The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-05-08


ton which would have resulted in the de-
lection of the presence or absence of borac
or salycilic acids or any chemicals that
might have been used as a preservative.
Yet no such precaution as that suggested
was taken by the major general command
ing at that time or any other time, as has
been learned by the court.
The court also finds that so much of the
allegations of the general commanding in
respect to the canned roast beef as relates
to its unsutability for food, as actually
used on the transports and as to Its extern
. sive or long continued use as field ration
are sustained. In the courts opinion none
of the allegations regarding fresh beef are
sustained The evidence shows that Col
onel John f. Weston, assistant commissary
general of subsistence, recommended the
adoption of the canned roast beef as a
component of the field ration, and to this
extent he is responsible.
Eagan Severely Rebuked
The report places the quantity of
canned roast beef purchased for the
war by the commissary department at
6847, 174 pounds, including 100000 pounds
which was brought from Liverpool and
other English ports. This amount is
characterized as excessive, and the
commissary general General Eagan) Is
severely criticized in several parts of
the document on this score. One of the
severest rebukes is as follows:
considering the little use that has
been made of this beef in the regular
army, the probability that the volun-
teers were entirely ignorant of its use
as a part of field ration had never
been sanctioned by the president or
secretary of war the court can but
characterize the action of the commits
sary general of subsistence as unwar-
ranted and reckless In that he ordered
ties of food that was practically untried
and unknown, and the court so finds.
The court finds that there is no ground
for any imputation whatever of any
other actuating motive on the part of
the commissary general than the earn
a est desire to procure the best possible
s food for the troops. The court pro-
nolinees this act of the commissary
= general of subsistence a colossal error
= for which there is no palliation."
$ Fault Rested With High Officers
The court finds that there was neglect in
Cuba to less degree in Porto Rico in de-
livering the refrigerated beef.
: 1.-The court" says the report, docs not
wish to state the case more strongly than
to say that the finding appears to be war;
ranted that too much time was consumed
in distributing this perishable article. The
fault. if any there was, rested with the
brigade and high commanding officers and
their commissaries and quartermasters, but
the testimony is not so definite and specific
as to warrant the naming by the court OF
any particular officers"
They say the refrigerated beef was at
first received with great satisfaction.
There is also criticism of the delay in un-
loading the refrigerating apparatus OF
Swift & Co., at Santiago.
An appeal by the contractors agents to
General Shafter for an order on the quar-
termaster to expedite the delivery from the
TRANSPORT to the refrigerating plant did not
effect any result The delay was the cause
of serious less.
'rhe court Is of the opinion that the
canned roast beef was not suitable as a
travel ration on transports, considering the
absence of cooking facilities and the abb
sence from that ration of fresh vegetables
and condiments. For use on shore as a
field ration, where the companies had their
camp cooking equipment and vegetables
were available, canned roast beef is suita-
BILE for issue, two days in ten days. In
some organizations II seems to have con-
stituted one-half of the meat ration. For
extensive use or any use exceeding one day
in five the court finds that this beef Is un-
suitable"
The refrigerated beef is, in the opinion
of the court, a suitable ration for troops
when it can be issued to them in good con-
dition. AS to whether anything better
than this was available for ration the
opinion Is:
.'"First, that on the transports the re-
lance on canned fresh and canned corned
beef was wise, but that the canned fresh
beef was less desirable than the corned
beef
Second, that while bacon Is not regard
ed as a suitable constant food in campaign
for troops serving In the tropics, combined
with the vegetables that were available 1t
would have been more suitable and Gt
than the unknown and unfamiliar canned
roast beef eaten direct from the can.
Third, that the use of refrigerated beef
on shore after the troops had secured con-
venient harbors and landing facilities was
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