Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1898-12-24
War INQUIRY BOARD
Gems. Miles and Merritt Appear Be-
fore the Commission.
NILES TELLS OF The CANNED BEEF.
The commaadsr OF the Army Dssoribes the
santiago and Porto Rio" Exr sditions-
Gen. Merritt Testifss About the
Philippins Expedition.

oantloEO ana foFto ksfc0 EAt outtsons-
Gen. Merritt restInss About the
Philippins Expedition.
Washington. Dec. 22.-Gen. Nelson
A. Miles. commanding the United
States army, and Gen. Wesley Merritt.
commander Of the American forces at
the capture Of Manila, were the prin-
cipal figures before the investigation
commission yesterday. Gen. Miles re-
sponded to the summons Of the COM
mittee only after several days consid-
GRAFTON. He was accompanied by his
own stenographer. His examination
was comparatively brief and not es-
sential. He spoke with some bitter
ness as to the ''embalmed beef" and
the canned beef furnished the army In
the field. This he characterized rs an
experiment 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 protecte from exposure TO fever
contagion.
Gen. Merritt told the commission
that he regarded the Philippine expe-
dition as q decided success and would
conduct II on the same lines II he had
1t to do over. He spoke in high terms
Of the troops under him and said his
army was well supplied with medicine,
and food.
Gen. Miles took the stand. "Are
you willing to be sworn?" he was asked
~ think" was the reply, shat car
say what / have to say without being
sworn"
Gen. Miles was fortified with large
package Of papers and had his owl
stenographer. He gave his evidences
in clear, unhesitating way and wen
into details regarding both the Santa
20 and Porto Rico expeditions. H,
opened by describing the railroad con
fusion In getting the war munitions ts
Tampa, pointed to the lack Of govern
ment storehouse facilities there ant
said the cars ut one time were helt
back as far as Columbia, s. c. He sale
when the troops were loaded 1t wal
found impossible TO put more than Is,
900 men aboard and they were equipped
Us we'll as possible under the circum
stances. ut was most fortunate" h,
said. "that the troops had good wealth
er. II they had encountered q severe
storm the loss Of life or the suffering
at least must have been fearful As II
was, with fair weather. the men below
crowded In with the mules and sup
plies could get ON deck, which woult
have been impossible otherwise.
The commissary stores taken, HI
said, were sufficient, but the medical
supplies were inadequate. He hat
left the loading. except for general di
rections, TO the corps commander. Gen
Shafter. He found just before sailing,
that there were number Of pontoor
boats being taken which would b
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 boat'
taken was very inadequate.
he characterized the Refrigerator
beef, Of which there was 327 tons sent
rs ''embalmed beef" and said thu
canned fresh beef, Of which 19S, o0l
pounds had been shipped there, wa
condemned by officers whose com
mands used It
"Who fixed that beef as an army RI
toni"
you'll have to ask some one here II
Washington. You had better ask thu
secretary Of war or the commissary
general. 1t was sent as food. II the,
had not taken that they would have
had to go hungry. II they had sem
paymasters down there, as asked, WI
could have bought food, but they die
not do that"
Gen. Miles suggested that the foo'
was sent to his large army under pre-
tense of an experiment lie called ut
tentiou to the fact that good fresl
beef could be bought in Porto Rico 70
six cents pound, American money
and he suggested II might be interest
ing to compare the cost Of refrigerated
beef, together with the expense o
transportation. He said he did no
know but what the chemicals used IL
treating the beef were responsible 70
the great sickness in the American
army. Reports which he had receives
concerning 1t were to the effect tina
this beef had an odor like an embalme'
dead body.
Gen. Wesley R Merritt was the frs
witness of the afternoon. He begai
his testimony by description Of tn
operations around Manila prior to II
J capture. Owing to the smallness O
his force, he said, the army was com
} PEELED to operate along the sea from
in cooperation with the navy. Ha'
! there been q larger American force Of
land the city could have been take
, from the high ground inland, bu
this was tactically impractical
without leaving our base ut tn
mercy of both the spaniards and In
surQents. The city's defenses wer
good. The spsniards had excellen
arms and plenty Of ammunition. Al
they lacked was sand" The engage
ment lasted not over two hours TIL
army had both Spsniards and insul
gents to contend with.