The times., 1899-03-26
MEAT RhTIONS MADE
His SOLDIERS SICK
Governor Roosevelt Before the
Enquiry Board.
Never Heard Canned Beef Spoken
of That 1t Was Not Condemned.
rho Men Did Not Like Its Taste OIL
Its Appearance-He Tried 10 "et
snIt Pork for Them.

New York. March 25.-The Army Court OF
Enquiry appointed for the purpose OF in
vestigating the charges made by General
Miles regarding the beef supplied TO the
army during the recent war met in this
city this morning in the board room on the
eighth floor of the Army Building, in
Whitehall Street. The board consists OF
Mai. Gen. j. F. Wade, President; Brig.
Gen George W. Davis, Col. George L. Gill
lespie. and Col. George B. Davis, who is
Recorder of the Court. Major J. NJ. Lee,
who has been collecting evidence for Cen
eral Miles. was present at the meeting to-
day.
The Court was ordered to convene at IL
O'Clock this morning TO hear the testimony
of Governor Roosevelt Colonel Gillespie
said that a session was held in the Army
Building simply to accommodate the gov
ernor and that after his testimony had
been given the Court would adjourn to
Governors Island to continue its session
there.
The members of the Court were all pres
ent in the board room at 1o:55 o'clock this
morning and exchanged greetings with sew
eral army officers who had entered the
room TO listen TO the testimony. DR.. Frank
Donaldson who was lieutenant and as
sistant surgeon of the Rough Riders, was
present but he said that he had not been
subpoenaed as witness at this session OF
the Court Brigadier General Randolph.
who commanded the artillery brigade be-
fore Santiago. was also in attendance
Governor Roosevelt arrived at 1895
O'Clock and after a short interchange OF
courtesies and introductions, in which the
governor thanked the Court for permitting
him TO save time by testifying in this city
instead OF at Governors Island, he was
sworn by Lieutenant Colonel Davis.
The Governor Takes the stand.
Governor Roosevelt stated that he was
during the war lieutenant colonel, and
later colonel OF the First Regiment of Vol
unteer Cavalry. He said that he COM
mandcd detachment OF the regiment from
San Antonio TO Tampa, and that the meat
ration was canned corned beef. On the
transport from Tampa to Cuba the meat
ration was canned roast beef.
Did you hear any complaints of the
beef" asked Colonel Davis.
Il first noticed trouble when / saw
man, while the transport lay in Tampa
Bay-I think the mans name was Ash
throwing his beef overheard. He was sick,
and told me that the meat had made him
sick. ! made enquiries and heard other
complaints. / told the men that it was
not complaining. were getting, and that
they must make the best of it.
II tasted the meat myself. ] didn't like
its taste. but don't believe it was putrid."
After landing in Cuba, and after the
surrender. what was the meat ration?"
Mostly pork or raw bacon; sometimes
canned roast beef. But found that the
regulars were rejecting it and / could not
eat IL myself
Describe the appearance of the meat
at the time"
''on top was layer of slime. The beef
inside was course. stringy. and fbrous.
In stew. with potatoes and onions, we
could eat 1t. But ! think / could have
eaten anything hot at that time, with po-
tatoes and onions. We tried stewing the
meat with mangoes.
Some men could eat the beef at all
times in any way, but it made most of the
men sick after two or three days. 1t
seemed to give them indigestion. tried
always to get salt pork
Bad and Unfit Ration.
did you hear any complaints?"
Il was surprised when | returned TO
hear that the ration was being a subject
OF controversy. But / never heard the
beef spoken of in Cuba as anything but
bad and unfit ration"
DO you recall any of the brands?"
Il do not l heard one brand spoken
OF as better than the others, but | did
not pay any attention TO the matter"
Were any efforts made TO replace this
rafion?r
When transportation improved / got
refrigerated pork. beef, beans, and other
things My worst trouble was a lack OF
clothes and shoes. The poor facilities for
transportation was what bothered me most
and my report was aimed rather at that
than ai any defect In the rations On the
firing line there was never more than one
days food in advance. After the surren-
der i organized pack and wagon train
OF my own, and went into Santiago When
we got there We found that the boats with
the refrigerated beef had come in. Colonel
Weston gave me some of it | made a
report on September TO- fuller than in
July. on all these things. The report has
not been published, but j understand that
II will be-"
When did you nrst get the refrigerated
beef?"
-'on July 27.. II used often to reach
the camp in the forenoon. Its condition
was. as rule. good when IL reached the
camp. Sometimes the outside was black
and spoiled. The beef seemed good TO u.s."
What proportion was thrown away as
unit.''
II can't tell. Not serious amount. As
= rule IL was al that time all pretty good
Thought Something Wa. Wrong.
did you suspect that the beef had been
! chemically treatedg
F. No; not till after came home It did