The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-08

manding officers and their commissaries
and quartermasters. but the testimony
Is not so definite or specific as TO warrant
the naming by the court of any par
ticular officer"
The court is OF the opinion that the
canned roast beef was not suitable as
travel ration on transport, considering
the absence OF cooking facilities and the
absence from that ration of fresh vege-
tables and condiments. For use on
shore as a food ration. where the COM
panies had their camp cooking equip
ment and vegetables were available,
canned roast beef is suitable for Issue.
say two days i'm 10, but not for two days
in succession. In some organizations 1t
seems 10 have constituted at least one
half OF the meat ration and until after
the surrender the troops had no means
for other cooking than was practicable
with the individual kit carried. For
such extensive use, or any use. exceeding
one day in five, the court finds this beef
unsuitable.
1.-The refrigerated beef is. in the opin-
ion OF the court suitable ration for
troops when IL can oe issued to them In
good condition" AS TO whether any,
thing better than the beef was available.
for a ration the opinion is:
First. that on the transport the re-
lance on canned fresh and canned
eorned beef was wise, but that the
canned fresh beef was less desirable than
the corred beef
Second. that while bacon is not re-
garded as a suitable constant food in
campaign for troops serving in the
tropics. combined with the vegetables
that were available, II would have been
more suitable and fit 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 Sc
cured convenient harbors and landing
facilities, was wise and desirable. The
eourt believes that there was no better
food available or practicable The opin-
Ion is expressed that IL would have been
impracticable to land beef cattle on the
hcof in Cuba"
Replying to this direction the court
says: TIC c0urt fnds mat at me out
break OF hostilities in April 1898. the
packers OF canned beef were engaged
standard quality. well known 20 the
trade and the subsistence department
under the name of canned roast beef.
The methods of packing then in use were
the same as those habitually employed
In the preparation of the meat as an
article of commerce, and the court does
not find that they underwent any change
during the progress OF the war. The
large purchases for the use of the mil
ltary forces, during the months OF May
and June. 1898, were made by the order
and upon the initiative of the COM
missary general of subsistence. such
purchases being made in every case by
officers of his department in the usual
manner"
1t further says: THAT the canned beef
was described as fresh because il was
not salted. but that the meat was not odd
or stale that the refrigerated beef fur
nished the army was not doctored or
treated with any other agency than cold
air; that the meat purchased for the
army was the meat of commerce; that
both knds-refrigerated and canned
were such as are well known in both
hemispheres as commercial articles, OF
which there ia and has been very large
consumption not only by the trade gen.
orally, but by the United States navy
and by the armies and navies OF Europe;
that no reports of unfitness or insult
ability OF the beef sent from the United
States were forwarded TO the war de-
partment by any general officer serving
In Cuba or Porto Rico while the field
operations were In progress. nor were
raoafxsnI
than one month after hostilities ceased;
that barring some defects in methods
Of inspecting the beef on its delivery TO
the subsistence department. the de-
terioration of the meat in shipment was
due to the fault OF no one"
Several pages OF the report are devoted
10 the consideration of the allegation
made by General Miles that the refrig-
Grated beef was treated with preserva-
tives. but the statement Is made upon
the threshold OF this question that but
little testimony was submitted by him
In support OF this contention. The in
ference drawn by the court from the abb
eence OF such testimony Is adverse to
the existence OF the practice alleged to
prevail by the major general command
ing"
A chapter OF the report is devoted to
the consideration OF the cause OF the
sickness In the army In the Santiago
campaign, but the court finds IL i'm
possible conclude that either the
canned fresh beef or the refrigerated
beef appeared 20 any appreciable ex-
tent as causes OF intestinal disease"
Speaking OF the ration as a whole, the
sourt says:
"As TO the effects OF ~ food supply,
having regard TO both sufticiency and
quality. Il seems to be clearly estab-
lished that the army ration as supplied.
without modification, TO the troops serv-
ing In the West Indies was by no means
well adaspted Tor use In tropical cli-
mate II this be true. the unftness OF
the ration should have manifested tt
self by its failure 10 keep tho troops, who
subsisted upon IL. In the best possible
condition for service in hot climates.
Shis. In the opinion OK tho court, Is fully
established in evidence. The insult
ncency o: the food supply in Cuba and