The evening times., 1898-12-22

fault of General Shafter, who ignored the
specific instructions of his superior. 1t is
charitable to think he was simply ignor-
ant of the inevitable consequences.
General Miles did not go into details as
to the needless sufferings and risks of the
wounded, though he mentioned instances
that came under his own observation, but
his statements as to the general defects
implied all the shocking results that have
been described by others, supporting every
charge made against the management of
the invasion.
1t is inconceivable that even the political
power of the Administration can prevent
a thorough investigation by Congress of
the matter of rations provided by the
commissary department under the direc-
ton of Secretary Alger. General Miles
was positive in his charges as to the
abominable character of the meat and
vegetables sent to both expeditions-the
experimental meat which had the smell of
an embalmed corpse having been added to
the ration list by some authority at Wash
ington. ASK the Secretary of War or the
Commissary General" said General Miles
in reply to question. Even If the meat
had been good the extravaganza of buying
ii and transporting ii to an island that
had its thousand hills covered with beef
cattle. which sold for six cents pound,
ought TO be obvious 10 c, ngress. Tie o n
missary General has said this canned or
chemically preserved meat which men
could not eat and which sickened those
who tried 10 eat it, was better than the
fresh beef of Porto Rico; but his state
ment will hardly stand against the un-
varying testimony TO the contrary of
scores of witnesses.
Along with a Congressional inquiry
into this matter there would be wisdom
in attention to the character and general
inadequacy Of the things provided by the
Quartermaster's OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
tents, which would not shelter" scanty
and shoddy clothing, and the like. The
resolution of Senator Vest concerning the
purchase Of vessels and the contracts
effected by the War Department could
easily be made 10 embrace these things
General Miles himself has begun an in
yesiisation Of the meat business. accord
ing L. his announcement To the Alger Re
lief Commission. He has shown. too that
there was the utmost irreEularity in the
methods Of the Commissary Department.
which dumped articles in haphazard
way into the damp holds OF ships. and
furnished no bills of lading or anything Ia
indicate the character Of the cargoes.
Inevitably most Of the vegetables were
unhJ for use on their arrival. Ii there
are buzzards OF the sea they were well
Ted at an enormous expense - the people
Of this country by the costly decayed pro-
visions that were III only To be flung into
the ocean.
Any disinierested military man and any
lawyer used TO extracting evidence from
Witnesses can understand the superla tive
/ Importance of the statements Of General
! Miles and the possibilities of Iha; officer
as a witness before a properly organize
body with power to compel the production
( of documents. etc. II will be hard for any
member of Congress TO explain TO his so,-
/ dier constituents and their friends, and 10
! patriotic citizens generally, why they ne
slect the duty of pressing an inquiry. Oi
! course no Republican cares to imperil
! his influence at the White House and in
the Departments, but IL Senator Vest viii
! push his measure and enlarge its scope he
| is bound TO win support among the ma
! jority. II is clear that the final verdict
must be against Secretary AIger and Ad-
| jutant General Corbin, who now have tn,
! protection of the President