The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-22
CANNED BEEF WAS REJECTED.
iaEFRIGER ATED BEEF DID NOT
| SUFFER MATERIALLY.


the Reports on Beef Were Made
Under Orders-smalI Proportion
of the Sickness Due to the Beef.
Army Confronted with Trying
Conditions During the War.
Washington, Feb. 21.-The court of in
quiry, engaged in investigating the beef
charges preferred by Gen. Miles, contin-
ued to-day the hearing of testimony bear
ing upon the controversy.
number of army officers who partic-
ipated in the Santiago campaign were
heard Practically without exception the
officers condemned the canned roast beef.
furnished as a travel ration, and review
ed complaints about it which the men
generally made, declaring it unpalata BILE
and wanting in nutriment
On the other hand, the refrigerated beef
suffered but little at the hands of to-day's
witnesses, IL being generally conceded that
it was good when delivered from the trans
ports and when it escaped the decompos-
ing effect of the tropical sun en- route TO
the several commands, it was found TO be
satisfactory.
General commissary methods in Cuba
were inquired into. Difficulty in prevent
ing taint before cooking was experienced
generally. There was very little In to-
days evidence pointing TO any use of
chemicals upon this beef. The contention
of Gen. Miles that the army in Cuba and
Porto Rico should have been supplied with
herds Of cattle, or beef on the hoof. in
stead of refrigerated beef, was supported
by every witness who to-day gave his
opinion upon this question.
Feature of the Session.
A feature of to-days session was the
general assertion of witnesses that they
would not have felt it their duty to the
men or the army organiza ton TO- have
made any special report upon the beef
had it not been for the special orders call
ing for such reports, but, rather, would
have permitted the unsatisfactory ration
to pass without further notice as an incl
dent to warfare and to the peculiarly try
ing conditions with which the army was
confronted al the outbreak of the war.
number of officers testified to the be-
lief that a very small proportion of sick
ness in Cuba was due TO the beef or un-
wholesome rations, but, rather to the
climate. The examination of witnesses
viii continue tomorrow, and, perhaps,
all of this week in Washington, and the
generally cumulative.
Many officers are to appear, among them
being Gen. Joe Wheeler and Gov Roose-
welt. Late this week or early next week
the court will leave for Chicago and other
Western meat centers, where they will in
spect the packing houses of the firms
which furnished beef to the army
A thorough study of the methods en-
ployed in preparing refrigerated ana can
ned roast beef will be made and witnesses
will be examined in the different cities.
Powell Could Not Eat 1t.
Col william H. Powell Of the Ninth In
fantry testifying in regard to the canned
roast beef SAID he had some of it served
al his own table at Santiago
=" / could not eat it." he continued at
was stringy, unwholesome looking mass
more like wet sea weed than anything else
1 can think of. The men were sick and
debilitated and could not keep 1t on their
stomachs. He had at that time 153 sick
Soon after that the fresh beef began to
arrive aud the men ate readily and began
10 pick up in health. Afterward we were
moved near the San Juan battlefield. Here
much Of our meat spoiled before we could
get it."
Regarding the refrigerated beef. Col
Powell said there was little to be said
against it, except that some of it spoiled
before it arrived. There were no faciIi-
lies for cooking while in the city except
fire in the gutter, and an food had to be
boiled.
Made His Report on an Order,
Col Davis then produced n reDort from
witness, made from Governors Island on
Sept. 90 Gin which he condemned the
canned roast beef, saying il produced dis
orders of the stomach. Col. Powell said
he had made that report on an order
from the adjutant generals office. and 1t
was based on personal knowledge and re-
ports from his company commanders.
Replying to another question, witness
said ne had disclosed to fellow-oficers
either at Santiago or Moniauk that the
refrigerated beef tasted as though IL had
come in contact with chloroform or kero-
sene. This was noticeably true when
boiled. For years, he said, he had not
personally used refrigerated beef upon his
own table, because he felt 1t would nause-
ate him.
In reply TO 4 direct question of Col.
Davis the witness said he had never en-
tertained an idea al Santiago or Montauk
that the beef had been treated chemically
to preserve ii.
No Suspicion of Chemicals
Col. Albert T. Smith, Thirteenth Infan-
try. who was with his regiment at San
tiago, testified that the refrigerated beef
was good except on one day when it was
spoiled. He understood the beef had been
lying in the sun on the dock
Col. Smith said he had reason to believe
very little canned roast beef had been
eaten except in soup. Investigation made
in September showed that 81 had given
practically no satisfaction In either eoun
or when eaten from the can. lie mad
no suspicious while using either the cam
ned or refrigerated beef, that it had been
treated with chemicals.
Lieut.. Col Charles D. Vieie of the First
Cavalry testified that the canned roast
beef gave no satisfaction at all. He saw
great deal of Il thrown overheard what
refrigerated beef his command received in
Santiago seemed to be good. He only re-
membered one issue which was tainted
He had no complaints as to it from the
men.
Ibid you have any reason to suspect |
while you were at Santiago that the re- |
frigerator beef had been treated with
chemicals?" asked Col Davis.
II had never heard Of such thing at |
., ffno he