The herald., 1898-12-30
REPORTS SENT MILES
REGARDING BEEF RATIONS
SERVED OUT
Not One Officer Seems to Have Good
Word for the Nasty
Stuff

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29.-The War In.
sion today devoted to executive business
There were no witnesses ready for exam
ination. The Swift Packing Company OF
Chicago, which protested against the state
ments in General Miles testimony deroga-
tory to their canned fresh beef furnished
his expeditions, has notified the commits
sion of its inability to be on hand January
4th as expected, and January 9th has been
set as the date for the appearance of their
representative. So far no action has been
taken on the insistence OF Commissary Gen
eral Eagan that he be called to testify in
answer to General Miles charge and no
decision has been reached as to calling Gen
erals Miles and Shafter.
The commission today made public a
synopsis of officers reports to General Miles
as TO the results obtained as to the use
OF canned fresh beef, roast beef, in cam
paigns in Cuba and Porto Rico" These re-
ports were submitted by General Miles
when he gave his testimony last week and
were presented in substantiation of his Wig
orous denunciation OF the canned beef. Gen
eral Miles stated at the time that he had
started an investigation OF the matter of
the canned beef supplies, and the reports
submitted follow his official inquiry along
this line
The statement given out includes a state
ment from Major John d. Black, chief COM
missary sergeant, U. S v, and commssary
at headquarters of the army in the field dur
ing the Porto Rico expedition, dated De-
cember 18th, on the canned fresh and roast
beef received, issued and transferred by him.
1t shows the totals received from all sources
were l2,604 pound cans, s6,292 two-pound
cans, and 2220 six-pound cans. Total issued
and transferred follow: One4pound cans is
sued, l44; one-pound cans transferred, l2,-
AGO; two-pound cans issued, AZ, 1853; two
pound cans transferred, 44,l24; six-pound
cans issued, none; six-pound cans transfer
red, 1920
A synopsis of the report as furnished fol-
lows:
Commanding Officer, Fourth Infantry,
Major Baker-"The beef seemed to be of
inferior quality and was anything but pa
latable.. Quite number of men could not
eat it."
tenant Colonel Minor-"The meat was ut
terly unfit as an article of diet for either
sick or well. 1t had no nutriment in it,
and turned the stomachs Of the men who
tried to eat it,
Commanding officer, Ninth Infantry,
Colonel Powell-''The meat produced dis
ordered stomachs; is not nutritious; soon
became putrid, and in many cans wasfound
in course of putrefacation when opened"
Commanding officer, Twelfth Infantry,
Maor Humphreys-"The meat presented
such repulsive appearance that men turned
from it in disgust. Nasty is the only term
that will fifty describe its appearance Its
use produced diarrhoea and dysentery"
Commanding officer, Thirteenth Infantry,
Colonel A. T. Smith-"Many complaints
were made concerning the meat. 1t was
found very unpalatable and is unfit for issue
to troops
Commanding officer, Seventeenth Infan-
~, Major o Brien-"The nutritious qualities
having been cooked out Of the meat, it was
neither nourishng nor palatable. 1t was un-
fit for use. 1t should no longer be issued"
Commanding officer. Twenty second In
fantry, Major Van Horne-"The meat issued
was nothing more than refuse after various
kinds of soup should be extractedErom il.
Further issues of it should not be made"
Commanding officer, Third Cavalry Ma
ior Jackson-"The meat for canning was too
fat and as an article Of diet so became nau-
seating to large majority of the men. If
made of good beef and properly seasoned
it might be satisfactory"