The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-08
states OF Pennsylvania, New Jersey
the Navy by Battle ships.
THREE BIG ARMORED CRUISERS
TO BE CALLED THE WEST VIRGINIA,
NEBRASKA AND CALIFORNIA.
Six Protected Cruisers Named After
Cities-Payment Of so ZOO Dis
cussed by the Cabinet.

WASHINGTON, April THE army beef
inquiry court decided to-day TO admit
evidence the official reports OF army officers
concerning the beef supplied 10 the army
during the war with Spain as requested by
General Miles. The decision was reached
at an executive session OF the court. Major
Lee had stated that he considered IL i'm
portant that the matter should be definitely
determined soon as possible lie had also
asked for consideration Of General Mies's
supplementary request that a large number
of additional witnesses be summoned Ir
vas learned that all the reports were brief.
and the court I'm secret session decided 10
allow them to be read. There are 147 oe
them, and they were generally prepared by
their authors after the close OF the cam
paign in Cuba and Porto Rico and in re-
sponse TO a circular letter. With reference
TO the application 10 have more witnesses
called ii is understood the court will ad-
here TO its determination not TO summon
any of the list whose testimony would bs
merely corroborative of that already given.
At the afternoon session Major Lee read ths
reports. all OF which pertained TO canned
beef.
Brigadier General viele pronounced the
canned beef "a miserable apology for food
A large number Of reports were made from
officers of the First Cavalry, among these
the following:
Maj; James M. Bell: ''It is better than no
beef. but L cannot recommend IL as "A COM
poDent OF the held ration"
Lieut.. Clough Oyerton: 1T is an unde-
sirable portion Of the travel rations'
Mai. j. NJ. Scott: Il heard no complainc
Of the canned roast beef"
Lieut.. c. r. Williams: The beef as an
occasional substitute for bacon accept
able"
Lieut.. Walter NJ. Whitman; The pro-
longed issue of the beef on the transport
was injurious TO the men,"
Lieut.. NJ. +. Davis considered the beef
as of poor quality and said he had found
four maggots cooked with the beef In tha
cans while on the field at Las Quasimas.
Lieut.. b. r. Berkley: mo more unpala-
table article OF food could be issued"
Lieut.. w. c. Rivers: 1t was an unsuit-
Lieut.. E. s. Wright: ut was distinct
Lieut. Col. w 4. Rafferty,. Second Cav
| airy, stated that he agreed with the report
| OF his commissary ofiieer. VINO Pronounced
soon tired OF IL. A large number OF officers
| in this regiment pronounced similar ver-
dict.
Major Jackson. Third Cavalry. pro-
nounced the quality of the beef used In can
hing poSr haa o served very wec sena IN ~
| was nauseating.
Lieutenant Colonel Carroll. Sixth Cavalry.
| said that most Of the meat issued TO his
| troops on the transport had been thrown
| overheard as il made some Of the men sick.
1
preferred going without meat 10 eating the
canned beef Ii made his men sick.
Lieut.. r. h: Paddock said: Men would
! go hungry rather than eat IL.
Capt c. S. Grimes. Second Artillery
| THE meat was soft, watery and unsatis-
| factory to the men,"
Captain Ellis. Fourth Artillery: TT was
stringy and tough. and and others found
! IL unpalatable."
| ''The beef was tough and devoid OF flavor
Capt NJ. G. Hughes Ninth Cavalry: This
meat became anne. distasteiul after a AZ few days.
| beef"
Captain Hutchinson Ninth Cavalry: "Ir
| should be alternated with other meat. Had
| heard of no bad results from its use"
| Lieut.. l.. NJ Nance had found IL tasteless
| and the men would not eat 1t.
| Captain McLain and Lieutenants Hard
wick. Barber. Stadlter. White. Cavanaugh,
| Lyman and Everett made reports very
| similar 10 those preceding. Lieutenant
Barber thought IL good as change. Lieu
| tenant Hamilton pronounced II a good food.
Capt Albert &. Cummns Second Artil-
| lery. thought some OF the meat contained
| ptomaines and caused a great deal Of sick
| ness. As ration IL was a failure
Capt. III. J. Riley. Fifth Artilery-It was
palatable with vegetables, but not other
| wise desirable.
meat used was OF poor grade. II a better
grade OF meat was secured IL might prove a
| proper food.
Lieut.. T.. s. Benton. Seventh Artillery
| IL was more wholesome than the fresh beef
Lieutenant Browne. Second Infantry = It
was unfit for use. Many OF the men said IL
had been 'doped." meaning that chemicals
| had been used in It's preparation.
Capt. j. Waring. Second Infantry-It was
not fit 20 be issued
| Major Baker. Fourth IT fantry-The canned
| beef was OF inferior quality. anything
| but palatabe.
Lieutenant Colonel Miner Sixth Infantry
The canned beef was utterly unfit as an
article Of diet. Hungry men left II on the
| ground. Much OF II appeared like meat
| from which extract OF beef had been pre-
pared before IL was put up.
Major Corliss. Lieutenant Quentin and
| Capt. Il. l.. Howe. Seventh Infantry, all re-
ported the canned beef was not M for con-
sumption and that the same Was true OF
much of the fresh beef.
| Lieut.. Col. Il. III. Ellis. Eighth Infantry
| IL was openly condemned by the men and
| generally thrown away.
Capt. W. l.. Pitcher. Eighth Infantry
| The canned beef was just bad az possible.
| short of being rotten.
| Col. w. Ii. Powell, Ninth Infantry-Ths
use OF the canned beef was not attended
| with any good results. IL produced disor-
| dered stomachs.
Capt. r. II. Anderson. Ninth Infantry
| The canned beef was fairly satisfactory.