Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-02-21

tigue uniform and was sworn. After
stating his rank and Office, he was ask
ed about his statement before the war
commission. He said he made one and
upon Col. Davis submitting a printed
report of that statement Gen. Miles ex-
amined and approved it.
Then he was asked about an alleged
interview, which appeared in the New
York Journal OF December %, whether
it represented completely or in part
what he said. Gen. Miles read it, and
said: Il do not recall anything in that
interview that had not been given in
my testimony, or transmitted in my re-
ports. You will observe it contains a
number Of my destinations to name Off
GERS or my authorities and refusals to
answer. 1t must, therefore, be incor-
rect in its representation"
He then commented upon the general
slight inaccuracy of newspaper inter-
views owing to the dependency of writ
ers upon their memories. Hardly a
day in six months had passed, that an
interviewer had not applied and be-
of the kindness of the press to
the army and especially the enlisted
men he had e~ndeavored to give them
such information as he thought wise
and safe, but never. he said, with a
view TO prejudicing anyone against any
person or department.
Finally Gen. Miles said he did not
think the Journal represented correctly
what he said. because its context
should be taken in connection with all
that was said, his silence upon some
points and speech upon others.
Then being asked about an interview
from the New York Herald of February
1, he said:
Il have a letter from the gentlemen,
who, l understand, wrote this, who
says
HE is WILLING TO SWEAR
that l declined to be interviewed and
that, thinking something had been Civ
en- out, he had proceeded to write what
he knew were the facts
He then pointed out that the inter
view was erroneous, in that where it
represented him to have said that he
had overwhelming evidence that the re-
frigerated beef was treated with chemi-
calls, the fact that his only evil
dence Vas what was contained in the
reports of officers and statements Of
men who claimed that the beef had the
Odor of al embalmed body, that they
had seen fluid injected into beef and
other indications Of chemical treat
ment. He declared the interview an err
rOneOuS presentation of what he could
possibly have said.
Col. Davis, recurring to the state
ment of Gen. Miles before the war COM
mission, asked him what his idea as TO
the beef supply for the army was when
wal broke out.
Replying, Gen. Miles said while his
attention was occupied with weightier
matters Of mobilization and equipment
of troops, he felt confident that the
usage of a hundred years would be fol-
lowed and cattle herds would be ship
ped to the army in the tropics and kill
ed there, just as they had been through
the South during the civil war, in Ari-
IONA, Texas and in Mexico, where it
was so hot that a soldier could not sit
upon the rocks. He understood Cuba
and Porto Rico were excellent grass
countries and cattle could be shipped
and kept in prime condition. He re-
viewed his action in cabling the de-
partment to send no more
REFRIGERATED BEEF
to Porto Rico while he was there, find
ing it possible to use beef on the hoof.
Gen. Miles said that he understood
that our troops in Porto Rico were still
being supplied with a form of refriger-
ator beef, although the country was
good in grass as any in the world and
the cattle were plenty and the Spanish
troops drew all their meat supply from
this ource
Col. Davis asked if Gen. Miles knew
whether Porto Rico exported any cat
tie. Witness said it did to the number
of several thousand and that they were
fine cattle. Still, he understood that
cur troops were not only receiving re-
frigerator beef at the coast, but It was
being sent into the interior. The situ-
alton now. he said, was different from
that during the Now there were
ice machines on shore. Then there
was not ice enough for the hospitals.
Recurring to the expediency Of feed
ing the troops on hoof beef, In Porto
Rico, Gen. Miles said he was much in
favor of it. He said native beef killed
at night could be very well fed the men
the next day.
DO you think" continued Col.
Davis, that the native beef would keep
as well as the refrigerator beef in the
absence of cooling apparatus on
shOre?"
Il am quite sure it would unless the
refrigerator beef was chemically treat
ed with p~reservatives. If it was treat
ed so as to keep for Y hours after COM
ing out Of the coolers of course it had
the advantage of the native beef-so
far as kppDin9 goes.
Asked how long he vas in Porto Rico
before he advised the department
against sending 0 refrigerator beef,
Gen. Miles said he learned Of the large
supply of native cattle SOC after land
ing and advised the War Department
the next day after getting ashore. Re
ferTing to
THE CANNED ROAST BEEF
as distinguished from the refrigerator
beef. Col. Davis read a portion Of Gen.
Miles's war commission testimony con-
demning it in severe terms. Gen. Miles
said the canned roast beef was issued
to volunteers and regular troops alike
on the transports and in Cuba till the
arrival Of the refrigerator beef. 1t was
fully tested by both the regulars and
volunteers. The first complaint of it,
Gen. Miles said, he heard at Tampa,
from some Of the rough riders from San
Antonio, but he paid little attention 70