Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-13
GENERAL WOOD HEARD
Gave His War Impressions to the
Commission.
MEAT GIVEN TIE ARMY ALL RIGHT
Hardships No Greater Than Were
to Be Expected,
WOULD REPEAT EXPERIENCE

The first witness before the war investi-
cation commission this morning was Gen.
Leonard Wood. the military governor OF
Santiago. The acting chairman. Gen.
DENLY, stated to him at the outset that as
he no doubt understood, the object of the
commission was to make an inquiry into
the conduct of the war with Spain and that
he might proceed without questioning and
make a general statement on that topic.
In response to this invitation Gen. Wood
began by saying that he did not believe
there was officer or man in his COM
mand who would not be ready to join a
similar expedition to that which was sent
to Cuba last summer without any special
dreadful recollection of the past campaign.
Personally he had suffered far greater
hardships in Indian campaigns in the west
than he had in Cuba. In regard to the
sickness, if he had been called on to speak
on this matter last August he would have
given a different account than he would
now, owing to his experience since that
time in Cuba.
Suffered From Malaria.
He said that all the non-ipmune regi-
ments in Cuba suffered from malaria since
the war, and he did not believe that any
amount of precautions or preparation
would have made any difference in the
number of cases of sickness, although, of
course the facilities for caring for the sick
are now superior to that which was the
case during the war, as there are now
buildings used for hospital purposes
AS a whole he said, considering the re-
suits gained by the war and the conditions
under which it was undertaken, the great
hn /,
that the hardships suffered by the army
and the loss of life was comparatively
slight.
He went on TO speak in the same strain of
what had been accomplished and the short
ness of the time in which it had been done.
and said that the very celebrity of the mill
tary action had a demoralizing effect on
the energy and contributed largely to the
success of our arms.
Refrigerated Beef.
Then he had something to say about re-
frigerated beef. He said that there had
been no trouble with meat furnished the
army il Cuba. He had used it in his own
mess, and now he used it in his family, and
he could say nothing more than that
He added that there seemed to be a pop
ular impression that there was a lack of
foodain Santiago when that city fell This.
he said, was a mistake. as there was an
abundance of food in the city. except meat
He was asked about the meat condemnei
by 4 board of survey of which he was a
member He said that the defect in this
beef was due to the fact that a portion of
Ihe refrigeratins apparatus in the vessel
mad broken down. But even this beef was
not bad. There was mold on il. and when
some of it was refused by one of the reg
1mentS they concluded not to force the
matter and they allowed the meat to be
condemned. 1t was, however, good meat
below the mold. but as the soldiers did not
know that there was naturally a prejudice
against it. He said that ne never heard or
saw what is called chemically prepared
beef.
Confusion ut Tampa.
When asked i'll regard to the situation in
Tampa when the troops were embarking
for Cuba. he said, of course there was con-
fusion incident to such a great movement
but he did not feel justified in criticising
those in charge, he did not know all
the circumstances. He did not believe the
hardships or the mishaps were greater in
extent or in number than might be natur-
ally expected
He went on to say, in reply to questions,
that 1t was a hard campaign in a deadly
climate but he thought there was no real
cause tor complaint about the doctors. His
experience had been that the doctors work
ed with unfailing energy and devotion to
the sick. OF course. he said. there We're
cases where perhaps the doctors did not
come as promptly or as frequently as the
patients thought was necessary or as was
really necessary. but these were the excep-
lions.
Perhaps it was a good thing" remarked
Capt. Howell, that the soldiers did not get
any more medicine"
II never take medicine myself was the
calm reply of the witness, which elected
much laughter.
As to transports, the witness said that
they We're clean and in good condition
He explained that he did not seize the
Iucatan at Tampa for the use of his regi-
ment. but took possession by order of the
commanding general. in conclusion he
said that he had no personal complaint
and that under the circumstances every
thing had been eminently successful.
Upon the conclusion of his testimony
General Wood chatted for few moments
with members of the commission, and then
withdrew. Colonel ]. j. McCook and the
wife of General McCook of the commission,
who were present as visitors, also left the
room
Mai. Ruthers' Testimony.
The next witness was Major Gen W. Ru-
theirs, commissary of subsistence, who was
depot commissary at Jacksonville and other
places and he testified in regard to the con-
ditlon of the beef furnished the army He
said that the quality of the meat was as
good as could be expected, and like all the
food SUPPLIES, the aim was to get the
best quality.
Mr.. Roderick Scott of Omaha. Neb.. the
representative of the Cudahy Packing Com
pany, gave an account of the meth
DDS followed in preparing the meat for
market ana the inspection by government
inspectors. He denied that any chemical Is
were used in any form or shape.
Never Heard of Chemically Prepnred
Beef
Major James NJ. Arrasmith, who was
depot commissary at Chckamauga, stated
that he had never heard of chemically pre-
pared beef used in the army until Col. Mans
of the major generals staff spoke to him