The times., 1898-12-22

Spaniards. As / understand II, that was
all done In direct violation of orders
Gen. Miles's idea was that the opera
tions were precipitated prematurely. that
II the men had had time to rest and get
their supplies they would have been in
proper trim for the attack on Santiago.
Gen. Miles was asked about the supply
Of medicines and declared that in his
opinion 1t was never sufficient. In dis
patch sent by Gen Shafter to the War
Department, he said. attention was called
to this condition, Gen. Shafter stating
that surgeons could not get all the medi-
cines needed. He added:
Gen. Wood tells me that four men in
the Thirtythird Michigan died from lack
of medicines"
Facts, Not Conclusions.
did you do anything when You ar
rived to remedy this condition." asxe
Gen. Beaver.
Gen. Miles replied: zone of the frs
kilograms l sent after arrival was to the
have a corps of laborers and wharfmei.
sent from New York TO prepare faci tiles
for the unloading of medicines and tie
embarking of the sick These men could
also have been used in the rear of tn.
army to build bridges and such work.
This telegram 1 sent the day l got
ashore. / also ordered the buildings and
shacSs that the soldiers were accus- omeo
10 gather in be burned
Replying to Mr.. Woodbury., Gen. Miles
said he had cautioned Gen. Shafter not
TO allow his men 10 gather in the CUBAN
dwellings. II was not expected. he said,
that the Cuban refugees would be feu
by the American army.
dis opinion. caused the shortage in neli-
cal supplies.
Il have stated the facts" he respond
ed; you can draw your own conc,u-
sious"
- You don't care to express an opin.
ion2' asked Mr.. Woodbury.
p mo. sir; i will state the facts; you
can draw your own conc uzions"
With the aid of map Gen. Miles next
described the operations of his army in
Porto Rico. He did not consider that ht
had an insufficient force in the island
He had. in fact teiegraDhed the request
that no more troops be sent
WAS your army well supplied with
quartermaster and commissary suppl:es?~
asked Col. Sexton.
Food Rottcd and Spoiled.
We'll. it was supplied in a way. The
same bad system prevailed as at Tampa,
where supplies were shipped by carloads
without invoices or blls of iading. The
vessels coming TO Porto Rico brought
supplies in the same way. ! asked that
separate rations be put up. but supplies
came in bulk, and it was not known ex-
actly what was in the hold of a ship. so
that frequently potatoes and onions would
u-af ~l.z.s.- 4 ii
not get Them. as they had to be thrown
overheard This caused great embarrass-
ment and LOGS of stores, and deprived the
men of their proper food. You ask about
food. In my Judgment that was one Of
the greatest causes OF the serious condi-
tion and sickness among the troops"
Gen. Miles thought that beef on the
hoof would have answered better than
refrigerated beef.
The Island of Porto Rico he said
was WEI supplied with cattle. and after
seven days ] requested the department
rot TO send any more beef. as there was
plenty of cattle on the island. There was
no necessity for sending beef to Porto
Rico. as the Island was covered with cat
tie.
THE refrigerated beef could not be used
one day from the coast. In my judgment
there was some serious defect in the re-
frigerated beef. and also the corned beef.
The latter was nearly all condemned by
any officer who ate of it
sGen. Mics read reports from commando
ing officers of different regiments con-
demnirg this class Of beef. all reporting
ihat it lacked nutrition and produced
dysertery and other troubles.
Was that fixed by Congress as part
of the army ration?' asked Capt. Powell.
mo, sir
"Who fixed it as part of the army ra-
tIon?"
You will have to ask some one in
Secretary of War or the
general"
Congress provides for fresh beef. Was
II fresh beef?" remarked Col Sexton.
Poor Time TO Experiment.
mo, sir. it was not fresh beef" replied
Gen Miles. There was a p-etense that
il was sent as an experiment. but it would
have been better to send 1t to some one
else than men who had no money to get
anything else. If they had sent paymas-
tiers there, as i requested, the men could
have bought their beef. but that was not
done. II you want to know the financial
difference you can easily determine ii. The
beef in Porto Rico could be bought for
cents per pound. American money. Now
find out what III refrigerated beef cost.
together with the cost of transportation"
From offical reports Gen. Miles read
statements that this refrigerated beef had
an odor exactly like that of an embalmed
dead body.
do you know if these reports have
been furnished the commissary geleral?"
he was asked.
Reports were frequently sent him. but
he seemed 10 insist that the beef should
be used"
DO you think the refrigerated beef sup
piled the army in Porto Rico was treated
from that used in this coun-
try?" inquired Gen. Dodge.
Il do not know, but 1 think so. If I
was supplied with this stuff in this coun-
Try would prohibit the men taking it.
7 his is a matter now being investigated.
1 thought you gentlemen would get on
TO it,
Did you complain to the Secretary of
War about that kind of meat"
Il asked that no mere beef be sent
Did you notify the Government of the
condition of the beef?''
Not entirely of its character at that
time, but L requested that no beef be
sent"
Selection of Camp AIger.
Gen. Miles said he had recommended
sending troops to Chickamauga Park, Lut
had no idea that 75,0o0 men were going
TO be sent there. He replied 10 the state
ment from the adjutant general about
the selecting of camps. Gen. Corbin had
credited the selection of Camp Alger to
Gen. Miles, who said:
Il had nothing to do with Camp Alser.
Major Seabury, who is reported TO have
J recommended ii, was detailed to my head
quarters. but he reported direct to the
Secretary of War.
He did not recommend Camp Alger. but