The record-union., 1899-02-22
Tie Court Of inquiry Continues the
Hearing Of Testimony
lRelatIon TO the Charges Recently Made
BY Major General Miles.
Officers Condemn Practically With
ont Exception the Canned Roast
Beef Furnished as a Travel RAJ
tion, Declaring 1t Unpalatable
and Wanting in Nutriment.


and Wanting in Nutriment-
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.-The court
of inquiry engaged in Investigating the
beef charges preferred by General
Miles continued to-day, the hearing or
testimony bearing on the controversy
A number of army officers who partici-
pated in the Santiago campaign were
heard. Practically without exception,
the officers condemned the canned roast
\ beef furnished as a travel ration, ana
j reviewed complaints about it which the
men very generally made, declaring IL
unpalatable and wanting in lutrlnent.
On the other hand, the refrigerated
beef suffered but little at the hands OF
to-day's witnesses, it being generally
conceded that it was good when dellv-
cred from the transports, and when 1t
escaped the decomposing effect of the
tropical sun en- route to the several
commands it was found to be satisfac-
tory. Difficulty in preventing faint be-
fore cooking was experienced gener-
ally. There was very little in to day 8
testimony pointing to the use of chem
ieals on this beef.
The contention of General Miles that
Lie tIllly III SuDd diid L "a " AsANo
should have been supplied with herds
of cattle, or beef on the hoof. instead of
refrigerated beet, was supported by
every witness who to-day gave his
opinion upon this question.
A feature Of to-day's examinations
was the general assertion of witnesses
that they would not have felt it due to
themselves or the men to have made
any special report upon the beef mad
it not been for the special orders call
ing for such reports, but rather would
have permitted the unsatisfactory ra-
ton to pass without further notice, as
an incident to- warfare and to the pecu-
liarly trying conditions with which the
army was confronted at the outbreak
of the war.
A number of officers testified to the
belief that a very small proportion OF
sickness in Cuba was due to the beef
or unwholesome rations, but rather TO
the climate.
TESTIMONY AT Yesterdays
SESSION OF THE COURT.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 21-The sss-.
sion of the Miles court of inquiry began
to-day with Colonel William H. Powell
Of the Seventh Infantry, who was sta
toned at Madison Barracks at the out
break of the war, on the stand. He SAID
that he started for Tampa April 18th
with a months rations and did not
come in contact with the food from
the Commissary Department at Tampa
until about ready to start for Cuba 'fhe
regiment went through the Santiago
campaign. and after the city was cap
tured and the regiment quartered in
the city he received requests from his
= rfr 10
investigated the so-called canned roast
beef and had some of it served at his
own table. =,
II could not eat it" he continued. 1t
was a stringy, unwholesome looking
mass more like seaweed than anything
else 1 can think of. The men were sick
and debilitated and could not keep it
on their stomachs. We had at that
time 152 sick Soon after that the
fresh beef began to arrive and the men
ate readily and began to pick up in
health. Afterward we were moved out
of camp near the San Juan battlefield.
Here much of our meats spoiled before
We could get it,
Colonel Davis inquired If ANY other
complaints had been received?
II would like to emphasize" said
Colonel Powell that the enlisted men
of the army are not in the habit OF
complaining. They seem to feel in
campaign. that the officers are doing all
that can be done for them, and can't
say that received anything that could
be termed complaints. The officers dis
cussed the matter freely and the quail
ity of the canned beef was a matter OF
common talk"
Regarding the refrigerated beef, Col
onel Powell said there was little to be
said against it, except that some or ii
spoiled before it was received. There
were no facilities for cooking while in
the city, except a fire in the gutter. and
all food had TO be boiled The regiment
worked very hard while in the city,
eighty mine being on guard duty daily.
Some of these were so sick that they
fell down at their posts, and had to be
brought in.
Witness thought the men would be
better off in the country, and he di-
rected his energies toward getting them
out of town, rather than reporting on
the quality of the rations. He had tried
to get better qualities, but failed, and
tried to get medical assistance to help
his own contract surgeon, but this
failed also.
"You made no official report at that
time. then?" said Colonel Davis. nor
any effort to ameliorate the condition
of the men as to their meat rations?"
mo. sir; made no official report un-
iii after returning to the States. when
was ordered by the War Department
70 report on the canned roast beef
Eyes, / understand"
Colonel Davis then produced report
from witness made from Governors
1sIand September Goth, in which he
condemned the canned roast beef say
,ng e produced disorders Of the stom-
oh Colonel Powell said he had made
s,,at report on an order from the Adj
iatant Generals office. and that it was
based on personal knowledge and re-
,,arts, from his company commanders.
= r,,loner Powell concluded by review
I'D the decrease in sickness after the
,ss,,e Of fresh beef and removal Of the
aaron to the hills. After replying to a
ss,astion. he said he attributed the sick
~ more to hygienic causes than to
~ food. His command was overwosk-