The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-29

CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PAGE


to preserve it and that the refrigerated
beef would not be good in any country in
the stomach of any man. He also said.
generally, that bacon was not considered a
suitable ration for the tropics. and that the
beef furnished the army was the cause Of
much sickness anC distress; that il was
largely responsible for the sickness in the
army and that he had medical authority for
this statement.
General Miles should have known that
neither the secretary of war nor the COM
n,fssary general could legally alter or add
TO the ration of the army. The ration is
fixed by law. and its components can be
changed only by the President of the
United States. If General Miles did not
know that canned fresh beef a part
o. the army ration, then he displayed an
ignorance in an important matter of his
profession that is, TO say the least. most
remarkable; If he did know that canned
fresh beef was recognized part of the
ration. then his allegation to the contrary
is much more reprehensible.
ION the 1st of August. 1878. canned fresh
teef first became a part of the travel ration
of the United States army. then under the
command of General Sherman. and while
the Hon. George McCrary was secretary of
war. Canned fresh beef was again specif-
icaIly referred TO in general orders under
dates OF November, 1879 of September y.
1881 Jan 49, 1883 and February s. 1855. The
last mentioned order changed the army
regulations and included in those regua-
tions reference to canned fresh beef
THE allegations of General Miles that
canned fresh beef was not a part of the
army ration and that IL was issued as the
'pretense of experiment were not only
contrary to fact. but were made absolutely
without a particle of evidence of excuse.
If General Miles really believed his serious
charges his conduct is all the more blame
worthy in that he apparently made no eff
fort 10 assure himself of their truthfulness.
nor TO report them to the secretary of war
before publicly uttering them.
MILES NOT HONEST
eff we are to believe written evidence
to the contrary, 1t does not appear that
General Miles was even honest i'm making
his dilatory charges that the canned beef
was issued as the pretense of an expert
ment and that IL was not part of the
ration. On the 18th of June, 1885, his most
confidential staff officer signed a letter by
direction of the major general command
ing the army. instructing the depot COM
missary at Tampa to furnish TO General
Nunez 1854 pounds of canned roast beef.
To be issued from the subsistence stores of
the army. If we are To accept the read
ing of this letter as correst. IL proves that
General Miles knew that canned fresh
beef was part of the ration: that ne
knew there was a large quantity of il go.
Tampa for issue to the troops. ard that
he So far approved of its use as TO direct
that the ration be furnished in large guam
titles to our allies.
1T was never intended by the commits
sary department that canned beef should
be used other than as an emergency or
travel ration. General Egan's predecessors
Ina Office had. twenty years before the Span
ish-American war. highly recommended it's
use and il had been officially included in
the regular ration. Canned fresh beef has,
ever since the civil war, been part of the
regular navy ration-five hundred thousand
pounds of this food having been used an
nually i'm navy before the war with
Spain. For years large quantities OF canned
fresh beef have been shipped 10 the Eu-
ropean armies With a legal warrant for
its use, the approval OF at least two prev
ious commissary generals. its general use
abroad. and It's large consumption in our
own navy. General Eagan was certainly
fortified In his belief that ID could be ef-
ficaciously used by our troops Moreover.
the present commissary general. then Col.
j. F. Weston. in letter TO General Eagan
under date of March "A. 1895, favored its
use Freshed canned beef was preferred
over corned canned beef. because of the
fact that the salt In the latter produced
thirst-a decided objection I'm a tropical
country. but the timed beef should have
been used only when cooked with vegeta-
bles and properly seasoned. In this state
ment lies the secret of the source OF COM
plant against canned fresh beef. The only
fault found with the ration was that IL was