The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-12
Refrigerated Beef, He Says, Was
Good Enough for Him.
HAD ONLY ONE COMPLAINT
or Course 1t Would Have Tasted Better
in Cold Clmate-Other Witnesses
Positively Declare That the
Stuff Was UNFIT to Eat.

statement differed little from his teSti-
mony before the war investigating
committee. He had eaten the canned
roast beef cold and found it not dis
agreeable. The refrigerated beef was
as fine as any he had ever eaten. The
men who suffered from lack of food
had only themselves to blame If there
had been mistakes congress, which pro-
vides the rations and clothing of the
soldiers, was responsible. He admitted
that he had never heard of canned roast
beef before the war. While it was not
very palatable in the tropics. he thought
it would be very good in a cold climate.
At the morning session of the beef
inquiry board. Captain Plummer aide
de-camp of General Shafter, was ques-
toned about the facilities for getting
supplies to the front but his testimony
developed nothing new. The only COM
plaint he heard concerning the refrig-
Grated beef was from the Sth Ohio. He
saw statement by Major Gallagher
that only one one-hundredth of l per
cent. of the refrigerated beef issued had
not been consumed.
s. Ocheschstager representing Ar
mour & Co., testified that to his knowl-
edge no chemicals or preServatives had
been used.
Major General Shafter was the next
witness. He detailed the main events
connected with the Santiago expedition
in narrative form. He had no discre-
ton in the matter of rations. He said
it was utterly impracticable to take
beef on the hoof. After landing he or
dered all the troops forward with three
days rations. The meat ration was not
specified. Each commander determined
whether it should be bacon or roast
beef. He heard no complaint of the
canned roast beef between the time of
landing and the surrender He heard
no complaints until after the return
from Cuba. He ate it every day himself.
There was no complaint from Washing
ton. The health of the troops was fair
ly good up to the time of the surrender
He only recalled one complaint against
the refrigerated beef and thought that
came from the 9TH or 9th infantry He
took great interest in the refrigerated
beef. and from his investigation pro-
nounced it perfectly satisfa Glory. The
suspicion that it had been chemically
treated was never even suggested at
that time. He attributed the immense
amount of sickness to exposure, the
eXertions of an active campaign and
the climate.
Major Lee cross-examined General
Shafter. In report forwarded by
Colonel Roosevelt some complaints
were made, but he did not regard them
as important, as the emergency had
passed
Major Lee read from Colonel Roose-
velt's report of the action of July /,
saying his troops had no food on that
day except what they captured from
the Spaniards.
IF they did not have food it was their
own fault" observed General Shafter.
''They were ordered to provide them
selves with two days rations." AS to
Colonel Roosevelt's statement that they
did not have adequate food or medical
supplies, that was a matter of opinion.
They had their ratons provided by
law.
From your experience do you regard
canned roast beef as suitable meat
ration for such "a campaign?' asked
Major Lee.
IT do not know Of any substitute"
replied General Shafter. Canned corn
beef is perhaps better. Possibly it is
not as good as bacon, but that depends
upon the individuals taste. I myself
think there might have been less meat
and more beans and rice. Campaign
ing in the tropics was new to ue, and
it was an experimental food Certain
ly we all recognize now that the ra-
tons were not well adapted to such a
campaign, but it was all we had, and
we did the best we could. Congress
provides the army rations.'
General Shafter detailed a conversa-
| ton with Commissary General Eagan
| about the canned roast beef, which he
| (Shafter) at the time believed was gen.
uine roast beef. Asked if after all that
| had occurred. he considered canned
roast beef worthy of a further trial,
| General Shafter reiterated his state
| ment that he knew of no substitute.
His own preference would be for clean
bacon. but, while uninviting and not
! palatable, he did not consider canned
roast beef unfit for food. Any canned
meat in such high temperature that
when opened the grease would run ooff
would be far, from appetizing. But he
would not therefore condemn it. In
a cold climate he would regard the
canned beef as very good, indeed. TIC
carry fresh beef on the hoof he regard
ed as absolutely out of the question
None of the division commanders hao
complained of the ration officially
'If there had been complaints tc
them" said he. 81 hardly think they
would have reported it. They We're
sensible men. 1t was all we had. Moth
| ing could have been done
He ventured the opinion that l pei
cent of the refrigerated beef was
thrown away. At the conclusion OF
General Skaters testimony the court
| took a recess.
A. A. Kirk, a cook of the Philadelphia
| city troops. testified at the Afternoon
session that he saw refrigerated bee
aboard the Massachusetts that hat
spoiled. In Porto Rico, the troop Dough
its own beef on the hoof. He declared
that one-third of the canned beef h
saw was unfit for use.
John w. Springer of New Cumher
land, Pa, who acted as commissar,
| sergeant of the governors troop o
Philadelphia. testified that fully hal
the canned roast beef was unfit to eat
Lieutenant Alexander Frank of Gin
cinnati. commissary and subsistence of
ficer of the LIST Ohio, which was at Per
Tampa during June and July, testifiet
that the canned roast beef made tn
men sick
To Parallel the U. p.
Special Dispatch to the Standard