The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-31
Sweets That May Remove the
Taste of Bad Beef From
Their Mouths.
ALCER'S VERY LATEST
Army Officers Ridioule the New
Ration Ordered by the Head Of
the War Department.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

NEW YORK, March 3O.-The Wash
ington correspondent of the Herald tele-
graphs: A determined effort is being
made by the commissary department
of the army to make. soldiers forget the
bad beef given to them during the last
year They are to have candy in flu
ture. Perhaps with an idea of sweet
ening the meat this addition to the list
Of soldiers edibles has been decided
upon.
Before the departure of Secretary AL
ger from Washington he approved of
this circular, which was issued to-day:
The Secretary of War authorizes the
following articles to be kept on hand
for sale as staples to officers and en-
listed men, viz:
"ArtiCles-Sundries: Candies.
"Varieties-Those that have good
keeping qualities.
Unit of weight or measure-Pound.
Kinds of unit preferred-One-half
pound"
This circular has occasioned much
comment among officers of long service.
who ridiculed the idea of Juggling candy
along to feed troops engaged in arduous
work
Think of sending candy to men who
are fighting before Malolos," said an
army officer to me to-day. IF some of
the beef is supplied to them it might
have the effect of taking the taste out
of their mouths, but I am afraid 1t
would DE ruinous to their compilations.
I would suggest that a large quantity
of oranges be sent out to Manila, and
stick of lemon candy and an orange be
furnished to each man. The sight of
such dainties would doubtless make the
Filipino mouth water and who knows
but that it might bring about the end
of the rebellion.
4 am afraid, however. that while
stick of candy might suit some of the
enlisted men Of the regulars, the vol
unteers would prefer a higher grade.
Mark my words, the candy circular will
be the subject of legal Interpretation
before it is enforced many months
M&3%E*3+0+0%G *G %0<9%3+G*9
2s).-secretary of the Navy, Washington:
Situation is improving since the telegram
of the 18th. via Sydney, n S. ".
The President has been informed of
the situation and very much regrets
that serious trouble had arisen, but has
requested full information from our
officials in Samoa at the earliest posi-
BILE moment. 1t is learned that the dis
patch of Rear Admiral Kautz, dated
Samoa, March 16, to which he referred
in his cable dated Auckland, gave the
result of his Investigations into the
situation after his arrival. His con-
clusion fully sustained the contention
of the British and American Copsuls
which was in exact accord with the
conclusion already reported by the
British naval commander, Captain
Sturdee, of the Porpoise.
The dispatch of the 18th probably left
Apia on or prior to the 10th instant.
The German Embassy here received
adVices forwarded by the same steamer
to Sydney which reported the arrival
of Rear Admiral Kautz and said that
he called a meeting of the Consuls
aboard the Philadelphia for the 18th.
So far as the text of the dispatch given
out to-day goes absolutely no mention
is made of the result of the meeting
aboard the Philadelphia or any of the
subsequent events reported in the dis
patches Through the advices given 10
the public by the Navy Department it
is only known that Admiral Kautz's
investigation sustained the position
taken by the American and British
Consuls and that the situation since the
date of that report has improved dur
ing the time before the last brief dis
patch received to-day via Auckland
was sent.