Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-08

eral than an earnest desire to procure the
| best possible food for the troops. The court
pronounces this act OF the commissary gem
eral Of subsistence a colossal error for which
! there Is no palliation.
The court finds that there was neglect
in Cuba and to less degree in Porto Rico
in delivering the refrigerated beef
The court says the report, does not
wish to state the case more strongly than
to say that the finding appears to be war
ranted that too much time was consumed
in distributing this perishable article. The
oult, IL any there was, rested with the
de and higher commanding officers and
prnissaries and quartermasters, but
ny is not so definite or specific
ant the naming by the court OF
any cular officers"
The oourt is of the opinion that the
canned roast beef was not suitable as a
travel ration on transports, considering the
absence OF cooking facilities and the alb
sence from that ration OF fresh vegetables
and condiments. For use on shore as a
field ration, where the companies had their
camp cooking equipment and vegetables
were available, canned roast beef is suitable
for issue, say two days in ten, but not for
two days in succession. In some organza-
tions 1t seems to have constituted at least
one-half of the meat ration and until after
the surrender the troops had no means for
other cooking than was practicable with
the individual kit carried. For such extern
siye use. or any use exceeding one day in
five the court finds this beef unsuitable.
The refrigerated beef is, in the opinion
of the court, a suitable ration for troops
when it can be issued to them in good con-
dtion.
n Wh than
beef was available for ration the opinion Is:
First-That on the transports the reliance
on canned roast and canned corned beef was
wise, but that the canned roast beef was
less desirable than the corned beef.
Second-That while bacon is not regarded
as a suitable constant food in campaign for
troops serving in the tropics, combined with
the vegetables that were available it would
have been more suitable and fit than the
unknown and unfamiliar canned roast beef
eaten direct from the can.
Third-That the use of refrigerated beef
on shore, after the troops had secured con-
venient harbors and landing facilities, was
wise and desirable. That the court believes
that there was no better food available or
practicable.
Beef on Hoof Imprncticnblc.
The opinion is expressed that it would
have been impracticable to land beef cattle
on the hoof in Cuba, the remark Of the
court on this point being as toilows:
The commanding general Of the expedi
tion characterzies as absurd such PROPOSE
finn and many NJ bis co,or,ondin, oRoars
whose oninion is giyen In tho tostirnony
coincided with him in the impracticability or
ineXpediency OF such a project. The court
concurs in the opinion of these men whose
experience in active military service dated
from 1861"
An instruction of the nresiaent 70 ths
court was. .'If the hackers of the country
are guilty IL must he known"
Renlvinq to this direction tho court s,vs.
Tho conrt srdo thot =. +ha o,,t,,oaI. 80
bostilities in AnriI IsoS tho naclarS ~
canned beef were engaged in the manufact-
ure of an article of standard quality, well
known to the trade and the subsistence de-
par uhder the name OF canned roast
,,'S,. - ne nie'nous vi PaGklns ,neh IN use
in tho rnarott 'no.e It ploy1u
of commerce and tba court docs " not md
that they underwent any change during the
progress of the war, The large purchases
for the use Of the military forces during the
months Oh May ana June, 1898, were made
in consequence of efforts rnt Sortb hr ,hon,
for that purpose-but by the order and upon
the initiative or the commissary general OF
subsistence a.,'i suca purchases being made in
tbo ysuaI r,o, vi nis uepai 'iien' III
..,rh,t .,,o .-t.,,
on,,,,. 49,, D'.u oeet i"' ni'neu 'he
o+bor 60, 49, 80, y. "i'n any
.,rho+ ~ ". o,, al
MA. 49,, 49, pul eii"seu iof Ine army
r't,s. snis, ' &C. mat po'h
- 49,, -, I aNN ~ ".ie eu'h
oo,,'n,o",a, 49, ~ JUN nol,lspnefes as
w.. o'ai al 'tIies' ~ Vi "hieh 'here Is anu
'"i sc IonSuinp'ion "ot oniy
I"'is' put ny 'ne oh'teu
80 - anu ~ 'Ne al tN'e' anu na'ieS
..TLa1 w. ..- =. ..o..-.-
In. No Vi uiAsnees s ~ uL,Sui'",
So So VI 'ne peet Sent rom Tue ohl'eu
80 ~ w ' tot Y" al H.u W 'ne war uePaiC
~. - ~ "'ts eee,"i oiioelS seII'hs III Cupa
Va " ~ NV "n'ie 'he heiu operatiohs
'o5a1 80 ~ osieSS no' "ele any Suon repor's
,--'.,,,.. '4'''l iNo' 'n"n Nion'n ai'el
oS,,,i'.eS .'.r, ~ eeaSeu'
na'' barring soihe ueiects IN methods
~ % 'HSpection 'ne peei on its ueHVery 10
tne ~, suDs'ssece uepa' t,nent' tie ue'eriora-
t,oh VI 'ne lie"1 III snlPnent was uue 10
''es Hhp"'"e" heei interview
The charges OF General Miles, as made
in newspaper interviews as well as those
made before the war investigating commits
sion, are referred to at length, among them