The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-04
SETS TO WORK AT ONCE
MEN on BOARD THE YALE WENT
HUNGRY.
WHILE THOSE ON THE ST. PAUL FEASTED
Ven Made Sick By Eating Refrigerator Beef.
Court Refuses 10 Allow Reading of
Letters Throwing Light on
Army Conditions.

"mT SNltdltlUloi
Washington. March 3.-The latest de-
velopment of the War Department
court of inquiry into General Miles beef
charges was the appearance to-day of
Major Jesse Lee as counsel for the
General commanding the army. Major
Lee was so introduced to the court by
the recorder, Colonel Davis, at the be-
ginning of the afternoon session. He
began to cross examine witnesses at
once and with the first one antagonized
the court to the extent OF demanding
the admission of certain letters as evi-
dence, but was refused. The proceed
ngs were not marked, however, by any
evidence of unpleasant friction between
the court and the new counsel
The appearance of Major Lee in the
case is the elimination of considerable
correspondence between General Miles
and the court as to the accuracy of
some statements made by witnesses ON
the stand and which General Miles con-
sidered he had official data to prove
incorrect. 1t began with the testimony
of Colonel Woodruff several days ago
to the effect that beef herds were sell
dom if ever driven with troops in the
Indian campaigns of the West.
General Miles called the attention of
the court to this case and was in
formed by letter that if he chose it
was within his right to be present or to
be represented by counsel to keep track
of the examination.
General Miles replied that it was some
times the customl in courts of inquiry
to have present an officer to assist
the recorder in keeping the records in
shape.
The court replied to this that it did
not need any assistance" for its re-
corder, but suggested again that General
Miles could be present to aid in the ex-
animation of witnesses, or could be rep
resented by counsel if he wished.
To this General Miles replied to-day
that in accordance with custom in such
cases he would be represented here
after by Major Jesse Lee, "for the pur-
pose of participating in the examina
ton with view to eliciting the full
truth pertaining to the (subpect under
discussion"
This does not place General Miles
in the position of defendant before the
court, but gives his counsel the right
of conducting a direct or cross exami-
nation as fully as he desires.
Colonel j. A. Case, of the Fourth
Pennsylvania, who served with General
Brooke in the Porto Rican campaign
testified that he had about six days ex-
perience with canned roast beef. At
first the men tried to keep the meat
after the cans We're opened, but it
spoiled between meals. He ordered the
company cooks to make stews of a
whole can at a time and it proved very
satisfactory.
Captain A. NJ. Gray, of the Sixth
Massachusetts, which went to Porto
Rico on the Yale when she carried Gen
eral Miles South said the principal cause
of complaint among his men was not
as to the quality of the rations, but be-
cause they were short in quantity.
did not the Yale carry provisions in
| her cargo aside from the mems travel
rations?" asked Colonel Davis.
Il understand that she did
did you report this state Of things
| to any higher authority?'
Il reported to my Colonel.
"Was there any higher officer on
| boardY
..Yes, there was the General com
| mandlng the army.
While ON detached duty on shore wit
ness said his men got hold of one loi
| of very poor canned beef, two-thirdt
of which was spoiled and the remainder
| of worse quality than he had seen else
where.
Alfred Il. Foote, of Holyoke, Mass,
| a sergeant of the Second Massachusetts,
| which served at Santiago, had new
Al Oh, Il sod nam
| ned roast beef He said it tasted
| "bleached." Some of it seemed to be
| simply boiled to death and the other
was absolutely putrid. Probably one
| third was spoiled in this way. His
| command got comparatively little refrig-
Grated beef. most of it spelling before
| if could be cooked and failing after it
| was cooked to keep from dinner TO sup
| per.
Captain NJ. B. Critchfield, of the
| Eighth Ohio. which also served in Cuba,
| described the voyage South on the St.
| Paul as a feast of plenty, corned and
roast beef being piled up by the ton
| on the deck where the men could get
| it for the taking.
Witness said that from the landing on
| July 10th to the surrender on the 18th,
| there was little or no complaint as TO
the ration. After the surrender the
regiment was camped at Sevilla. about
six miles east of the city. Here they
| got on issue of refrigerator beef, but
! the men refused to take it. He
inspected the meat, cut quarter in
half and found that it was apparently
good ON the inside, though green and
J Shiny on the surface. He cut some