New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-22
THE TESTIMONY IN DETAIL.

roast beef will be made, and witnesses will he
examined in the cities visited.
THE TESTIMONY IN DETAIL.
The session began with Colonel William II
Powell OF the 9Th Infantry, who stationed at
Madison Barracks at the outbreak Of the war on
the witness stand He said that he started for
Tampa on April 70 with q months rations. and did
not come in contact with the food from the Com
mssary Department az Tampa until he about
ready 20 start for Cuba. The regiment went
through tho Santiago campaign, and. after the city
had been captured and the regiment was quar-
tered IN IT, he received requests from his for
money 10 buy food He investigated the so-cslled
canned roast beef and had some OF it served at
his own table Il could not eat st." he continued
1T was strinCy. looking mass, more
Ike wet seaweed than anything else l can think
Of The men were sick and dobilitated and could
not keep il on their stomachs. We haG at that time
l52 sick Soon after that the fresh beef began TO
arrive and the men ate readily and began TO pick
up in health Afterward we moved out Of
camp near the San Juan battlefield. Here much
OF our meat spoiled before We could get it."
Colonel Davis inquired II any other complaints
had been received.
II would Ike to emphasize" said Colonel Powell.
that the enlisted men of the Army not in
the habit Of complaining. They TO feel on
/ campaign that the officers are doing all that
be done for them. and can't say that received
/ anything that could be termed complaints. Tho
officers discussed the matter freely and the quality
| Of the canned beef matter Of common talk"
Regarding the refrigerated beef. Colonel Powell
| said there was little he said against 1t, except
that some Of It spoiled before f. arrived. There
were no facilities FOR cooking while In the city, eX
cept a fire in the gutter. and all food had TO be
boiled The regiment was hard worked while In the
CITY. eighty-nine men being on guard duty daily.
Some Of these were so sick that they fell down at
, their posts. and had to be brought in. Witness
/ thought the men would be better off in the coun-
| try and he directed his energies toward getting
( them out Of town rather than 10 reporting the
quality Of the rations. He had tried 10 get better
quarters and failed. and tried 10 get medical as
sjstance to help his one contract surgeon, but this
effort failed also.
You made no official report at the time. them
said Colonel Davis. NOR any effort to amclorate
the condition Of the men as to their meat ration?"
'No. sir: ] made official report till after re-
turning 10 the States, when I was ordered by the
War Department to report on the canned roast
beef"
Yes 7 understand" said the recorder Colonel
Davis then produced a report from the witness
made from Governors Island September o. IA
which he condemned the canned roast beef saying
II produced disorders OF the stomach. Colonel
Powell said he had made that report order
from the Adjutant- Generals office, and it was
based on personal knowledge and reports from his
company commanders.
OF no NCTRITIVE VALUE.
Colonel Powell then reviewed the decrease in
sickness after the issue OF fresh beef and removal
% the camp TO the hills. Replying to question
he said he attributed the sickness more 20 hygienit
causes than the food. His command was over
worked and badly CHARTERED and clothed and APP
peared a complete wreck. He expressed inability
10 estimate the percentage OF sickness due to the
food Explaining his expression want OF nutrityc
value" he said the beef gave no pleasure In eatinf
| and no strength 10 the body.
In reply 10 a question from General Davis. hC
said that the issue Of fresh beef made direct
through the rcgmental commissary without The
Intervention Of brigade commissaries.
General Davis asked number OF questions q
develop II possible the responsibility for the fresh
beef reaching tho regiments in a spoiled condition
Colonel Powell said 70 Colonel Gillespie that th'
fresh beef Was generals wholesome. but never thor
oughy good when issued IN the morning and otter
was putrid when delivered late IN the afternoon.
Replying TO another question he said he had de
clared felow-ofiicers either at Santiago or Mon
tauk Point that the refrigerated beef tasted a.
, though It had come into contact with choroforn
or kerosene This notceably true when brolle1
For years he said he had not personally use
refrigerated beef on his own table because h
thought it would nauseate him.
In reply 20 direct question from Colonel Davis
the witness said he had never entertained an idc'
al Santiago or Montauk that the beef had beer
treated chemically to preserve It. He espresso
the BELLE that had herd Of cattle been about tn
camp IN cuba all killing would have had 10 be don
? after sunset and all issued before O'Clock in tn
morning Reasoning from his experience in tn
civil War when cattle on the hoot were slaughtere
and issued at night and satisfaction resulted. h.
thought cattle on tho hoof IN Cuba would hav
been preferable to the refrigerated beef supply
COLONEL A. T. SMITHS EVIDENCE
Colonel Albert T Smith 18th Infantry. who ,ol
lowed Colonel Powell. testified that his regimen
left New-York on April 10 and went TO Tampa, bu
ne was relieved on June and did not join hi
regiment again until late in July. when he reache
Santiago General Ames was brigade commander
Refrigerated beef was being used. and continued 4
be supplied until August E. when the regiment EN-
barked ior the North.
The beef was good" he said in reply 70 ques
ton except on one day. when n was spoiled.
understand that beef had been lying IN the SUI
on the dock"
The canned roast beet, he said vas issued on tn