The San Francisco call., 1899-04-08
BEEF CONDEMNED
BY THE OFFICERS
Canned and Fresh Unfit
for RatiOnS.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

WASHINGTON; April THE army
Beef Inquiry Court decided to-day to 'ad-
init as evidence the official reports of
army officers concerning the beef sup
piled to the army during the war with
Spain, as requested by General Miles
The public forenoon session of the court
was only of sufficient duration to permit
the preferment of this request Major
Lee stated that he considered it impor
tant that the matter should be definitely
determined as soon as possible. He also
asked for consideration of General Miles
supplementary request that large num-
Der of additional witnesses be sum-
moned.
1t was learned that all the reports were
brief and that the court in secret session
decided to allow them to be read. There
are lat Of them and they were generally
prepared by their authors after the close
of the campaigns in Cuba and Porto Rico
and in response to circular letter.
With reference TO the application to
have more witnesses called, it is under
stood that the court will adhere to its
determination not to summon any of the
list whose testimony would be merely cor
roborattve of that already given.
At the afternoon session Major Lee read the
reports all of which pertaned to canned beef.
Brigadier General Viele pronounced the can
ned beef "a miserable apology for food"
large number of reports made from
officers Of the First Cavalry among these the
following:
Major James NJ. Bell-It is better than no
beef, but l cannot recommend it as compo
nent of the field ration.
Lieutenant Clough Overton-It is undesir-
able portion of the travel ration
Major w. S. Scott heard no complaint of
the canned roast beef.
Lieutenant c. B. Williams-The beef as an
occasional substitute for bacon was acceptable.
Lieutenant Walter NJ. Whitman-The pro-
longed issue of the beef on the transport was
injurious to the men,
L NJ
of poor quality and said he had found mag
gots cooked with the beef in the cans
Lieutenant H. D. Berkeley-No more unpal-
atable article of food could be issued.
Lieutenant W. c. Rtvers-It an insult
able article of food.
Lieutenant E. S. Wright-It was a distinct
failure.
Lieutenant Colonel w Rafferty, of the Second
Cavalry stated that he agreed with the report
of his commissary officer, who pronounced the
beef non -nutrtive and said the men tired
of II. A large number of offceH in this regi-
ment pronounced a similar verdict.
Major Jackson of the Third Cavalry pro-
nounced the quality of the beef used in can
ming poor. 1t had served very well in hashes
but a separate article of food 1t was nauseat-
ing.
Lieutenant Colonel Carroll of the Sixth Cav
airy said that most of the meat Issued to his
troops the transport had been thrown over
board it made some of the men sick
Captain West of the Sixth Cavalry had pre-
ferred going without meat to eating the canned
beef. 1t made his men sick.
Lieutenant r. b. Paddock-Men would go
hungry rather than eat It,
Captain G.. S. Grimes, Second Artillery-The
meat soft, watery and unsatisfactory to
the men.
Captain Ellis of the Fourth Artillery-It was
stringy and tough and and others found it
palatable.
Captain Walter L. Finley of the Ninth Cav
alry-The beef was tough and devoid of flavor
Captain NJ. G. Hughes, Ninth Cavalry-The