The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-22
Chemicals Used in Preparing the
Beef
WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR SICKNESS
He Saw Wounded Men Uncovered in
Drenching Rain-Good Weather
Was All That Saved the Ex-
pedition from Tampa

MAJ United States army, and General
~ Wesley Merritt, commander of the
American forces at the capture of Manila,
were the principal figures before the war
investigating commission today. General
Miles responded to the summons of the
commission only after several days consid-
Grafton His was comparatively brief and
not sensational He spoke with some bit
terness as to tho "embalmed beef and the
canned beef furnished the army in the
field. This he characterized as an exper.-
ment for which some one in Washington"
was responsible He said that the landing
facilities of the Santiago expedition were
inadequate and that the men were short
of rations and medicines and might have
been better protected from exposure to fe-
yer contagion.
General Merritt told the commission that
he regarded the Philippines expedition as
a decided success and would conduct it on
the same lines if he had it do over He
spoke in high terms of the troops under
him and said his army was well supplied
with medicines and food.
Lieutenant Colonel Milly, General Shat
ter's chief testified concerning the
Santiago campaign, largely following the
lines of General Skaters testimony in con-
nection with it.
General Miles Testifes
General Miles took the stand next.
Are YOU willing to be sworn?'' he was
asked.
II think" was the reply, that can say
what l have to say without being sworn
General Miles was fortified with large
package of papers, and had his own Ste
nographer. He gave his evidence in
clear, unhesitating way, and went into de-
tails regarding both the Santiago and the
Porto Rieo expeditions. He opened by de-
scribing the railroad confusion in getting
the war munitions to Tampa, pointed to the
lack Of government storehouse facilities
there, and said the cars at one eime were
held back as far as Columbia, s. G. He
said when the transports were loaded 1t
was found impossible to put more than
Ao,000 men aboard, and they were equipped
as well as possible under the circum-
stances.
ut was most Fortunate" he said, "that
the transports had good weather. If they
had encountered severe storm, the loss
of life or the suffering at least would have
been fearful. AS 1t was, with fair weather
the men below, crowded in with the mules
and supplies, could get on deck, which
would have been impossible otherwise
The commissary stores taken, he said
were sufficient, but the medical supplies
except for general directions, to the corps
commander, General Shafter He found
just before sailing that there were a num-
ber of pontoons being taken, which would
be utterly useless for the purpose, and he
himself had secured two barges from the
owners there and had taken other steps,
but the supply of such boatas taken was
very inadequate.
1.-THE expedition" he continued, "shouId
have been furnished with launches, naptha
the ships to the shore. We relied largely on
the engineer officers and the engineer de-
partment for these. In the second expedi-
tion to Porto Rico they were furnished, but
they arrived too late to render much as
sistance."
He said before the first fleet sailed from
Tampa estimates had been definitely made
OF the number of boats to be furnished the
transports and the number to be furnished
by the navy to assist. Most cordial assist
ance, he added, had been promised on the
part of the navy.
Tentage and Food Limited
At Santiago the supply of tentage and
food was very limited.
Were the medical supplies at that time
sufficient for the needs at commander he
was asked.
In reply he read a dispatch from General
Shafter on August H. which referred to "a
chronic scarcity of medicines" and that four
There was at no time, said General Miles,
sufficient medicine for the troops.
General Beaver: From what you learned
and observed while there, do you think
there was at any time sufficient medical
supply"
General Miles: "of medical men and ma
terials?"
General Beaver: "Yes"
General Miles: mo, SIR"
The witness stated that the hospital ac-
commodations were only of temporary
character. He said the shelter was bad.
The shelter tents did not shelter. Ques-
toned as to the character of the facilities
for transporting the wounded he said that
they were taken in wagons.
General Beaver: DO you know If any of
the wounded were lying exposed to the
weather2
Wounded Exposed to the Weather
General Miles: Some were exposed in
being sent down to the hospitals. ! saw one
train ofswounded men driven along In the
drenching rain with nothing 10 shelter
them
He had taken measures personally to cor
rect matters and on July 12 had telegraphed
Tor well equipped corps of pier and bridge