The times., 1899-02-08

with such stun in this country | would
prohibit the men taking it. That is a
matter which is now being investigated"
Did you complain TO the Secretary of
War about that kind of meat
Il asked that no more beef he sent
Did you notify the Government of the
condition OF the beef?"
Not entirely Of its character, at that
time but requested that no beef be sent"
The Cincinnati Interview.
On the evening OF the day on which he
appeared before the Commission General
Miles left for Cincinnati and on the fol-
lowing day he was interviewed there, the
press associations sending copies OF his
interview Throughout the country. That
portion of the interview referring to his
testimony before the Alger Board follows:
when asked as to the investigation
into the beef scandal he is now making
10 which he referred in his testimony
Wednesday, General Miles said:
My suspicious were aroused several
months ago ana ! at once started an in
vestigation into the matter of sending meat
10 the army in the West Indies.
- The part in my testimony of yesterday
relating 10 S27 tons of refrigerator beef and
19S. .0O0 pounds of canned fresh beef, which
was unfit for food, is only an item. This
quantity was sent TO one town in Porto
Rico How much was sent | do not know
How about the beef supply for the
army in Cuba
a 1t was just as bad The conditions there
were no better than they were in Porto
Rico
How much meat was sent to Cuba only
to spoil?'
That | am unable 10 say.
- How about Tations before the army EN-
barked2 Was the beef supply no better
before the transports sailed than after the
army was established in Cuba
- 1t was the same thing at Tampa and
the same thing at Jacksonville.
VIII you give a little more light on
what you meant by this assertion in your
testimony before the Alger Relief Commits
sion: General Miles suggested that the
food Was sent to his large army under pre-
tence of an experiment
L think that sentence is sufficiently
plain. "Pretence" is the precise term to be
used. eIt is absurd to say tina these enor-
nous quantities of beef were in reality
sent to an entire army simply as an expert
ment. To expect that beef can be exposed
10 the tropical sun for sixty hours without
spelling is out of the question
You think, then, if it was the intention
TO experiment with beef for the army in
the tropics it would have been better to
limit the experiment TO a few companies,
say. instead of the whole army?
Yes, or il might do for one man TO try
it on his own stomach, but to feed an
army, that was more than an experiment
When did this beef supply question
first come up, Did you protest to the War
DepaHif6Gk against sending dressed beef
10 the tfus and receive no attention at
all
II am not going to discuss that
How about the chemicals used in pre-
pairing this beef?'
''As l stated in my testimony, believe
the action of these chemicals was largely
responsible for the sickness of the army.
/ have medical authority for this state
ment, and believe 1t TO be true
% How far along has your own inyestiga-
tion into this subject progressed? he was
asked.
1T began several months ago. l have
the testimony of a large number of officers
and men upon this matter. some of which
/ gave in my testimony before the Com
mission yesterday. My enquiry is still in
progress. and some Of the most important
information | have received has been ac-
quired in the past few days
What channel will this investigation
take. upon its conclusion? p
I viii not discuss that. 1t is my duty
to investigate any wrong existing in the
army, and that l am now doing in the
regular military manner. The work is not
completed, and until it is | will have moth
ing to add TO the statement ! made before
the War Commission yesterday
Who had the contracts for supplying
the army with rations?
That | Will not discuss"
On Friday. December 90 General Eagan
wrote TO the Alger Relief Commission.
asking them to furnish him with a yer
batim copy of the testimony given by Gen
eral Miles. and also asking the privilege of
appearing before the Commission to re-
fute the statements made by General
Miles The copy was furnished him. and
The desired permission was given, although
he did not avail himself of it until several
weeks later.
Major Daly's Report.
The next startling incident in connec-
tion with the scandal was the report Of
Major DAILY, chief surgeon, L. S. V, which
was made public by the Relief Commission
on December 80. The report follows:
have the honor TO report, in the interests OF
the service. HAT in the several inspections mad.
in the various camps and troopshiI,s at Tarupa
jacksonville, Chckamauga, and Porto Rico tia
found the fresh beef 10 be apparently preserve
with secret chemicals, which destroys its natura
favor, and which also believe TO De dctrimcnta
10 the hath Of tine troops.
While on dury at the headquarters of the arm,
al Tampa at the time Of the eTbaTkatiOn Of IN
-->htfter expedition Colonel Weston the efiicien
chief commissary. showed a quarter OF bee
the SIN, and without being perceptibly TINTED
far As the sense OF smell could detect
IL is impossible TO keep fresh beef so long tui
tainted in the sun in that climate without tn
use oi deletcTious prcscrvatiyeS, such as bori
acid, salicylic acid, nitrate Of potash injectc
into 1t in quantities likely TO be hurtful 10 tn
health Of tie consumer. At Ponce, Porto Rico
much 81 the beef i examined arriving tn
transports from the United States was also q
the Character, being apparently preserve
ly injected chemicals 10 aid deficient col,
storage.
Where eficient cold storage is impossible tran,
porting bccf alive Is the method that should re
ceiye the fullest consideration by the Govern
meat. heing safest for the health OF the cor
smncr- When detailed TO take charge Of Il,
transport Panama. for conveying conyalescen,
10 the United States, ! obtained 1900 pound
OF fresh beef from the commisslry at Ponce.
looked we'll. but had odor similar to that
dead human body after being injected wit
pTeSefTaiives and tasted ~nen frst cooked Ill
dec0mpOscd bOric acid; while, after standing
day fUr further inspection. it became bite
nsHscous, and unpalatable as TO be quite in
possible for
I Was, therefore, obliged, owing to its cond
ton and the just complaint OF the sick about i
and the disgustingiy sickening odor it einitff
when being cooked. and its maWkish, fat tas
when srrvcd. aud the safety of the patients, .!
cOnvalescent soldiers on board, 10 organize
board Of survey. condemn and throw l,Jt
pornsis-sll we had-overboard. Consequently
the conyaIe-cenis were entirely without mucl
needed fresh beef. making the duty Of bringin
the rnru to the United States ia improve
condition 4 very difficult matter.
In my inspection Of the Fourth L. s. Noluntc'
Infantry at jacksonville. recently. j observed u
same odor and taste upon the fresh beef, but M
81 marked; and al camp Of Sixth L. : yolunte'
Tuf Al Ia 90 | al "a a