Hutchinson gazette., 1899-02-23

was dlfferent from that during the
war. Now there were ice machines
on shore Then there was not Ice
enough for the hospitals,
Recurring to the eXpediency OF feed
ing the troops hoof beef In Porto Rico,
General Miles said he was much in
favor OF Il, lie said native beef killed
at night could be very well fed the
men next day.
"Do\ you think" continued Colonel
Davis, "lhat the native beef would
keep as well as the refrigerated beef
IN the absence OF cooling apparatus on
shoreW IL
II am quite sure W would, unlebs the
refrigerated beef was chemically
treated with preservatiyes, II II was
treated so as TO keep for seventy-two
hourse after coming out OF the cool
ers, OF course II had the advantage OF
the native beef--so far as keeping
goes"
Asked how long he was In Porto
Rico before he advised the department
against sending more refrigerator
beef, General Miles said he had learn
ed OF the large supply of\native cattle
soon after landing and advised the
war department. the next day after
getting ashore.
Referring TO the canned roast beef
us distinguished from the refrigerator
beef, Colonel Davis read a portion OF
General Miles war commission tesli-
mony condemning II In severe terms
General Miles said the canned roast
beef was issued to volunteer and reg
ular troops alike on the transports
and in Cuba til the arrival Of the re-
frigerator beef.
II was fully tested by both the reg,
ulars and volunteers, The hrst com
plants OF IT. General Miles said, he
had heard at Tampa from some OF the
rough riders from San Antonio, but
he paid little attention to IT at the
time, not realizing fully that here had
been any change in the standard ra-
tion.t ne again heard Of II aboard the
Yale, when the men declared they
could not eat II and he ordered the
inspector to inquire into 1t. Again he
heard OF 1t in the trenches at Santl'
ago, but he was still largely occupied
with the campaign and he thought
nothing more OF the complaints than
he would Of hearing that some man
was kicking about his coffee or his
hardtack,
What finally drew his attention Sc
riously to the matter was the reports
OF officers that the whole Fift corps
was weak aud prostrated. This was
In August, when the question OF o pa,
rade through New York was broach'
ed. General Bates at the time report
ed that only about one-fifth of the
men at Montault Point were in CON
dition to march through New York
General Miles said this seemed to him
remarkable, as there was no yellow
fever at the, Point and he thought the
men certainly ought to be over their
malaria. He therefore ordered an in
quiry into the beef about which there
had been so much complaint.
"Did YOU report this matter at The
time TO the commissary generals Of
fice?" asked Colonel Davis.
General Miles leaned forward, draw
ing his brows to a furrow, and re-
piled, forcefully: IL am not required,
sir, to report to the commissary gen
eral."
well, did you report 1t to the sec
retary Of ware" asked Colonel Davis
General Miles in reply went to some
length in an explanation OF the route
OF army headquarters, showing why
he preferred to conclude his inquiry
so that he might have something tan
gi'ble to present to the secretary
Colonel Davis put number OF ques-
tionls as ITO why the commanding gem
eral delayed definite action an The
beef matter, nnd General Miles re-
sponded thaTt he haId delayed because
he did not want Ito act until he had
secured the very best authority,
which was information from the most
Reliable sources. INinally he issued his
order Ito officers to report ON the quail
ity of beef Diminished. He did mot re-
polit directly to the secretary OF war
because trnIler rule OF 1890 the order
should go from the adjutant general
TO the secretary.
GIis ATTACKS upon the CANNED and re-
frigeHalted beef before the war com
mission were then taken up specific
ally, Colonel Davis reading the testl-
mony of the commanding general,
which referred ITO "embalmed beef"
end said dt Ihlad been senIt as "a pre-
tense of experiment"
General Miles was asked IL he knew
wthem THE war began that canned
roast beef was "a part of the ARMY ra-
tion. This question brought out a
partial explanation Of his using the
phrase "a prebense OF experiment"
He said he did mot know tlhiat canned
roalst beef was "a part OF the army ma
Hlon, Though i'm 1888 an order had
been issued including CANNED coruied,
or fresh beef. He did not understand
the CANNED Ibeef now in question was
meant. When his attention was final
ly iattracted ito the CANNED roast beef
recently issued, he assumed, he de-
clared, THAT it was being issued as AN
experiment., since Dit was not Under
stood by 1iim thIaE CANNED roast beef
was a part of the regular ratiOn.
Continuing lthis explanation in an-
swer ltO Colonel Davis, General Miles
said he Thought his rse of "pretense
uf experiment." was unfortunate and
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