The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-02-13
War now MANAGED.
continued From FIRST page.


that Of day In front OF Santiago when
the troops were seriously short OF rations.
The testimony with some exceptions,
showed that the refrigerated beef issued
was pure, sound and wholesome.
On the 2ist Of December last, Major
General Nelson a. Miles on the written
request OF the president Of this commits
sion, appeared before 1t. lie refused TO
be sworn rs all other witnesses had been
lrst time In the history Of this investiga.
ton the allegation was made that refrige-
rated beef issued TO the troops had been
chemically treated.
He proceeded to read q communication
from DR.. W. Il. DAILY, major and chief
| surgeon, U. :. ", on his stall, bearing
date of September wherein DIR. DAILY
stated:
'In the several inspections l made In
the various camps and troopships at
| Tampa, Jacksonville, Chiokamauga and
Porto Rico. found the fresh beef to be
apparently preserved with secret chemi'
Gals which destroy its natural Il tvor and
Il
the health of the troops +"
Although DIR. DAILY swears that he in
formed Gen. Niles about the first Of
August. 1893, that he suspected that the
refrigerated beef was chemically treated,
IL does not appear that the general In
formed the war department that an OH
Ger of his staff had made this discover.
nor does 1t appear that he at that time
ordered any of tho officers under his COM
mand to probe to the bottom an allega-
ton which II true, concerned the health
Of sI5 900 soldiers OF the United States,
In failure to 10 which there was derelic.
tion of duty. 1t is true that on september
u he had directed that an oider shou ID
be issued asking for reports relative 10
mentions canned fresh roast beef +"
and nothing else. and 1t was the re-
ports received In answer to this that
were presented in abstract by the general
at the time Of his appearance before the
commission and since.
In his report DR.. DAILY does not make
he all important statement that he mad
already chemically analysed any meat,
although he suggests that such analysis
should be made. He does state I at
ct several inspections made by hin, at
lapma. Jacksonvills, ChickamauRa and
Porto Rico, he found THE fresh beef to
be apparently preserved with secret
chemicals "
He says that at Ponce the beef he ex
amiDed Twas also Of the same character,
being apparently preserved by injection
Of chemicals"
For months as 1t appears, Dr. DAILY
concealed the knowledge of the commits
sion of crime affecting men under his
charge who, as an officer and u physi-
clan he was bound to protect.
I'm medintely upon hearing the testi-
mony of DR.. DAILY on the x0th Of January,
kilograms were sent to all issuing COM
inissaries In Cuba, Porto Rico and a.
the various home camps occupied by the
troops asking that samples OF reiriSe-
rated beef be ut once taken, placed in
glass jars sealed and forwarded to the
commission for analysis.
The result of the analysis has osen
reported to us in 20 cases and in no
specimen examined has either boric or
| salicylio acid or other deleterious chemi.
Gals been found. In view of the facts
above set forth. the comm ission is Of the
| opinion that no refrigerated beef fur
nished by contractors and issued to the
troops during the war with spain was
subjected to or treated with any chemi-
Gals by the contractors or those in their
employ.
CANNED MEATS.
There has been neither allegation nor
proof before us that boric or saiicylic or
any other acid has been used in the canned
meats furnished to the troops, but
such meats have nevertheless been greatly
oriti CT sed, and they have for that reason
been tested BY US and have been analy zed
under our direction.
The commissions report shows that
number Of officers testified that the
| canned beef was unpaiatable. It is also
| elected that In q tropical country. where
| 1t Ii subjected to intense heart, the meat
presents q repulsive appearance at first
| Furthermore 1t tran pres that oooa-
sionally an inferior article is found. But
the records of the army prove that canned
| beef has been used fer many year and
endorsed by the adjutsnt generals de-
partment.
The signal corps. engineers ordnance
and pay departments are highly praised.
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT
This important part OF the reports
dwelt upon great length by the COM
mission. Their findings are summed up
rs follows:
That shortcomings in administration
and operation may justly be attributed
in large measures TO the hurry and con-
fusion Incident to the assembling of An
army of unframed officers and men, ten
times larger than before, for which 10
preparations in advance had been or
couli he made because of existing rules