The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-04-12

thousand men sick but the troops had
been weakened aud after the surrender
went down rapidly. He only recalled one
complaint against the refrigerated beef,
he thought that came from the 9TH and
9th infantry.
He took great interest In the refriger-
ated beef and from his Investigation pro-
uounoed II perfectly satisfactory. Sus-
picion that it had been chemically treated
was never even suggested at that time.
He attributed the Immense amount oil
sickness to exposure, the exertions Of
active campaign and climate. Major Lee
cross-examined Gen. Shafter. In q report
forwarded by Col Roosevelt some com
plants were made, but he did not regard
them as important as the emergency had
passed.
Major Lee read from Col. Roosevelt, s
report of the action of July j. saying his
troops had no food on that day except
what they captured from the Spaniards.
"If they did not have food IL was their
own fault" observed General Shafter.
"They were ordered to provide themselves
with two days rations AS TO Coi
Roosevelt's statement that they did not
have adequate food or medical supplies
that was matter OF opinion. They had
their ration provided by law. III the
rations of the rough rid,rs gave out en-
route to Cuba IL was the fault of their
owp officers who should have drawn sup
plies to keep ten days supply on hand as
he had ordered.
From your experience do you regard
canned roast beef as suitable meat
ration for such campaign asked
Major Lee.
II do not know OF any substitute re-
piled General ShAfter.
"Canned corned beef is, perhaps better.
/ myself think there might have been
less meat and more beans and rice. Cam
paigning In the tropics was new to us
and IL WAS an experimental food"
General Shafter detailed conversation
with Com,nissary General Eagan about
the canned roast beef which he (Shafter)
at that time believed was genuine roast
beef Asked II after all that had occurred
he considered canned roast beef worthy OF
q further trial, zen. Shafter reiterated
mis- statement that he knew Of no substi-
tute. In cold climate he would regard
the canned roast beef as very good indeed
To carry fresh beef on the hoof he re-
anrded AS absolutely out of th g question.
None of the division commanders (Wheel-
er, Kent or Lawson) had complained OF
the ration officially.
"If there had been complaints to
them," said he, 81 hardly think they
would have reported 1t. They were
sensible men. 1t was all We had. Moth
ing could have been DONE"
He ventured the opinion that one per
cent of the refrigerated beef was spoiled
and thrown away. AT the conclusion of
General Skaters testimony the court
recessed.
A. A. Kirk, a cook, testified at the
afternoon session that he saw refrigerated
beef aboard the Massachusetts, that had
spoiled.
John w. Springer of New Cumberland,
Pa, who acted as commissary sergeant OF
the governors troop of Pennsy lvania,
testified that fully half of the canned
roast beef was unfit to eat.
Arthur W. Feight, of Carlisle, Pa, also
of governors troops thought that one
fourth of the canned beef was spoiled and
one-h half unfit for use. The refrigerated
beef could not be eaten and was thrown
overheard on the second day out. Msgxots
were found in the teef brought aboard
the Mississippi.
Lieut.. Alexander Frank OF Cincinnati,
com mmissary and subsistence officer of the
first Ohio, said canned roast beef made
the men sick. At Jacksonville, he sal d,
Armour & Co., issued q short-weight
beef. Over 10000 pounds of canned beef
issued to his regiment at Tampa was con-
demned.