The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-02-13

quartermasters department ought ia
have been able 90 more thoroughly
equip these vessels. and surely 1t should
have been more certain Of their carry
ing capacity.
The delay in some instances I'm re-
ceiving medical supplies at Santiago
seems to have been partially due to
carelessness in loading them on the
transports.
owing 10 the lack of necessary trans
ports, the means of land transporta-
tion during the Santiago campaign were
painfully deficient.
so far as we have been able to as
certain. there was but one occasion, that
of a day in front of Santiago. when the
troops We're seriously short OF ration
Those had been supplied. but throw
aside when the men went into actio
The condition OF the roads and lack
transportation prevented prompt r
sue. At times the vegetable ration was
not OF good quality. the potatoes and
onions being spoiled.
up to Dec. 81 examination OF nu-
merous officers and enlisted men had
been made as TO the quality and con-
dition of the meat issued 10 the troops.
The testimony. with some exceptions,
showed that the refrigerated beef is
sued was pure. sound and wholesome
ION Dec. 81 last Major General Miles
appeared. and for the first time in the
history of this investigation the allega-
ton was made that the refrigerated beef
issued to the troops had been chemically
treated, basing his charge on a COM
munication from DR.. w. II. DAILY.
Although DR. DAILY swears that he in
formed General Miles about Aug. /. 1898,
that he suspected that the refrigerated
beef was chemically treated. ii does not
appear that the general informed you
or the war department that an officer
of his staff had made this discovery
nor does IL appear that he at that
time ordered any of the officers under
his commoQi to probe to the bottom an
allegation which il true. concerned the
health OF $4,000 soldiers of the United
States.
1T appears from the report OF Or.
DAILY, which he handed to General Miles
nished TO the troops was apparently
stated that the refrigerated beef fur
nished TO the troops was 'appartntly
chemically treated 1t does not ap-
pear that when this charge was made,
Oct. 81. il having already been made TO
him in August, 1898, that General Miles
communicated TO you or the secretary of
war, or to the commissary general, the
belief or suspicion entertained by him
that refrigerated meat. dangerous to
health. was issued every day to the
troops, in failure to do which there was
dereliction OF duty
The report then tells OF securing and
having analyZed samples of meat, and
finding no boric or salicylic acid other
chemicals. In view of the
facts above set forth, the commission is
OF the opinion that no refrigerated beef
by the contractors and issued
to the troops during the war with Spain
was subjected to or treated with any
chemicals by the contractors or those in
their employ.
There has been neither allie cation nor
proof before us that boric or salicylic
acid or any other acid has been used in
the canned meats furnished to the
troops. but snoh meats have, neverthe-
less. been greatly criticised. and they
have. for that reason. been tested by us,
and have been analyzed under our d.
rection, and we have taken great deal
OF Testimony as TO the mode OF their