Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1899-03-25

court or inquiry investigating the
charges of General Miles that the beef
furnished the soldiers in the Cuban and
Puerto Rican campaigns was unfit for
use, convened in this city today.
Major Lee said that he believed that
Governor Roosevelt would be the only
witness heard here. The ceurt is ex-
pected to adjourn to Governors Island
to hear the testimony of the officers OF
the Thirteenth infantry stationed
there.
ROOSEVELT SWORN.
when was the first complaint you
heardof rations ?" asked Col. Davis.
swell, it was aboard the ship Tampa
/ saw man named Ash, from Ken
lucky. throwing away q can of So
called roast beef, / asked what was
the matter. He said he could not eat
it, Itold him net to be baby, that he
did not volunteer for good time and
ought to be able to take what came. /
thought no more of the matter until |
heard complaints being made on all
sides. Then made inquiries, and was
told that TOAST beef was part of the
regular rations, and all volunteers were
complaining. | spoke to Col. Wood
about it. / sampled mouthful or two
myself, but could not eat It,"
Roosevelt spoke Of the issue of ra-
tions in Cuba, and said although he did
not like canned beef, and his men
would not eat it, he never heard any
one say it was an "unfit ration"
.What did the meat look like p asked
COL Davis.
when the cans were opened there
was covering of slime. Twas unat-
tractive and the meat was stringy and
did not agree with men who ate it,"
'C0uld you not eat it when served
with onions and potatoes'?"
Il think at that time 1 could b ave
eaten my hat, If | could have had onions
and potatoes. The men would have
eaten anything with fresh vegetables.
They stewed the meat with nangoes
and ate 1T. Some Of the men seemed to
eat the meat without difficulty or dis
tress, but it was not suitable for sick or
half sick men,"
when did you begin receiving re-
frigerated beef ?r asked Davis.
About July %, when ashore about q
month"
: "Were the supplies regularsn
sometimes we received them about
noon.'
"What was their condition when you
received them?"
"Their condition, as arule, was good"
what was the proportion that was
bad ?" st
81 can't exactly say, but I doubt if
there were more than two or three
issues when large proportion was
bad"
Had you reason to believe that the
refrigerated Eeef was treated with
chemicals before you received it?"
II never thought about 1t until l re-
turned home"
"Did yeu hear any complaint?.
swell, heard some OF the officers
and men thought there were something
wrong with the meat, but have known
meat, il kept for few days on hunt
ing trip, to have like effect. None of
us were in good health. and it took less
to upset US than it would at any other
time"
aDidveu attribute their ilE health to
rations"
IL O CCi JdlH OAbCut, oUBpOncg yOb.
"What was given men on the voyage
home as ratiUn?n
Scanned roast beef
"To what extent was it acceptable ~
"Twas utterly and hopeleesIy unac-
ceptable."
"Was any Of 1t eaten?"
"Some was, but 1t could not be eaten
by the half sick, and the well men did
not like it."
evil you tell us" asked Lee, s'what.
in your opinion, is the value Of canned
roast beef as issued at Cuba and else
where as an army ration"
Il wish to say, unhesitatingly, that 1t
was utterly unfit, and an unwholesome
food for troops. My experience proves,
beyond a shadow of doubt, that at its
best canned roast beef was unpalatable
and at its worst 1t was uneatable and
unwholesome."
The court adjourned to inset ct Gov.
ernors Island.