The San Francisco call., 1899-04-12

WASHINGTON, April n.-Major Cen
eral Shafter was the principal witness
before the beef inquiry board to-day. His
statement differed little from his testi-
mony before the war investigation COM
mittee. He had eaten the canned roast
beef cold and found 1t not disagreeable.
The refrigerated beef was as fine as any
he had ever eaten. The men who suf-
fered for lack of food had only them
selves to blame. r there had been mis-
takes Congress, which provided the ra-
tions and clothing of the soldiers, was
responsible. He admitted that he had
never heard of canned roast beef before
the war. While it was not very pala-
table in the tropics, he thought it would
be very good in a cold climate.
Some of the Pennsylvania volunteers
gave direct testimony as to the tainted
character of the refrigerated beef and
the canned roast beef. One of them tes-
titled that the beef aboard the Mississippi
had maggots in it.
Major General Shafter entered the
courtroom unacompanied, and all the
members arose to receive him. He de-
tailed the main events connected with
the Santiago expedition in narrative
form. The quantity of supplies taken
was largely determined by the capacity
of the ships. He had no discretion in
the matter of rations. He took what was
sent to MIN by the cOInHllSSdTy uSpdl
ment 1t was utterly impracticable to
take beef on the hoof He regarded the
proposition as absurd. Had he encoun-
tered an active enemy they might nave
lost a beef herd. In any event 1t WouId
have been imperatively necessary TO take
the same amount of salt and cured meat
to provide against such contingency.
After the troops were landed ne ordereu
all troops forward with three days ra-
tions L ne meat ration was not Speclned.
Each commander determined whether 1t
should be bacon or roast beef. he heard
no complaint of the canned roast beef be-
tween the time of landing and the sur
render. He heard no complaints until
after his return from Cuba. Naturally.
in such a climate, it was not appetizing.
He ate 1t every day himself. The troops
were supplied with full rationS OF meat,
hard bread, coffee and sugar: There were
one or two days when the full ration OF
coffee and sugar did not reach them, but
it was made up the next day. The ques-
ton of supplying the troops was the diff
no complaints from Washington. The
health of the troops was fairly good up
to the time of the surrender The sick re-
port on July 16 would show but 1000 men
sick. but the troops had been weakened,
and after the surrender went down rap
idly The first case OF yellow fever was
reported on the 9Th. He recalled only one
complaint against the refrigerator beef;
he thought that came from the Seventh
or Ninth Infantry.
He took great interest in the refriger-
dleQ peel, anu IIuIH uIS LlNSStiSdllOll piO-
nounced it perfectly satisfactory, Sus-
picion that it had been chemically treated
was never even suggested at that time.
He attributed the immense amount Of
sickness to exposure, the eXertions of an
active campaign and the climate.
Major Lee cross-examined General Shaft
er. In report forwarded by Colonel
Roosevelt some complaints We're made,
but he did not regard them as important.
as the emergency had passed Major Lee
read from Colonel Roosevelt's report of