New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-22


On sen,en,her showed that II had given practically
no satisfaction either in soup or when eaten from
the can He had never heard OF It's pcihg ISSUE"
before tho Spanish war He supposed II was III
tended TO be from the can since II was issue
as a travel ration. 80.
I, lie du;v 10 make report had It not been called
for by the Department. as he was not dlrectiy III
contact with his regiment when the most dlssauS-
faction was alleged 10 have existed. hepyihg 10
Colonel Davis he said ne had had no suspicion
while using either the canned or refrigerated beer
that Il had been treated with chemicals. In
general way n said hc shotd have chosen beer
on tho hoof in preference 10 refrigerated beer Il
he had the choice. AS there was no option AT the
time he had not thought particularly about the
question.
LIEUTENANT COLONEL V1ELEs EXPERT
ENCE.
Iieutenant-Colonel Charles D. viele. OF the lst
Cavalry. another OF the Regular Army officers who
had been through the Santiago campaign followed
with a long recital OF his experience with canned
roast beef.
Colonel Davls-what did you have. as a meat
ration going down on the transport! Nl'hesS-
i Colonel Davls~What did you have in cuba? Wit
ness-Cannei roast beef except for a few Gays be,
fore leaving for home, when we had refrigerated
ports Gs0t Coming home? witness-Canned roast beef
Colonel Davis-What satisfaction ana IL give
Colonel Davis-What complaints were made TO
YOU as TO this beef? Witness-Thcro were no COM
pnG he nmgle took %is no and said nothing
Colonel Davis-They did use It. them witness
took IT, saw a great deal OF It thrown overheard.
Colonel Davis-What did you do toward getting
There was nothing to do There was nothing else
Colonel Davis-Have you made any reports on
this subject? Witnessr-Yes. l have made three re-
Colonel Davis-But why was It you made no Off
cial representations this subject while you were
long time there was not a sheet Of paper In my
command.
Lieutenant Colonel Nele said that he did take up
the subject Of beef after the command got back to
Montauk and out a circular letter 10 his troop
commanders asking for reports. This was before
he received official notice from the War Depart
ment that report this subject would be want
ed. What refrigerated beef his command received
in Santiago seemed 10 be good He only remem-
bered one issue which was tainted. He received no
complaints about It from tho men.
Did you have reason 10 suspect while you
were at Santiago that the refrigerated beef had
been treated with chemicals?' asked Colonel Davis.
y had never heard Of such a thing at the time"
was the reply. "and such explanation di not
occur n me"
Did you cat any NJ tho refrigerated meat your
self?'
"Once; that was enough for me"
The witness explained that the beef had CLOSE,
musty smell though n had been shut up in
close room" and It turned him against tho meat
so he took bacon in preference. He was in good
health Al the time hut many ~ his men were
sick
Replying to Colonel Gillespie he said he had no
reason believe the other officers in his mess did
not use the meat He said the refrigerated beef
at Santiago had a yellow appearance on the out
side that he had never noticed the refrigerated
beef formerly furnished at Fort Riley Kansas.
where he was stationed. When he ate # at San
tiaco he was inclined 70 nausea. Referring 10 the
canned roast beef, lie said it seemed 70 be Of
scraps. and the men would not eat A.
In answer to a request from Colonel Davis FOR
his opinion as 10 the compare tive desirabi.lty OF
beef on the hoof and refrigerated beef he thought
the former would have been preferable because the
cattle could have been driven 10 the camps
slaughtered. issued and cooked Hc said he had
suggested this. because cattle were near and
the troops were a long way from the place where
cattle could he secured. Cattle the Loof could
have been used between the time OF landing and
the surrender while the men were employed I'm the
siege by being driven close the front and there
delivered in packs.
GENERAL HAWKINS HAS LITTLE TO TELL.
Brgadier-G General II. s. Hawkins was next called.
Al tho outbreak OF the he colonel Of the
both Infantry but made brigader general while
in Mobile in May. and he finally commanded a bril-
gade IN the First Division OF the Fifth Corps sail
/ ing on June 13 for Santiago
lie told the story Of the journey, debarkaton and
| fight in which he wounded. when he left his
| command He said complaints against canned
! roast and canned corned beef were flied the
transport He heard no complaints after landing
and knew little OF the beef question. Ills brigade
included the 9th and 18th Infantry regiments and
| the list New-York
| aptain j. ". Duncan, OF the 2lst Infantry was
next examined. His regiment was at Tampa from
! April p until about June % when It sailed for
! Cuba He reviewed the course OF his regiment Il
started for Montauk August Il or T. Canned roast
beef. according 10 his recollection issued a
| travel ration at Tampa for the ocean trip and at
Slboney a component Of the fresh-meat ration.
IT replaced about July % by refrigerated beef.
and issued a travel ration on the homo voy-
age. II did no. he said. give general satisfaction.
! the men generally complaining lie saw much OF Il
| opened. and It appeared coarse and unscasonod,
tasted fiat in long strips. and the grease. cor
| whatever II was" IN globules. Apparently fl
was preserved well. Complaints brought to him. he
| said that the beef was repucnant and un-
palatabe. II was first eaten out Of the can. and
afterward cooked in the form Of stew in tomato
cans and camp kettles. and in this latter form was
more satisfactory. lie heard no complaints on the
return trip.
Referring to refrigerated beef Captain Duncan
said il was very satisfactory he ate H. no diff
ference between it and beef issued at stations in
this country. and never suspected its treatment
with chemicals
COULD NOT EAT CANNED ROAST BEEF
Captain William y. Hughes. 18th Infantry, was
with his command during IFS stay at Tampa and IA
the Santiago campaign until July H. when ne was
stricken with yellow fever Canned roast beet he
said, was first used after the landing. and COM
plants followed at once. He attempted personally
he said, 20 use II. but found II unpaaable. r. nd
not satisfy hunger, and he could not IT, Such
was the experience generally OF the men. II was
strlngy and without nuttitive value. lie said b.,
! never saw canned roast beef before going 10 Cuba
al al
on October II NJ made q report the ratiOne IN
response 10 the call OF his rcgimental COMMANDER
but. replying 10 question. he said he would not
have felt called upon TO make any report had h,
not been requested.
Captain William Ennis. >4th Artillery was with
the Shafter expedition. and remained az SantaCo
until August II. He said the canned roast beet
was used on tho transport and more less
throughout the stay OF his command in Cuba
None Of the men complained while there. but per
be u - n ~ -