirit
and substance. are therefore the more
heinous In their effect, Yet the pres
ent congress, which promoted General
Miles to lieutenant general. has thus far
failed to give to General Shafter the rank
OF major general TO retire upon In his old
age. and this, after his magnificent cam
paign at Santiago, as we'll as his former
distinguished services"