Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-23

came from the men. II seemingly nadseated
them, but he took no aston considering
these complaints unavoi liable incidents OF
the campaign. He understood much OF the
refrigerated beef spoiled en- route from the
docks to the troops because OF the delay
incident to transporting 1t.
Transportation was insuffcient-it had
too much to do" he said.
The canned roast beef was tasteless. he
declared, and often repulsive in appearance
and apparently had all nutriment extracted.
Under the circumstances General Kent said
he did not consider the beef defects de-
manded any special report. He did not at
tribute any of the sickness to want OF or
character of food. General Kent, replying
to General Davis, said beef on the hoof
would have been preferable to refrigerated
beef, but he deemed the live cattle supply
about Santiago insufficient.
Manner OF Purchasing Beef.
Colonel Charles l.. Woodruff, assistant
commissary general and army purchasing
agent and depot commissary at Governors
Island, New York, who was prominent in
army supply purchases. testified that he
bought a total of 81, 256, 900 worth OF sup
plies In the first six months OF the war.
He bought between 500, 900 and 900, 900
pounds of canned roast beef at n cost rang
Ing from liz cents to IA cents per pound,
according to the size of cans. Principal
dealers would bid monthly on 1t and when
he received orders to ship canned beef he
would sample the beef in the market, ac-
cept and order 1t at his discretion. All
contracts contained clauses providing con-
tractors should replace any beef that proved
unfit for use without fault of the army
officials. Each box contained a certificate OF
inspection and approval from an official of
the agricultural department, approving the
cattle on hoof and after slaughter. Most of
the beef was shipped to Tampa.
This entire supply in New York and in
the entire country, together with $50, 900
pounds brought from Europe, where 1t had
been shipped, was exhausted and the fac
tories, Colonel Woodruff understood, were
run night and day to meet the extraordinary
demand.
Witness said he understood canned roast
beef had been brought to the front in the
recent war because of a desire to give the
soldiers something besides salt meat in
their movements in the tropics.
Replying to Colonel Davis query, Colonel
Woodruff said he had been familiar with all
campaigns in the last twenty-five years and
never had beef on the hoof been used as the
fresh meat supply.
InlS was brought out III response 10 Gen-
eral Miles statement to the contrary.
Colonel Woodruff declared that fresh beef
was secured from contractors and re-
frigerated beef is now practically univer-
sally used. The beef brought back from
Europe had been shipped for use in the
French and English armies.
Captain l.. Howell of the Seventh in
fantry said the canned roast beef was not
palatable, but he believed it was nutritious
and IL cooked as a stew would have been
satisfactory. The men generally COM
planned about it. The refrigerated beef was
good when not spoiled and he had not sus-
pected the use Of chemicals.
At the conclusion Of Captain Howell's
testimony a can of roast beef that had been
with the troops at Santiago was opened and
examined by the court, being declared by
Captain Howell similar to that issued dur
ing the campaign.