The record-union., 1899-02-22

Explaining his expression want OF nu-
tritive value" he said the beef gave
no pleasure In eating nor source of
strength to the body.
In reply to a question from Colonel
Davis, he said the issue of fresh beef
was made direct through the regimen
tai commissary, without the interven-
ton of brigade commissaries. Colonel
Davis placed number of questions to
develop if possible the responsibility
for the fresh beef reaching the regi-
ments in spoiled condition. Colonel
Powell said to Colonel Gillespie that
the fresh beef was generally wholesome
but never thoroughly good when issued
in the morning and often was putrid
when distributed late in the afternoon.
Replying to another question, he said
he had declared to fellow Officers
either at Santiago or at Montauk that
the refrigerator beef tasted as though
it had come in contact with chloroform
or kerosene. This was noticeably true
when broiled.
For years he had not personally used
refrigerated beef upon his own table
because he felt it would nauseate
him.
In reply to a direct question of Col
onel Davis, the witness said he had
never entertained an idea at Santiago
or at Montauk that the beef had been
treated chemically to preserve it. Re-
plying further, he expressed the belief
that had a herd of cattle been about
the camp in Cuba all killing would
have had to be done after sunset and
all issued before 8 O'Clock in the morn
ing. Reasoning from his experience in
the Civil War, when cattle on the hoof
We're slaughtered and issued at night
and satisfaction resulted he thought
cattle on the hoof in Cuba would have
been preferable to the refrigerated beef
supply.
| Colonel Albert Smith, Fifteenth In
| fantry, followed Colonel Powell and
testified that his regiment left New
York ON April 10Th and went to Tampa,
| but he was relieved on June 9th and did
not join his regiment again until late
| in July, when he reached Santiago.
General Ames was brigade commander.
Refrigerated beef was being used and
continued to be supplied until August
9Th, when the regiment embarked for
the North
1
cept one day when it was spoiled I
understood that the beef had been ly-
ing in the sun on the dock
The canned roast beef, he said, was
used on the return trip. He did not
Know how much was used, but it was
employed with tomatoes in making
soup. The orders to embark were YER
bal and the rations supplied at the
Commissary's discretion. Colonel Smith
said he had reason to believe very little
earned roast beef had been eaten ex-
cept in soup. Investigation made in
| September showed that it had given
practically no satisfaction in either
soup or when eaten from the can He
had never heard of it's being received
prior to the Spanish war; He sup
posed It was intended to be eaten from
the can since it was issued as travel
ration. Colonel Smith said he had not
felt it his duty to make a report had
/ it not been called for by the depart
ment, as he was not directly in con-
TACT with his regiment during the time
when the most dissatisfaction was al
legged to have existed.
] Replying to Colonel Davis. he said he
had no suspicion while using either the
earned or refrigerated beef that it had
been treated with chemicals. In a gen
eral way he said he should have chosen
beef on the hoof in preference to re-
! frigerated beef had he been given the
cho1ce- As there was no option at the
time he had not thought particularly
about the question.
Lieutenant Colonel Charles D Viele
OF the First Cavalry another of the
regular army officers who had been
through the Shafter campaign. followed
with long recital of his experience
with canned roast beef.
Colonel Davis-What did you have as
a meat ration going down on the trans
ports?
Wftness-Canned roast beef.
Colonel Dayis-What did you have in
Cuba?
Wftness-Canned roast beef. except
for few days before leaving for home
when we had refrigerated beef.
Colonel Davis-What did you have on
the transports coming homo?
Witness-Canned roast beef.
Colonel Davis-What satisfaction did
it give2
Witness-It did not give any salts
faction at all.
Colonel Davis--What complaints were
made to you as to this beef?
Witness-There were ne COMPLAINTS.
There was no chance to get anything
else, and the men took it and said MOTH
ing.
Colonel Davis-They did use it. then?
Witness--I did not say they used it.
1t was issued, and they took it, I saw
a good deal of it thrown overheard
Colonel Davis-What did you do
toward getting something to replaces il?
WitnessI did nothing: there was
nothing to do. There was nothing else
to be had.
Colonel Davis-Have you made any
reports on this subject?
Witness-Yes, have made three re-
ports.
Colonel Davis-But why was it you
made no official reports on this subject
While you were in the field?
Witness-For one reason, that for a
long time there was not sheet of pa
per in my command.
Colonel Viele said that he did take up
the subject of beef after the comma nj
got back to Montauk, and sent out a
circular letter to his troop command
ers asking for reports. This was before
he received official notice from the War
Department that a report on this sub
| ject would be wanted. All the refrig-
Grated beef his command received In
Santiago seemed to be good. He only
remembered one issue which was faint
ed He had no complaints as to it
from the men.
Did you have any reason to suspect
while you were at Santiago that the re-
Ifrigerated beef had been treated with