New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-21

DAILY who presented It late in September and np-
peared afterward before the War Commission He
said he did not recollect whether DR.. Dalys report
volunteered or whether he had been ordered to
investigate and report the meat
1t WAS general talk among the officers at Ponce
General Miles continued that the refrigerated beef
must have been subjected 10 some chemical treat
ment to make 1t Keep for seventy-two hours. DR..
Days. however. the first official report
General Miles then read long summary Of one
hundred letters received 10y him at Army hcadquar-
tiers giving the various terms In which the Army
meat was characterized. Those included "em-
bamed" "decomposod." injected" poisoned"
spoiled and the like. In addition he showed
summary Of reports on refrigerated beef con-
demned and thrown overheard rom transports. g.
G. Yeamans from the Yosemitee. reported the con-
demnation Of 5000 pounds. Heutenant-C o.onel
O'Neill. Of the Chester 400 pounds. and Colonel
James Hamilton Lewis '0oo pounds He said that
he should fix September q Ghe date OF Or Days
reporU AS about the earliest at which the question
OF chemically treated meat had been brought his
notice TO command his full attention.
Colonel Gillespie took hand IN the inquiry when
General Miles finished describing the nauseating
qualities Of the canned and refrigerator beet.
did you General. ever eat any OF this beef2'
Colonel Gillespie asked
Il presume dad. about the time wore st
Ponce" said General Miles with some hesitation.
Yes: presume I did"
Then" said Colonel Gillespie at has not such
characteristic qualities would permit YOU to
detect # offhand?"
NO sir"
LIEUT.. col. VAN HORNE HEARD
General Miles then left the wtness-chair. and
Lieutenant Colonel Van Horne OF the 18Th Infantry
sworn. He said he was at the outbreak Of the
war major OF the 22d Infantry. and went through
the entire Cuban campaign.
The witness said he had used all kinds canned
corned. refrigerated and canned roast beef. He
said the criticisms OF the canned roast beef began
carly and were made often. II was objected 20 on
tho score OF its lack Of nutriment its and IT'S
appearance. After the men got cooking utensils
they steHed their canned beef Before that they
ate Il from the can Either way Of serving o.
bad enough. and though none Of II that the witness
remembered was actually spoiled. IL unpal-
atable and tho ground Of constant complaint He
did reco,lect thai the large sick list OF his rec-
ment In Cuba had been laid al The time 70 the
canned meat. The men were debitated bur he
could not say whether the meat ought 10 be blamed
or not. When the refrigerated beef arrived % large
part Of was spoiled. and the men continued 20
use the canned meats. Tho spoiled refrigerated
beef laid the hill for tho buzzarls Soy
eral issues were lost in this way Witness had
I eaten some refrigerated beef which arrived ia
! camp untainted. and found that good. The mon
ste IT without complaint. and he Tad no reason
| to believe il was any different from the beef ne
had received al Army posts In the States.
THE MEN COULD NOT EAT IT.
Lieutenant Colonel Charles ". Miner OF me 9Th
! Infantry. the sext witness. His regiment was
( among the FIRST 20 leave Camp Thomas and 70
camp at Tampa They reached Cuba and dlsem-
! barked on June - Canned roast beef was issued
as a travel ratiin when they left Tampa and until
the end Of the siege. II replaced with rtfrie-
| Grated beef after the surrender In The mean time
he said absolutely no other fresh meat could have
! been furnished during tho siege
k4af hoe ana
| eral and marked about July 2 lie said he
using II. and when opened It WAS apparently fresh.
but striugy and absolutely without nourshmont.
and when e7it IT fell 20 pieces. Tho men could not
and did not eat IT,
u believed then and believe now" ne said. that
that beef had been used for making beef extract
and tho nutriment taken out. It appeared TO have
| been boiled pieces
Colonel Miner SAID he knew nothing Of tho
! me- nod of preparing canned beef. His regiment
was in good condition until about July !" after
| which II detcriorated suddenly and generally.
| When they became weak and sick the men did not
want meat.
Asked # during the siege be had made an effort
| 10 get other meat he said he had not; that there
YVES not a piece OF paper IN the command. ana
they merely waited for what was brought mp from
behind a distance Of eleven miles They mad no
! discretion-no choice In the matter OF ratons.
Examined az 70 pafrgerared beef. he declared n
was excellent and satisfactory, and no complaints
| about II were heard. only one quarter was spoiled
| He was unable. he said. 70 detect any difference
between the refrigerated beef issued IN cuba and
| that which had been issued AZ the posts In this
country at which he had been stationed.
Major Henry Jackson Sd Cavalry. who was with
his regiment throughout the Santiago campaign
WAS called He said his experience with the
canned roast beef began aboard the transport on
the way 10 cuba and continued until his return
TO Mortauk Complaints began on the way down
and continued without intermission Inc men
! complained OF the meat being stringy iasieles7
and unpalatable The officers had remarked the
same thing TO him and he agreed with them fully
| Colonel Davis asked II the witness had made
any EFFORT to get different meat FOR his men. lie
! replied that there was nothing 70 60 bur tax"
| what was Issued There was no requisition or
other Formally All the rations that could Doe sent
10 the front with the limited transportation faciA-
| lies were sent The simply took what was
! sent them and officers and men Jared alike.
/ When The fresh or refrgcrated beef began 70
arrive after the capture OF Santiago - was issued
70 the men So far as the witness observed il was
good.
ARMY BEEF TESTED HERE.
IN this CITY Yesterday John J.. Hobbs. of 9TH" Ma