The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-14
GENERAL WOODS TESTIMONY.
Quality of the Beef Furnished to His
Men. He Saws. Wns Good.

WASHINGTON, jan 13.-Brigadier Cen
eral Leonard Wood was the star witness be-
fore the war investigating committee to-
day. His testimony bore on the general con-
dtions in the islands and he opened with
the general statement that never in the his
tory of any country had there been so sue
cessful a campaign with so small losses
of life. He praised the quality of the much
talked-of beef furnished the army. and said
that except for some cans that were tainted
and consequently promptly thrown away,
the beef was of a good quality, and he HIM
self had used the meat both in the war
and in his own family.
General Wood thought every man in his
command, if necessary to the government,
would volunteer his services again. No
amount of preparation, in addition to that
which had been made, he said, would have
brought about any difference in the amount
Of sickness among the army of invasion.
The difficulties, he said, in getting food to
the army were almost insurmountable and
the occasion of the shortage was very read
lily accounted for. The roads were almost
impasSa Bile. None of the men should now
have any disagreeable or dreadful recollec-
tons OF the war save such as would result
from any hard service which always goes
with a war. The success of the Cuban cam
paign, said General Wood was simply
phenomenal. The campaign was very rapid
and perhaps the extraordinary success was
due in large measure to this fact. The Span
iardS, he explained were whipped so quick
ly every time that they were almost par
alyZed and dazed. The loss of Santiago,
where the United States forces captured
over 23,OO0 men in all It's territory, was so
complete and rapidly effected that 1t brought
about the surrender of the entire island. AS
to the war generally, he had seen far great
er hardships in his Indian campaigns in the
West than he had in Cuba
AS to the beef, General Wood had never
trouble was the ignorance and superstition
of the men. The average soldier he as
serted, does not regard matured meat with
any favor. As to the refrigerated beef used
during the campaign, he explained that it
was got in tremendously hot weather, the
beef was unloaded in good condition, was
night, owing to the cold air them was got
ashore by daybreak meantime there would
be shower, followed by the sun coming
out IN intense force and by the time It
reached camp it would be about 4 o'clock
in the afternoon. If eaten that night it would
be all right. The United States forces at
Santiago had unlimited rations and the
Spaniards left the city full of food The
popular idea that Santiago was devoid of
food and the Spaniards surrendered because
they were starving, he said, was not true
General Wood said there was no complaint
made of conditions during the campaign
from anybody who amounted to anything;
certainly none from the old soldiers. He
said originally the army was supplied with
enough medical officers but people lost sight
of the fact that medical officers are also
susceptible to malaria, and for a while the
number was deficient but there was no
cause for complaint The army of Cuba now,
he said is pentifully supplied with doctors.
Perhaps" suggested Captain Howell, cit
was well that the men did not take any
too much medicine?"
Il always have made it a practice re-
piled General Wood, who was formerly an
army surgeon, mot to take any myself"
General Wood said that in all Of his serv-
ice he had been absolutely supported by his
superior officers.
Major Geo. w. Ruthers, commissary of
subsistence, testified as to the condition of
the beef furnished the army. He said the
quality of the beef was as good as could
be expected and, like all the food supplies
the aim had been to get the best quality of
everything and practically all the food sup
plies were in good condition.
Major James M. Arrowsmith. depot COM
missary at Chickamauga, testified that there
was nothing bad in the beef supplies and
he had heard no intimation of chemical
treatment until Colonel Maus, of General
Miles S staff, had asked him if he had ever
noticed any indication Of it.
1t is now expected that the taking of tes-
timony, except that of Surgeon DAILY. the
author of the most vigorous reports on
General Miles to the commission, will be
concluded by the middle of next week DIR.
DAILY Is i'll and his testimony will be taken
later. No suggestion has yet been made that
General Miles be recalled as a sequence to
the bitter attack made on him yesterday,
surance was given to-day that the commits
sion will hear him should he ask to be heard.
1t was stated to-day very likely that the
commission will have framed and completed
it's report and concluded its investigation in
about fortnight from next Monday.