The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-08
THE ARMY BEEF INQUIRY.
INVENTOR OF THE POWELL PROCESS
TO VI TIEY TO-DAE
Gen. shafter Expected to Take the stand
Next Week The Reports Received
from Army Oficcrs by secretary AlGer
and Gen. Miles Admitted ms Testimony.

" lI'lhllN llN'0'lsN'lllN v WV y NlllI Y
against tho Commissary Department OF tho
Srmy Is rapidly drawing TO n close. No one
was examined to-day. but tomorrow it is ex-
pected that there will be- some interesting de-
velopments. Alexander u. Powell. inventor
of tho Powell process Of preserving beef.
is expected TO he tho first witness. His
testimony will be n complete surprise to
those who have connected his process with tho
alleged use Of s~alicylic and boric acid. II Is
expected that he will reveal to tho court the
secret Of his process. and his explanation, It is
said. will show that he uses none 81 the acids
mentioned by any witness before the court.
MaIor-Gen. William Il ShaftCr will probably
testify on Monday or Tuesday. Gen. Shafter is
now on his way from san Francisco to Wash
ington. The court has already accepted as
testimony the kilograms that passed between
Gen. Shatter and the War Department dur
ing the Cuban campaign bearing on tho
subject OF food supplies. In none OF these
kilograms does Gen. Shuftor indicate that there
was any complaint about the canned roast beef
issued to the troops. In one he says:
1t is possible that some Of them may have
been hungry. but on the might of the battle
pack trains were sent and food distributed
along tho line. They were without tobacco
for several days. a, it was only by the greatest
exertion that coffee. sugar, meat AMI bread
could be gotten out TO them. They had full
rations except for tw"nty-four hours. when
there was no coffee. | will have careful in
quiry made to See il in any isolated cases men
were without food for forty-cight hours and
the cause Of it. No such cases have been re-
ported to these headquarters"
This despatch was dated July 9. and was in
reply to ono sent by Secretary Algor regarding
Richard Harding Davis's charges that the men
had been without food for forty-cight hours.
In his fpStiIpnpy haInr, tho Wnr JppnSti-
eating Commission. Gen. Shafter made no
charges whatever about the canned roast beef
or the refrigerated beef. lie advocated Il
change in the ration to n limited extent. He
said: In issuing rationS to the Spanish pris-
oners. which did To 5000 or 10000. | gave
them beef. thinking | would give them a treat.
but they preferred bacon our men preferred
the beef" Replying TO another question. Gen.
Shafter suggested that the meat ration for the
hot climates should be reduced.
The Court Of Inquiry to-day took favorable
action upon the motion OF Major Lee, Gen.
Miles's counsel. to admit as testimony the
many reports received at the War Department
in response to the circulars sent out by Secre-
tary Alger and Gen. Miles. Major Lee read to
the court as many reports IA could he disposed
oil at the afternoon session. The following ex-
tracts are taken from those read to-day:
NINTH INFANTRY.
Col. William II. IDwell-No good results were
obtained from the use OF, the roast beef fur
pished in cans to my regiment white in Cuba.
1t produced disordered stomachs.,
Acting Assistant Surgeon William W. Cal
houn.,lt was unfit for use and aided materially
in producing much of the stomach disorders.
Capt. X. II. Anderson-The results obtained
from the use OF canned fresh roast beef during
the camGaigSn u Cuba were fairy satisfactory.
Lieut.: A: v; BrewstGr-The meat was of an
odds and ends OF beef.
Lieut., Joseph Bazicr-Fcoling OF surfeit was
npurnnI M a md am D., hnNn hna,, IT,, nI,nF
Ssh ! TO IT, ana seems 10 nave been Its chief
Capt, George Palmer-No bad results we're
noticed from the fresh roast beef furnished the
Capt. 4. i. Mc$aieb-Unsuitcd for campaign
ing in a warm climate. EuectS of heat on the
cans made contents unpalatahlc.
