The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-02-21

Washington, Feb. 2O.--The court OF
inquiry TO investigate the charges
brought by General Miles in connection
with the army beef ration assembled
in Lemon building about 10 o'clock this
morning, preparatory to it's first formal
session.
Brigadicr General George w. Davis
and Colonel George l.. Gillespie, MEM
bcrs Of the court and Colonel George
T. Davis, recorder and Judge advocate,
We're first to arrive. Major General
James +. Wade, president Of the court
came later, and at 1886 o'clock the
court. in fun dress uniform, proceeded
to the White House. where it paid its
respects to the president. After that
it went to the war department. where
it called on Secretary Alger and Major
General Miles.
During the morning several army Of
ficors who are in the city as witnesses
reported to Colonel Davis, the recorder,
hut remained only few moments at
the rooms OF the court.
The court returned at 1905 o'clock
from it's visits of courtesy, and after
two photographers had taken pictures
OF the members. Colonel Davis proceed
court. and letter from Adiutant Gen
pral Corbin. in response to letter from
General Wade, president of the court,
explaining specifically the scope of the
investigation.
The court was then sworn and Ma
ior General Nelson \. Miles was pro-
scented ae the first witness, He appear
ed in fatigue uniform and was sworn.
I, ic III
was asked if he made a statement be-
fore the war commission He said he
had made one. and, on Colonel Davis
submitting printed report of that
statement. General Miles examined and
approved II. Then the general was
asked about an alleged interview which
appeared in the New York Journal on
Dec. 90. and he was requested to say
whether or not it represented complete
ly in part what he said. General Miles
read it and said:
Il do not recall anything in that in
terveW that had not been given in my
testimony or transmitted in my reports
You will observe it contains q number
of my declinations to name officers or
my authorities, and refusals 10 answer
1t must therefore be incorrect in it's
representations
The general then commented on the
slight inaccuracy Of newspaper inter-
views owing to the dependency of writ
ers on their memories. Hardly a day
In six months had passed that an in
terviewer had not replied to him and
because of the kindness of the press
to the army and especially to the en-
listed men, he had endeavored to give
i,,r o,iA
to be wise. but never, he said.
with n view of prejudicng any
one against person or department Fin
ally General Miles said he did not think
the journal interview represented cor
rectly what he said, because it's con-
tents should be taken IN connection
with all that was said, his silence on
some points and his speech on others
HERALD INTERVIEW.
Bein asked about an interview from
the New York Herald of Feb. /, the
general said:
Il have a letter from the gentleman
who, l understand, wrote that, IN
which he says he is willing to swear
that ! declined to be interviewed, and
that thinking something had been Civ
en- out, he had proceeded to write what
he knew We're the facts"
General Miles then pointed out that
the interview was erroneous in that
where it represented him to have said
that he had overwhelming evidence
that the refrigerated beef was treat
ed with chemicals, the fact was that
his only evidence was what was con-
tained in the reports of officers and
the statements of men. VINO asserted
that the beef had the odor of an em-
balmed body; that they had seen fluid
injected into beef and other indications
of chemical treatment. He asserted
that the interview was an erroneous
presentation of what he could possibly
have SAID
Colonel Davis. recurring to the state
ment OF General Miles before the waI
commission, asked him what his idea
as TO the beef supply for the army
was when the war broke out
Replying, General Miles said while
his attention was occupied with might
Ter matters of mobilization and equip
ment of troops, he felt confident that
the usages Of hundred years would
be followed and cattle herds would be
shipped to the army in the tropics and
killed there just as they had beer
through the south during the Civil
War, in Arizona, Texas and in Mex.
leo, where il was so hot that q soldier
could not sit upon the rocks. He un.
derstood Cuba and Porto Rico were
excellent grass countries, and cattle
could be shipped and kept in prime
condition there. He reviewed his ao.
tion in cabling the department to SEND
no more refrigerated beef to Porte
Rico while he was there, finding II
possible to use beef on the hoof.
STILL EATING IT.
General Miles added that he under.
stood that our troops in Porto Ric;
were still being supplied with a form
of refrigerated beef, although the
country was as good a grass country
as any in the world and the cattle
there were plenty, and troops drew
all their meat supplies from tha
source.
Colonel Davis asked il General Mile
knew whether Porto Rico exported an,
cattle. Witness said 1t did to the mum
Der Of several thousand, and that the,
were fine cattle. Still he understood
that our troops were not only receiv
ing refrigerated beef at the coast, hu
that it was being sent into the interior
The situation now, he said, was differ
ent from that during the war. Now
there We're ice machines on shore. Thel
there was not ice enough for the hos
pltals.
IDCIICE oa. MAaTELs