The times., 1898-12-30
GEN. MILES INDICATED.
Reports Show That Army Beef Wa
INIT To Eaf.

| Unit to Eat.
| There was short executive session OF
| the Alger Relief Commission yesterday. at
which the commissioners made public the
reports Of the officers to Gen. Nelson A.
Miles regarding the beef served to the
| army during the Cuban and Porto Rican
| campaigns.
When Gen. Miles gave his testimony last
! week these reports were presented to sub
stantiate his assertions that the beef sup
| piled was unfit for use. At that time Gen.
Miles stated that he had inaugurated an
| investigation of the matter of beef sup
plies, and the reports submitted are in
| line with his official inquiry in that direc-
tion. The statement submitted yesterday
includes report from Major John d.
Black, chief commissary sergeant. U. S.
Volunteers, and commissary at the head
quarters of the army in the field during
| the Porto Rican expedition. Major Blacks
statement is dated December 10. and fur
nishes statistics regarding the camel
| fresh roast beef received, issued, and
| transferred by him.
! A synopsis of the reports furnished by
| the various officers verifies the statements
made by Gen. Miles concerning the abom-
| ihdDie coHuiliOn OF Lne peer Suppileu, ana
is as follows:
Commanding officer Fourth Infantry,
Maj. Baker:
| The beef seemed to be of inferior quality and
was anything but palatable. Quite a number of
| men could not, and did not, eat'it.
Commanding officer Fifth Infantry,
| Lieut.. Col. Miner:
The meat was utterly unfit as an article of diet
| for either sick or well. 1t had no nutriment in
| it. and turned the stonachs of the men who tried
| to eat il.
Commanding officer Ninth Infantry, Col.
| Powell:
| The meat produced disordered stomaehs, was not
nutritious. became putrid, and in many OF
the cans was found in course OF putrefaction when
| opened.
Commanding officer Twelfth Infantry,
| Mai. Humphreys:
The meat presented such a repulsive appearance
that men turned from it in disgust. Nasty is
the only term that viii fifty describe its appear
anee. Its use produced diarrhea and dysentery.
Commanding officer Thirteenth Infantry,
Col. A. 7. Smith:
Many complaints were made concerning the
meat. 1t was found very unpalatable and IS unfit
for Issue to troops
Commanding officer Seventeenth Infan-
| try, Maj. OBrien:
| The nutritious juices having been cooked out of
the meat, it was neither nourishing paiatable.
| 1t was often nauseating and unfit for use. II
| should no longer be issued.
Commanding officer Second Battalion.
Twenty-firs Infantry, Capt. ]. W. Duncan:
The meat soon spoiled after opening the cans.
| the men soon tired OF it, and it is not proper
food 1t is not equal in any way TO canned corned
| beef.
| Commanding officer Twenty-second In
| fantry. Maj. Van Horn:
| The meat issued was nothing more than refuse
| after various kinds of soup had been extracted
Commanding officer Third Cavalry. Maj.
Jackson:
| The meat for canning was too fat and as an
article of diet soon became nauseating TO large
majority OF the men. II made OF good beef and
properly seasoned it might be satisfactory.
Commanding officer Second Artillery.
| Col Haskin:
wstery and irsipid. agreeable TO neither eye nor
| taste. The men could be induced to eat it only
| when prepared stew.
Commanding officer, Fifth Artillery,
| Lieut.. Col McCrea:
The meat was unpalatabie because of the excess
of lat in il. It's appearance black and stFingy
and OF the men liked it. When prepared as
a stew it was palatable. II less fat and
mixed with vegetables it would deserve further
| trial
Commanding officer Light Battery X,
First Artillery, Capt. Best:
| The appearance OF the meat was not inviting.
| The men soon tired OF it.
Commanding officer First Cavalry, Brig.
| Gen. Viele:
! The meat was miserable apology for food in
hot climate: Shiny looking mass OF beef scraps,
unpalatable to the taste and repulsive TO the
| sight. Competition for the contracts placed the
| price so low that only tailings and scraps were
| used for canning.
Officers Ninth Cavalry:
Very unsatisfactory; men soon tire OF it. and
| viii only eat it when they have nothing else.
Commanding officer Twenty-fourth In
fantry, Maj. Thompson;
After 4 few days the meat becomes unpalatsble;
the men become disguised with 1t and will not eat
Cen Miles stated yesterday that he had
ordered an investigation OF the complaints
concerning beef supplies because it was
| his duty to do so under the regulations of
his office. He had inaugurated the inquiry
without any reference to the work of the
| Alger Relief Commission. Gen. Miles is
charged with the duty of protecting the
lives. health and honor of the army, and
complaints concerning beef supplies having
been made. he said it was his right to set
tie the question by thorough inquiry into
| the matter.
Gen Miles stated that he had signed the
necessary papers placing the work of in
quiry in the hands of the inspector general
before he went as witness TO the session
| of the Alger Relief Commission. In doing
| this the inspector general was filling an
ordinary function of his Office. In going
before the commissioners. Gen. Miles said
| he was not actuated by any antagonism,
and he had no desire to appear as a man
with grievance. He believes he is fully
able TO guard his own department against
fraud and dishonor.
| The general further stated that he did
| not desire to be sworn by the Alger Re-
| lief Commission. In his opinion that
body has no right to administer oaths to
| witnesses. On the contrary, it is within
the power of the inspector general and
any of the inspectors working under him
charged with the obligation of making an
| investigation to administer the witnesses
oath. Gen Miles said also that he had
not reported to the Secretary of War the
complaints of his officers concerning the
beef. He had, however, requested Secre-
| tary Alger to see that no more refrigerated
beef was sent to Porto Rico.
Gen. Miles reiterated the statement that
| paymasters were not sent to Porto Rico
| as soon as they were desired. He said that
| forty vessels had arrived there, and that
| there was not paymaster on them 1.-THE
fact of the matter is" said Gen. Miles,
mo paymaster reached Porto Rico while
We were there"
| The Alger Relief Commission has been
notified by the Swift Packing Company.
of Chicago. that it cannot be represented at
a hearing on January 4. The commission
| has, therefore, fixed upon January as
the day when the Swift Companys repre-
sentative will be heard in protest against
| the statements made by Gen. Miles in
] criticism of the refrigerated beef furnished
| to the army by that concern
/