The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-24

while ne was there, nnd1ug IL possible
to use beef on the hoof.
General Miles said the first COM
plants on the canned roast beef he
heard at Tampa from some OF the
Rough Riders and then aboard the
Yale when the men declared they could
not eat It. Again he heard complaints
Of 1t in the trenches at Santiago.
What finally drew his attention seri-
ously to the matter was the reports of
officers that the whole Fifth corps was
weak and Frustrated. This was in Au-
gust when the question OF parade
through New York was preached
General Bates at that time reported
that only one-ffth at Mantauk Point
were in condition to march through
New York General Miles said this
seemed to him remarkable, as there
was no yellow fever at the point and
he thought b men certainly ought
10 be over their malaria He, there
fore, ordered an inquiry into the beef
about which there had been so much
complaint.
Did you report this matter at the
time to the commissary generals Of
fce?" asked Colonel Davis.
General Miles leaned forward, daw-
ing his brows to a furrow, and replied
forcefully:" I am not required, sir. TO
report TO the commissary general"
We'll did you report to the secretary
of war;" asked Colonel Davis pleas
antly.
General Miles in reply went at some
length into an explanation OF the rou-
tine Of army headquarters, showing
why he preferred to conclude his in
quiry so that he might have something
tangible to present to the secretary.
Finally he issued his orders to officers
to report upon the quality Of beef fur
nished. He did not report directly
to the secretar- of war, because under
a rule of 1890 the order should go
from the adjutant general to the secre-
tary.
His attacks upon the canned and re-
frigerated beef before the war commits
sion were then taken up specifically.
Colonel Davis reading testimony Of the
commanding general in which he re-
ferred to it as "embalmed" beef and
said it had been sent as "a p~retense of
experiment"
General Miles wa asked if he knew
when wal began that canned roast
beef was a part of the army ration.
This question brought out a partial ex-
PLANTATION of his using the phase pre-
tense of experiment" He said he did not
know that canned roast beef was a part
of the army ration, though in 1888 an
order had been issued including CAM
ed, corned, or fresh beef. He did not
understand the canned beef now in
nIroctinn uyoc Y7odnf Whnn hiS alton
ton was finally attracted to the canned
roast beef, recently issued, 20 assumed,
he declared, that sit was being issued
as an experiment" since it was not un-
derstood by him that canned roast
beef was a part Of the regular ration.
Continuing this explanation in an
swer to a question of Colonel Davis,
General Miles said he thought his use
of "pretense of experiment" was un-
fortunae and he disclaimed any inten-
ton to impute fraud to any one. $50
far as indicating fraud" he said II
wish to state that no such inference
was intended. 1t was perhaps an un-
fortunate expression and had my at
tention been called to it I might have
amended it to say ION the theory of an
experiment." AS a matter of fact ii
was an experiment and a very costly
one"
Replying to a question, General
Miles said he first heard complaint
against refrigerated beef at Ponce
The first direct statement that it had
been treated chemically came, he be-
lieved, from DR.. DAILY, who presented
it late in September, and appeared
subsequently before the war commits.
sion.
General Miles then read a long snm,
mary of 100 letters received by him al
army headquarters, giving the vari
Gus terms in which the army meat wa
characterized. These included "em'
) balmed' "decomposed," injected
poisoned" Spoiled" and the like
, In addition he showed a summary o
, reports on refrigerated beef condemn
I ed and thrown over board from trans
ports. c.. G. Yeamans, from the Yose
mite reported the condemnation o
5000 pounds; Lieutenant Colone
: O'Neil, Of the steamship Chester, 400
! pounds; Colonel James Hamilton
Lewis, 10000 pounds.
Colonel Gillespie took a hand in tn
: inquiry when General Miles finishes
| describing the nauseating qualities o
the canned and refrigerator beef.
did you general, ever eat any o
!. this beef" Colonel Gillespie asked.
: 81 presume I did, about the time W
= were at Ponce" said General Miles
with some hesitation. Eyes I presum
!. I did"
!. Then" said Colonel Gillespie, ii
: has not such characteristic Qualitie
as would permit you to detect it OF
!. hand?"
4 mo, sir"
. General Miles then left the witnes
: chair.
! PHILIPPINES AGGRESSIVE
, They Astempt to Burn the Quarters Q