The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-08
NILES MEN HEARD
Through Their Reports, Which
are Admitted in Evidence.
ALL KINDS OF TESTIMONY
But Mostly Bitterly Condemn
ing the Canned Roast.
ALL KINDS OF TESTIMONY

Washington, April The army beef in
quiry beef shrdlushrdluvcmfwy
quiry court today decided to admit as evil
dence the official reports of army officers
concerning the beef supplied to the army
during the war with Spain, as requested
by General Miles. The decision was reach
ed at an executive session Of the court,
and after the renewal by Major Lee, on
behalf of General Miles, of the request for
action upon the application. The public
forenoon session of the court was only or
sufficient duration to permit the prefer
ment of this request. Major Lee stated
that he considered it important that the
matter should be definitely determined as
soon as possible. He also asked for con-
sideration Of General Miles supplement-
ary request that large number of add
tional witnesses be summoned. 1t was
learned that all the reports were brief
and that the court in secret session decd
ed to allow them to be read. There are
147 of them and they were generally pre-
pared by their authors after the close OF
the campaigns in Cuba and Porto Rico,
and in response to a circular letter. with
reference to the application to have more
witnesses called, 1t is understood that the
court will adhere to its determination not
to summon any of the list whose testi-
mony would be merely corroborative OF
that already given.
At the afternoon session Major Lee read
Of xxbich Y1ertaiOPd m ram
ned beef
Brigadier General Viele pronounced the
canned beef "a miserable apology for
food"
A large number Of reports were made
OF officers in the First cavalry, among
them the following:
Major James NJ. Bell.-It is better than
no beef, but cannot recommend it as
component Of the field ration.
Lieutenant Clough Overton-It is an I'M
desirable part of the travel ration.
Major w. S. cott-I have heard no COM
plant of the canned roast beef.
Lieutenant w. c. Williams-The beef as
an occasional substitute for bacon was
acceptable.
Lieutenant Walter NJ. Whitman-The
port was injurious to the men.
Lieutenant F. NJ. Davis considered the
beef as of poor quality and said he had
found four magots cooked with the beef
in the cans while on the field at Las Qua
iimas.
Lieutenant H. D. Betkeley-No more IN
palatable article of food could be issued
Lieutenant w. c. Rivers-It was an I'M
suitable article of food.
Lieutenant E. w. Wright-It was dis
tinct failure.
Lieutenant Colonel w. A Rafferty,, of
the Second cavalry, stated that he agreed
with the report of his commissary officers,
who pronounced the beef non-nutritive,
and said the men soon tired of it. A large
number of officers in this regiment pro-
nounced similar verdict.
Major Jackson, of the Third cavalry,
pronounced the quality of the beef used
in canning. poor. 1t had served very well
in hash, but as a separate article of food
it was nauseating.
Lieutenant Colonel Carol, Of the Sixth
cavalry, said that most Of the food issued
to his troop on the transport had been
thrown overheard, as it had made some of
the men sick.
Captain F. West, of the Sixth cavalry,
had preferred going without meat to eat
ing the canned beef. 1t made his men
sick.
Lieutenant R. B. Paddock-Men would
go hungry rather than eat 1t.
Captain G. S. Grimes, Second artillery
The meat was soft, watery and unsatis-
factory to the men.
Captin Ellis, Fourth artillery-Tt was
stringy and tough, and I and others found
it unpalatable.
Captain Walter L. Finley, Ninth caval-
ry-The beef was tough and devoid Of
favor.
Captain NJ. G. Hughes Ninth cavalry
The meat became distasteful after a few
days.
Captain Phillip B. Powell, Ninth caval-
ry-Almost wholly devoid Of the flavor of |
beef.
Captain Hutchinson. Ninth cavalry-It |
should be alternated with other meat. |
Had heard OF no bad results from its use.
Lieutenant L NJ. Nancy had found it |
tasteless, and the men would not eat it,
Captain McLaine and Lieutenants Hard |
wick, Barber, Stadtler, Mccormick. Cav |
anaugh White, Lyman and Everett made |
reports very similar to those preceding. |
Lieutenant Barber thought It good, as a |
change. Lieutenant Hamilton pronounced |
it good food.
Captain Albert Cummings. of the Sec |
ond artillery, thought some of the meat |
contained ptomaines and caused a great |
deal of sickness. AS a ration 1t was a |
failure.
Captain H. J. Reilly. Fifth artillery-T; |
was palatable with vegetables. but not |
otherwise desirable.
Coolnel Sinclair, Seventh artiIlery-The |