The record-union., 1899-03-21
ARMY RATIONS
WERE NOT GOOD.
The Canned Roast Beef Furnished
Was UnpaIatahIe,
According to Testimony Before the War
Department Court Of Inquiry.
Was Contributory Cause Of Sick
ness Among the Soldiers, and
Unfit for an Army Ration
Critical Reference Also Made to
the Refrigerated Beef.

CHICAGO, March 2O.-The principal
witness on the list to appear before the
Army Court of Inquiry to-day, Dr.
Nicholas Sem, was unable to be in the
city, whereupon the court recessed at
noon until Tomorrow evening, when
DR.. Sem will be heard. During its
short session to-day the court heard
the testimony of four witnesses Ac-
cordlng to their testimony the canned
beef was always unpalatable and dis
tasteful, and in their judgment it was
a contributory cause of sickness among
the soldiers, and unfit for an army ra-
ton. Critical reference to the refriger-
ated beef was also made by the wit
neSSeS.
1t seems probable that the court will
be able to terminate it's Chicago worl.
in time to leave Wednesday evening
for New York.
Ihe greater portion of the witnesses
summoned are those suggested by Ma
lor Lee, the representative of Major
General Miles before the court. His list
INCLUDES seven names, among them that
OF DR. Nicholas Sem. In addition, Lieu
tenant Colonel Davis, Judge Advocate
of the court, has list of several per-
sons whom he purposes calling to tes-
tlfy before the court takes its final de-
parture from Chicago
Tne first witness examined was Col
onel j. D. j. Foster of the Fifth IIli-
nois Infantry. He testified that at
Ponce he drew refrigerator beef once.
When the meat reached camp it was
pronounced bad, and a board of in
quiry condemned it, and it was buried.
He did not try it again. The regiment
was about six miles from the port
Captain Edward J. Demick of the
First Illinois testified that some of the
canned roast beef he saw was spoiled
and Was thrown overheard on the voy-
age to Cuba. After the surrender of
Santiago refrigerator beef was issued
The regiment was about three miles
from port One lot was buried as soon
as unloaded on this and ON one or two
other occasions. He thought the condi-
ton OF the meat was due to failure to
report promptly. About % per cent
had been buried and about % per cent.
of the rest had been cut off and thrown
away. Some of the men thought they
discovered a peculiar odor, but there
We're no suspicious that the meat had
been chemically treated. On the voy-
age nome canned roast beef was issued,
but the men would not touch it
"One day at Santiago" witness said,
Il went into restaurant and met a
gentleman in citizens clothes. who
made himself known to me as Swift s
representative He said he was in
trouble. He just got cargo Of beef in
and the refrigerator plant had stopped
He said he was going to General Shat
ter to get that beef accepted 1 told
him 1 thought poor beef came to our
camp invariably, but he said ii was
not poor beef, simply discolored on the
outside, and by cutting away the dis
colored part the inside would be found
to be perfectly good 1 was in General
WOODS headquarters an hour later and
saw him there waiting for an interview
with General Shafter.' 1 did not learn
whether he succeeded in getting that
beef accepted or not, but 1 understood
from outside parties that they threw
overheard several tons of it ami ac-
cepted the balance"
Major Lee: What effect, if any. did
the canned roast beef have upon the
health of the men?'
The beef nauseated a great many of
the men; l am satisfied that it caused
Giarrhoea also''
Was there any suggestion that it
was best to discontinue the use OF that
meat?"
No, sir; We made the best of it."
A number of witnesses who had been
summoned We're on hand at 2 O'Clock.
but none were examined, the court
holding no session in the afternoon.