The Red Cloud chief., 1899-02-17

should have besn more certain OF their
carrying capacity.
at is somewhat difficult to follow
up the transportation Of medical sup.
plies. The delay in some instances In
securing medical supplies at Santiago
seems to have been partially due to
carelessness in loading them on the
transports.
1.-THE commission has carefully in
vestigated the subject of the condi
ton, quality and quantity of food sur.
piled to the army. So far as we have
been able to ascertain there was but
one occasion, that of a day, in front of
Santiago, when the troops were seri-
ousiy short of r~ations; these had been
supplied, but thrown aside when the
men went into action.
On the 2ist day of December last.
Major General Nelson A. Miles, upon
the written request Of the President
of this commission, appeared before IL.
He refused to be sworn, as all other
witnesses had been, except one, who
affirmed, stating that he would make
his statements without being sworn,
and was responsible for what he said.
He proceeded, and for the first time In
the history Of this investigation the
allegation was made that refrigerated
beef issued to the troops had been
chemically treated.
Although DIR. DAILY swears that he
informed General Miles about August
/, 1893, that he suspected that the re-
f%rigerated beef was chemically treated
1t does not appear that the general in
formed the war department that an
officer of his staff had made this dis.
covery. 1t appears from the report Of
DIR. Daily, which he handed to General
Miles October FL last, that he then
specifically stated that the refrigerated
beef furnished to the troops was ap-
parently chemically treated. 1t
does nol appear that when this charge
was made, Oct. Fl, it having already
been made to him in August, 1898, that
General Miles communicated to you
or the secretary of war or to the COM
missary general, the belief or suspi-
cion entertained by him that refrig-
Grated meat, dangerous to health, was
issued every day to the troops, in fail.
urc to do which there was dereliction
of duty"
"The commission is OF the opinion
that no refrigerated beef furnished by
contractors and issued to the troops
during the wal with Spain was sub.
jucted to or treated with n chem
icals by the contractors or those in
their employ
I'm considering questions concern.
ing canned meats it is not the duty Of
the commission to inquire into the
character, kind or condition of all the
canned meats that may be in use in
this country. Our specific duty is to
give an opinion as to the quality Of
those furnished to the soldiers dur.
ing the recent wal with Spain.
There has been neither allegation
nor proof before us that boric
or salicylic or any other acid
has been used in the canned meats
furnished to the troops.
After stating the examinations made
by the commission of the refrigerated
beef, without any trace Of chemicals
being found, the report says:
hi commission after taking up the
subject of canned meats, compliments
the conduct OF the pay department
engineer department, ordnance depart
ment and medical department. The
condition Of the various army camps
was referred to, but no blame was at.
tached to any department for the un.
satisfactory sanitation of some of the
camps, notably Camp Thomas.