The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-22

assistance 10 help his one contract sur
Geon, but this failed also.
"You made no official report at the
time, them said Colonel Davis, nor
any effort to ameliorate the condition
Of the men as to their meat rationsG"
No. sir; made no official report until
after returning to tho States when ! was
ordered to the war department TO report
on the canned rations."
Yes. understand said the recorder.
Colonel Davis then produced report
from witness, made from Governors Is
land on September 20, in which he con-
demned roast beef, saying II produced dis
orders OF the stomach.
Colonel Powell said he had made that
report on an order from tho adiutant gem
erals office, and 1t was based on personal
] nowledge and reports from his company
commanders
Colonel Powell concluded by review
ing the decrease In sickness after the ar
rival OF the fresh beef and removal OF the
camp TO the hills.
He said he attributed the sickness more
to hygienic causes than to the food. HIS
command was overworked and Dadly
quartcred and clothed, and appeared
complete wreck. He expressed inability TO
estimate the percentage OF sickness due TO
the food. Explaining his expression, want
of nutritive value he said the beef gave
no pleasure in eating, nor source OF
strength to the body.
In reply to question from General Da-
Wis he said the Issue OF fresh beef was
made direct through the regimentai com
nissary, without the Intervention OF bri
gnde commiss9ries
General Davis asked number of Ques-
tions to develop, II possible, the RESPONSE
bility for the fresh beef reaching the reg
inents in spoiled condition
Colonel Powell said to Colonel Gillespie
that the fresh beef was generally whole
n ihorniipnlV good when Is
sued in the morning, and often was putrid
when delivered late in the afternoon.
Replying 70 another question, he said
he had declared to fellow officers. either
ut Santiago or Mcntank, that the refriYer-
ated beef tasted as though II had come III
contact with chloroform. This was notice
ably true when broiled. For years, he
said he had not personally used refriser-
a,od beef upon his own table because he
felt 1t would nauseate him.
In reply tn a direct question of Colonel
Davis tine witness said he had never en-
tertained all idea at Santiago or Montauk
that the beef had been treated chemically
10 preserve II, Replying further, he ex
pressed the belief that had herd of cat
tie been about the camp in Cuba. all kill
ing would have had to be done after sun
set and all issued before o'clock in the
morning, Reasoning from his experience
In the civil war when cattle on the hoof
were slaughtered and issued at night and
satisfaction resulted, he thought cattle on
the hoof In Cuba would have been prefere-
BILE to the refrigerated beef supply.
Colonel Albert T. Smith Thirteenth in
fantry. who followed Colonel Powell. tes-
titled that his regiment left New York
April 10 and went to Tampa, but he was
relieved on June and did not Join his
regiment again until late in July. when he
reached Santiago. General Ames was brig
nde commander Refrigerated beef was be-
In ned and it,.ta Ia,
III August s, when the regiment embarked
for the North.
"The beef was good" he said in rQ-
Spouse TO query except on one dae
when 1t was spoiled. / understand that
beef had been lying in the sun on the
dock"
The canned roast beef, he said, was is
sued on the return trip He did not know
how much was used but 1t war employed
with tomatoes in making soup. The or
ders TO embark were verbal and the regi-
ments were supplied at the oommssary's
discretion.
Colonel Smith said he had reason to
believe very little canned roast beef had
been eaten except in soup.
Investigation In September showed that
II had given practically no satisfaction,
either In soup or when eaten from the can
He had never heard of its being issued
prinr TO the Spanish war. He supposed il
was Intended TO be eaten from. the can
since 1t was issued as u travel ration.
Colonel Smith said that he should not
have felt 1t his duty to make report had
IL not been called for by the department,
rs he was not directly In contact with his
regiment during the time when the most
dissatisfaction was alleged to have ex-
listed
Replying TO Colonel Davis he said he
had no suspicion when using either the
canned or refrigerated beef that IL had
been treated with chemicals In a general
way he said he should have chosen beef
on the hoof in preference To refrigerated
beef had he been given the choice AS
there was no option at the time, he had
not thought particularly about the ques-
ton.
Lieutenant Colonel Charles d. Vlelc OF
lie First cavalry one of the regular army
officers VINO had been through the Shaiter
campaign, followed with long recital Of
Ids experience with canned roast beef
Colonel Davis--What did YOU have as
meat ration going down on the trans,
ports?
Witness-Canned roast beef
Colonel Davic-What aid you have in
Cuba?
Wltness--Canned roast beef. except for
few days before leaving for home when
We had refrigerated beef.
Colonel DavisWhat did YOU have on
the TRANSPORT coming home?
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