The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1899-03-30
UNFIT RATION
Governor Roosevelt TestifieS Be-
fore the Army Board OF
Inquiry.
In His Opinion the Canned Roast
Beef Was Wholly Unfit
for Use.
At the Best It Was Unpalatable,
at the Worst 1t Was
Uneatable.
Two Unpublished Reports to the
War Department Will Be
Incorporated.

NEW YORK, March Ex-Governor
Roosevelt was before the court of in.
quiry for half an hour and gave testi.
mony in regard to the meat issued tc
the troops as travel rations. In his tes
timony the governor unhesitatingly
condemned the canned roast beef as an
''unft ration"
what did the meat look like?" asked
Colonel Davis.
"When the cans were opened, there
was a covering of slime. 1t was unat-
tractive. The meat was stringy and ii
did not agree with the men who ate it. u
"Could you not eat it when served
onions or potatoes?"
81 think at that time I could have
eaten my hat if I could have had onions
and potatoes The men would have
eaten anything with fresh vegetables.
They stewed the meat with manages
and ate it. Some of the men seemed
to eat the meat without difficulty or
distress, but it was not suitable for
sick or half sick men,"
Repeated His Story.
Governor Roosevelt told at length of
his attempt to get supplies in Cuba. He
repeated the statement he made to the
army investigation commission as to his
attempt to organize transportation
train to bring supplies to his men from
Siboney.
when did you begin receiving re-
frigerator beef?'' asked Colonel Davis.
''About July 81, when ashore about a
month"
"Were the supplies REGULAR"
''Some times. We received them
about noon"
"What was their condition when you
received themw
Their condition as a rule was good.
The outside sometimes was bad, but it
seemed awfully good to us.
"What was the proportion that was
bad?"
81 can't exactly say, but I doubt if
there were more than two or three is
st.oo - eA. 49, iusroo- po.tiol. "oIo Dad.
Had you reason to believe the re-
frigerator beef was treated with chem
icals before you received it?"
Gave Men Diarrhea.
81 never thought about it until re-
turned home. The meat seemed good
to us. We ate it and enjoyed it. 1t did
undoubtedly give the men diarrnea.'
''Did you hear any complaint"
"Well, l heard that some of the Off
GERS and men thought there was some
thing wrong with the meat, but have
known meat if kept a few days on a
hunting trip, to have like effect. None
of us were in very good health and it
took less to upset us than it would at
another time"
.'Did you attribute their ill health to
the rations?" asked Colonel Davis.
''To certain extent, suppose, yes.
When we left Cuba less than 20 per
cent of the brigade was fit for active
service"
Governor Roosevelt told of some re-
ports he had submitted to the war de-
partment which had not yet been pub
lished. These were ordered made part
of the record. They included, he said,
the statements of two captains, four
ieutenants, a surgeon and Captain
Brown of the regular service.
His Opinion of Canned Roast Beef
Twill you tell u.s." asked Major Lee,
.'what in your opinion is the value of
the canned roast beef issued at Cuba
and elsewhere, as an army ration?'
81 wish to say unhesitatingly that it
was utterly unfit and unwholesome for
troops. My experience proves beyond a
shadow of doubt or question, that at its
best the canned roast beef was unpala-
table, and at its worst, it was UNBEATABLE
and unwholesome."
No one had any further questions to
ask. the governor and the hearing was
closed. The court adjourned to Gov.
o,.oor,c leland