Capt, James Rcagan-SomGo OF it inferior DUAL:
ity. All the beef wi,s not bad and the good beef
was very much rclished by the men.
NINTH CAVALRY.
Capt. Walter l.. When first issued
was received as most welcome change from
BACON. In properly made hash fairly palatable,
Capt. Philip 7. fowcll-Canned corned beef
Lieut.. II. NJ. McNamee-Tastcless ard stringy.
Lieut.. +, i. Hartwick-C Constant use rendered
1t 80 unpalatablS that men were, unable to eat it.
Lieut.. Henry Barb1r-AS II change. il Is eX-
celIent.. Issued two days out Of seven enjoyed.
but II ofteper the men seemed to tire, Of IT.
un h,sHli b"a'' Dos !; S SsGS' veil fo 5pu 'wo u or Fa ahnee
days. Men tire Of it for II greater length OF
Lieut.. George F. Ha~milton-Results obtained
from canned roast. beef very satisfactory.
Lieut.. Harry l.. Cavanaugh-If properly
reasoned, an excellent dish. Superior TO bacon
Capt. j. IcHiain-Tastclcss and ipslpid..
ba H,eu'' i Recon a; mS mend tW T6'S dars ca annnSe iron IRON
beef in seven.
TwENTY-FIFTH INFANTRY.
Lieut.. IL. W. French-Men complained OF
cramps in stomach alter eating 1t.
EIGHTH INFANTRY.
Lieut.. Col. +. II. Ellis-Untt for issue to the
Lieut. LIn Edgar K !; Co1iIinsn,uttSrly worthless:
m Snp soG Il. HIN Il. eW%iGissd5nn,-strinry. tough, without
Capt; ". !. Fitcher-Soft. mushy, without
Lieut., F. II. sargent-strlngy. tasteless. unfit
Lieut.. J. H. Miler-Tasteless. strinCy. unfit
Lieut.. NJ. B. Stewart-Made tho men sick.
was repnlsivc TO sight and repeatedly con-
demned by regimental surgeons.
FIRST CAVALRY.
Brig Gen. Charles u. Niele-Miserable apol-
oEy for food in a hot climate, 1t was a greasy.
slim y-loQking .mass, haIf-cookcd beef scraps.
Major J. n. Bell-full of refuse and grease.
Major ", ). SCOTT heard no complaints OF
the S. GanP p i beef e n Porte bi ,@1 ., ,n0
est articles ever issued,
Capt. ". G, BrGwn-Had no seasoning, 1t
much dislikcd.
Capt. J. g. Galbraith-Its use gave general
dissatisfaction
lieut., j. u. l.. Hartman Heat made contents
OF can Shiny: appeared inferior quality OF beef
was used,
Lieut.. Il. c. Willlams-Eaten without being
cooked, unpalutable; acceptable addition 10
ration when occasionally issued Instead OF
bacon.
Lieut., Walter N. Whitman-It was greasy
Lieut., 9. Mex. Saltzman-whcn heated it
much relished: otherwise unsatisfactory.
Lieut.. II. G. Smither-Soon becomes unpala-
table: not good article OF ration.
Lieut.. Ii. ID. Observation-Disclosures and prom
orly seasoned, it was fairly good: otherwise
upwhOlesomo and unpalatablc.
Lieut.. W. c.. Rivers = nsuited for food be-
cause OF extreme unpd!atnhlrncss distinctly a
failure when eaten unCOukCd from the cans.
Lieut.. George W. tioodo When properly
cooked and combined with other things fairly
satisfactory, DO not consider IL desirable.
Lieut.. NJ. I. Davis Meat tainted before be-
ing canned, Found four maggots cooked and
canned in the meat,
Lieut.. Clough OvprtOn-MAdc palatahlc stew
when seasoned. When not 50 seasoned very
FOURTH ARTILLERY.
Can't, AS tunmins-Grpat Complnint slimv