Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-24

troops for the Philippines. Canned roast
beef was sent and no comp aiDts have ever
been received about it. He had tried to
make contracts with parties il London and
San Francisco. but believes that they tried
TO take advantage Of the government.
They wanted Ia cents pound and $500
q day while a vessel waited at Manila as
charging a cargo of beef. He telegraphed
the American consuls in Australia, and the
best Australian frozen beef was delivered
at Manila at cents a pound, with 500 a
day ship charges while delivering. No NUT
ton sent. A large refrigerating plant
is now being erected at Manila by the gov
eminent. in order to avoid the payment of
ship charges, it being the plan to continue
the use of Australian beef.
Eject of the SUNS Heat.
II would like to say in regard to the
timed roast beef said Gen. Eagan, that
when It was kept in the holds of vessels or
exposed to the tropical sun the effect was
like that on the best canned beef exposed
to the sun in Arizona. 1t remains good,
but becomes thoroughly repulsive in APP
pearance.''
Responding to Gen. Davis, the witness
said that many years ago the canned roast
beef had been tested and found satisfac-
tory for introduction into the army ration
in 1883.
He never expected that it would be used
by the men without salt and pepper which
form an important part of every ration.
He did not think tire beef would be palat-
able without these condiments and vege-
tables. 1t was only to be eaten from the
can in emergencies.
Reef on the Panama.
Referring to the beef on the Panama, the
ship on which Dr. DAILY brought sick and
convalescent soldiers to this country, Gen.
Eagan said he did not think it re-
frigerated beef. but instead was native
beef. The Panama was not a refrigerator
ship and he understood there had been
very little ice it, When canned roast
beef was brought into use as meat ra-
ton, he said, the advice of the major gen
eral commanding the army was not asked.
Gen. Shafter vas not consulted. He did
rot think there had been an opportunity to
consult either of than. He did not think
il right to burden commanding officers with
details which the commissary department
was supposed to know more about. Gen.
Miles did not he said, ask to consult or
confer with the commissary department.
Gen. Young Ate the Refrigerated Beef.
Maj. Gen. S. 3. NJ. Young. L. s. V. COM
manding the I'd Army Corps. big, heavy
browed. kindly looking and courteous man.
beyond the borders of middle age, was next
witness. He said that in Cuba he and his
men ate the refrigerated beef. and he never
heard any complaints about it. On the voy-
age from Tampa canned roast and canned
cOrned beef were the meat ration. and he
had not heard complaints Of the roast beef
On the contrary, he understood it was
rather good.
He used it in his mess as hash and he
and his officers liked it, The only unfavor-
able comment he heard was that when eat
en- out of the can it lacked seasoning. Prior
to the war he had never heard of it. In
the early Indian campaigns, he said, buffa
10 were killed to supply fresh meat to the
soldiers. In one instance only had cattle
been driven along, and this was unSucceSs-
full, as they stampeded-
Mai. Bowman Heard No Complaint.
Maj. a. Fl. Bo,, 1900. If the ID Infantry, the
next witness said that the fresh meat al
Tampa was good. On the way to Cuba the
men ate canned roast beef four days and
canned corned beef three days He heard
complaint. After landing, the canned
roast beef was issued and the men so COM
planned that they were tired OF it. 1t ap-
peared to him to have been boiled and the
nutriment extracted. Other commands COM
planned, he heard that il was unsatisfac-
tory and unpalatable. The men accepted it
as the best then Obtainable. Years ago,
when at Fort Mojave, Ariz. one of the hot
test posts in the country, he had tested
canned roast beef. and. he believed, report
ed adversely. He said the refrigerated beef
issued at Santiago was only fair His COM
mand was several miles from the city and
the meat was much exposed in being sent
to him. He thought the sickness was due to
the hardships of the campaign The sur
gcOu of the regiment did not attribute it
TO the canned roast beef.
Mai. Arrowsmith Testifies.
Mai. J. VI. Arrowsmith of the commits
sary department. prior TO the war captain
Of the Sd Infantry. was the next occupant
Of the chair In the course of his duties
he had issued good deal of refrigerated
beef. Some Of il returned with inquiry
as to whether or not it was bad. An in
vestigatio1 had been made and the meat
was found TO have changed color upon be-
ing exposed 10 heat; otherwise it was good.
Generally speaking. the meat was sstisfac
tory TO the soldiers. He sold 2O0 pounds
Of canned roast beef to officers and men
at Camp Thomas and not one can was re-
turned. Some of the reSimental commits
sary officers were inexperienced in drawing
rations, and some called for their meat
with unclean wagons This practice was
stopped soon He never heard of the meat
having been chemically treated, as alleged.
until September last, and he regarded it
ridiculous He never lost pound from
the hundreds of thousands Of pounds he has
issued.
Capt. Ripley Tells About Experiments.
Capt. Henry l. Ripley of the Sd Cavalry.
calle1 next. testified concerning the ex-
perimenss with beef at Tampa by order of
the comm issary general The frozen beef
sent him thawad In transit, and was in had
condition. 1t was ra-iced. but not thorough
Iy frozen. II decdyad very quickly. The
refrigerated beef stood the test better. He
sdld the tests OF cSiiHeu roast Deer showed
that as stew or hash il made a vary pal
atable dish Even when eaten cold from
the can II was not altogether unpalatable.
On the voyage 10 Cuba and while there ne
heard no complaint against il.
He said the meat proved almost tasteless
= The men soon tired of it. The refrigerated
beef was entirely satisfactory.
He said he had not thought sickness due
20 the food. but admitted there had been
trregularity in the issue of rations.
Adjourned Until Monday
Judge Advocate Davis announced, after
the witness was excused, that there are TO
more witnesses 1t present, but fifteen 9TH
ers were summoned. and were expected
within day or An adjournment was
ordered until 10 O'clock Monday morning
THE UNION PRINTERS LABEL.