The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-02-20
Gave Information 10 Press Men But Not
With View Of Periurlng Anyone.
INTERVIEW THAT WAS NOT CORRECT
Errors In Those In the New York Journal and New
York Hsrald-lstlsr From Man Who
Wrote Tho Latter.


Inquiry to examine into the beef con-
troversy assembled at the Lemon
building shortly after 10 o'clock this
morning, preparatory TO its first formal
session. At 1925 the court, in full dress
uniform, proceeded TO the White House,
where it paid it's respects TO the presi-
dent and then to the war department.
where it called upon Secretary Alger
and Major General Miles. Meantime
representatives of the press who were
accorded places i'm the court room mad
assembled, and on the outside were
many other correspondents and. num-
ber of artists specially detailed 10 at
tend the inquiry.
The court returned at l2:Oo from lts
visits OF courtesy and after two pho
tographers made pictures of the court,
Col. Davis announced readiness 10 pro-
ceed and read the orders conVening the
court and it's Instructions.
Following the reading OF the order,
which has been published already, Col.
Davis read a letter from Adjutant Gen.
Corbin in response TO "a letter tronl
Gen. Wade. president of the court. eX-
planning more specifically the lines
along which the court was expected 10
investigate.
The court was then sworn and Major
General Nelson A. Miles was presented
as the first witness. He appeared In
fatigue uniform and was sworn. AFTER
stating his rank and office, he was ASK
ed about his statement before the war
commission. lie said he made one and
upon Col. Davis submitting printed
report of that statement. Gen. Miles eX-
amined and approved 1t.
Then he was asked about an alleged
interview. which appeared i'm the New
York Journal of December %, whether
it represented completely or in part
what he said.
Gen. Miles read H.
Gen. Miles said: II do not recall any
thing i'm that interview that had not
been given in my testimony or trans
mitted in my reports. You will observe
il contains a number of my declina-
tions to name officers or my authorl-
ties and refusals to answer. 1T must,
therefore, be incorrect in its represen-
tation."
He then commented upon the gen.
eral slight inaccuracy Of newspaper in
terviews owing to the dependency OF
writer's upon their memories. Hardy
q day in six months had passed that an
interviewer had not applied TO him ana
because of the kindness of the press TO
the army. and especially to the enlist
ed men. he had endeavored to give them
such information as he thought wise
and safe. but never, he said, with a
view TO prejudicing any one against
any person or department. tlnaliy
Gen. Miles said he did not think the
Journal Interview represented correct
~ what was said, because its contents
should be taken i'm connection with all
that was said, his silence upon some
points and speech upon others.
Then being asked about an interview
from the New York Herald OF FeDru-
ary / he said: Il have letter from
the gentleman who, ! understand wrote
this article. in which he says he Is Will
ing to swear that ! declined TO be IN
terview, and that, thinking something
had been given out he had proceeded
TO write what he knew were the facts.
He then pointed out that the inter-
view was erroneous in that Where IL
represented him to have said that he
had overwhelming evidence that the
refrigerated beef was treated win
chemicals the fact was that ms only
evidence was what was contained In
tho reports of officers and statements
of men who claimed that the beef had
the odor of an embalmed BODY ana
that they had seen fluid Injected into
the beef. He declared the interview an
erroneous presentation OF what he
could possibly have said.
Col Davis, recurring 10 the Stt'c-
.lment Of Gen Miles before the war
commission asked him what his Idea as
10 the beef supply for the army was
when war broke out.
peplving. Gen. Miles said while his
attention was occupied with weightier
n1ntters of mobilization and equipment
nf troous. he felt confident that the
usage of "A hundred years would be fol-
lowed and cattle herds would be ship
ned 10 the army I'm the tropics and
killed there just as they had been
through the south during the civil war.
He reviewed his action I'm cabling the de-
partment to send no more refrigerated
heof to Porto Rico while he was there,
anAing fl possible 10 use beef on hoof.
Gen. Miles said that he understood
that our troops In Porto Rico were still
being supplied with form of refriger-
ntcd beef, although tho country was
as good a grass country as any in the
world
col. Davis asked n Gen. Miles knew
whether Porto Rico exported any cat
tlc Witness said 81 aid 10 the number
of several thousand and that they were
line cattle. Stlll, be understood that
our troops were not only receiving re-
frlEeraior beef at The coast but 10 was
beipr cent into The interior The situa-
zion. now. he saii. was different from
during the war Now here were ice
machines on shore. Thcn there was not
ice enough FOR the hospitals.
Recurrinr % the cNpediency or feed
ing the troops hooi beer IN forto itlco,
Con Miles said he was much In favor
of n"