The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1899-04-14
SHAFTER ON THE STAND
he Found the Canned Roast Beef
a Good Article of Food.
IN THIS HE'S AN EXCEPTION

paign and Heard No Complaint of L
TIL He Returned to This Country ul
Troops in Cuba Had Plenty of GOOD
Food.
Washington, April 12-At yesterday
Enquiry of the Army Board Major Gen
eral William r. Shafter, commander
of the Cuban campaign was the princi-
pal witness.
The members of the court, in compli-
ment to the witness, arose when he APP
peared. Gen. Shafter briefly explained
the organization of the Cuban expedi-
Non.
Ibid you have charge of the outfit
ting and equipment of the expeditions"
asked Col. Davis.
Nothing whatever"
What determined the amount of
supplies?"
THE capacity of the vessels"
Gen. Shafter said that what the ex-
petition had to take in the way of
food was on hand and the only ques-
tion was to get it on the vessels.
when did you become aware that
VhlllGu IO6toI pGCL was " NC uoGo
when l was in Washington Gen.
Eagan told me he proposed to issue
canned roast beef and supply a very
good article"
WAS the subject discussed of TAX
ing beef on the hoof?"
II don't think it was ever discussed.
1t was too absurd to think about
would it have been practicable
hooking hack the oannaiPn 2''
II should say not. 1t would have
been hazardous. Had we been home
here it would have been much the best
thing to have taken"
'What were the meat components of
the three days rations they were
ordered to take with them after land
ing
IT can't tell you. I think they were
70 be bacon and canned roast beef. The
order did not specify. They could have
taken with them all bacon or all beef
Those troops that landed on the 22d
had expected their three days rations
before the transportation was landed,
but they were near Siboney, where sup
plies were being landed, and / think
they get more supplies"
Gen. Shafter said the orders regard
ing transportation were that the
wagons should take complete rations,
not that one wagon should take only
sugar, another coffee and another
meat, but that they should take COM
plete rations, as nearly as possible.
What complaints, if any, did you
hear about the canned roast beef after |
the landing and prior to the sur
render?"
None. / never heard any complaint |
that canned roast beef was unfit for
food until I returned from Cuba.
Canned roast beef was new thing 1
had never heard of it before, but in
Cuba 1 ate it myself every day. OF
course, in that climate it was not en-
tirely appetizing, but there was no
complaint that it was unfit for food"
Gen. Shafter explained hat the food
question was the only important prob
lem. The troops had proper supply
of meat, bread, sugar and coffee. There
were one or two days that there was a
shortage of sugar and coffee.
Recorder Davis called Gen. Skaters
attention to the inquiry of Secretary
Alger, made early in July, based on
Richard Harding Daviss charges of
suffering. Gen. Shafter replied that
there was no suffering among the
troops from lack of food. The troops
handled their supplies carelessly. Vol
unteers threw their haversacks away,
but the regular troops as a rule piled
theirs up ard left man to guard them.
Gen Shafter explained that he sent
to Secretary Alger telegram replying
to the Davis criticisms. AS to refrig-
Grated beef he had heard one COM
plant about it's spelling before arrival
at the camp of the regiment that made
the complaint. He remarked that he
had issued orders that refrigerated
beef should be unloaded about 2 o'clock =
in the morning. Gen. Shafter said the
refrigerated beef was entirely salts
factory all the time. He had taken
particular notice of the refrigerated
beef and each day drove by the deck
where it was unloaded. He had heard
of but one complaint about it, and at
no time suspected that it had been
treated.
1T attributed the sickness entirely to
exposure, the exertions of an active
and the climate" replied
Gen. Shafter to a question.
did you attribute any sickness to an
of food?"
ct did not"
Gen. Shafter did not recall any con-
heT6ICe With NTeH Miles OH the question
of the food supply prior to the sailing
Of the expedition.
Major Lee asked: General, will you
state If your expedition was fully sup
piled with a meat supply that you now
regard as sufficient and wholesome?"
"It was" replied Gen. Shafter.
On discrimination Gen. Shafter
said he recalled that some one came
to him about July and complained
that some regiment was without food,
and that the men were paying a dollar
apiece for bareback. This, on investi-
cation, was found to be untrue. AS to
reports on the rations, Gen. Shafter
said:
1T know of a report forwarded by Col
Roosevelt, in which something was said
about the food supply. I won't say
what the report was, because 1t Just
passed through my hands. The emer-
yency was passed, and nothing could be
lone to rectify It,"
Major Lee read extracts from Col.
reports. in which COM
plant was made of the lack Of food.
eff they didn't have rations it was
heir own fault. If they didn't carry
heir rations with them they didn't
lave rations simply through their own
replied Gen. Shafter.
Major Lee continued to read where