The herald., 1898-12-22
99.ked, We could have bought food, but they

81 aS.ked, We could have bought food, but they
General Miles suggested that the food
was sent to his large army under pretense
OF an experiment. General Miles called at.
tentiop to the fact that good fresh beet
could be bought in Porto Rico for six cents
2 pound, American money, and he suggested
that it might be interesting to compare
the cost of the refrigerated beef, together
with the cost of transportation. He said he
did not know but what the chemicals used
IN treating the beef were responsible for
the great sickness in the American army. Re
ports which he had received concerning it
Like an embalmed dead body.
Captain Howell-Were these reports ever
brought to the attention of the commissary
department.
General Miles-Reports were frequently
sent into him. But he seemed to insist that
the beef be used.
Captain Howell--Was the matter ever
war;
General Miles-I requested that no more
of it be sent. If a. supply were issued to the
men in this country would prohibit their
use of it.. am having an investigation of
this matter: Thought you gentlemen would
get on to it.
He said he had never complained to the
beef, but he had asked that the supply be
stopped.
General Miles stated the first plans for se-
curing the transports for Cuba were not
his. The question at the outset was naval
problem, and the dispatch of troops, in his
judgment. then hinged on which feet would
destroy the other, i the Spanish had de.
States would have been blocked for a mum.
ber of wears
'If we had had force in Cuba, too, we
would have lost 1t, as it would have been
impossible to get it back here"
He was opposed also to sending a large
force to places like Havana or Matanzas,
because Of the large percentage of yellow,
Cervera's feet settled that problem. He
said he wanted to operate with small force
against the Spanish forces by harassing
them during the sickly season, aiding the
Cubans and not endangering the lives of his
own force. He also at first favored taking
Porto Rico, to prevent the Spanish from
using that as base of operations. General
Miles gave details OF the Porto Rican expedi-
tion and obstacles.
Concluding with his opinion of camp sites.
he said the first he knew of the selection
of Camp Alger, Va, the most Objectionable
camp in his mind, was when the regiments
began reaching there. AS to Chickamauga.
he had recommended mobilizing the regi-
ments left, but he never anticipated that
$4,000 men would be SENT. and when he
found it overcrowded he had recommended
distribution of the forces among other To-
calities.
MERRITT'S TESTIMONY
General Wesley r. Merritt was the first
witness of the afternoon. He began his tes-
timony by a description of the operations
around Manila prior to its capture. Owing
to the smallnees of his forces the army was
compelled to operate along the sea-front, in
cooperation with the navy. Had there been
larger American force on land the city
would have been taken from the high ground
inland, but this was tactically impracticable
without leaving our base at the mercy Of
both Spaniards and insurgents. The city's
cellent arms and ammunition. The engage
ment lasted not over two hours.
The army had both Spaniards and insur-
gents to contend with. The insurgents were
very anxious to take part in the attack, said
General Merritt, but they were not notified
when the attack would be made, as l was
sure that the entrance Of the Fiipinos into
the city would mean unnecessary bloodshed
and some lootng.
General Merritt said the American losses
were not correctly stated in the press re-
ports. There were about l20 officers and
men killed and wounded. No accurate ac-
count of the Spanish loss was ever obtain
able. The American forces, however, cap
tured over $4,000 stands of modern arms,
and the Spanish loss was known to have
been severe.
General Merritt paid quite high tribute
to has civilian staff officers, as did General
were good officers. intelligent, anxious to
learn and to work"