The evening times., 1900-01-30
FROZEN BEEF IN FAVOR
Its Use for Troops in the Philippines
Recommended.
The Acting Commissary General of
the Army Receives n Report From
Captain KrauIhon, Assistant Quar-
termaster at ManilR-Fresh Meat
Found TO De Very Unsatisfactory.

Gen John f. Weston, Acting Commlssa-
~ General of the Army, has received an
interesting report from Capt c. r. kraut-
hoff. Assistant QuaItermaster at Manila,
regarding the fresh beef served the troops
in the Philippines. The War Department
had received several letters from persons
in this country concerning the quality OF
the beef and General Weston wrote Cap
tain Krauthoff for a full report on the
subject.
The report was received today and Gov
ers fully Captain Krauthoffs S connection
with the commissary department at Ma
Mia. which extends over period OF near
ly two years II shows that the troops
are getting better.beef than can be bought
in the United States. The report takes up
the first consignment of beef with which
CAPTAIN Krauthoff had TO do and says:
This beef was received from Australia
on the Duke Of Sutherland, which arrived
with her cargo in the Bay of Manila, l be
lieve. in September, 1895, and furnished
fresh meat 70 the army from that date to
the middle of April. 1899. During the lat
ter part OF April and up to the middle Of
MAY frozen beef was received from the
United States naval supply ship Colgo.
The advantages of this class Of meat are:
First. quality. 1t is of a class known to
the trade as export beef and is of a
quality superior in every respect to meat
sold tc the trade or issued to the army
in the States.
..Second-The cattle are inspected be-
fore, and the meat after slaughtered. This
ensures healthy meat and the exclusion
OF diseased cattle.
"Third-The cattle are slaughtered by
expert butchers and the meat cared for
by experts while in storage.
"Fourth-The capacity of a ship is such
that a large supply is always on hand,
which enables the department to supply
any unusual demand called for, as has
been done in the past when expeditions
left Manila.
Fifth Frozen beef has given excellent
satisfaction 10 the troops, not one COM
plairt having been received by me as to
the quality and freshness of the meat.
"SiXth-The most important advantage
OF frozen beef is it's keeping quality. IL
enables the department TO send fresh beef
TO all parts of the lines, reaching there IN
frozen state and in excellent condition.
During the time meat was received
from the United States Navy lot was
drawn at .. N. one afternoon and about
o. m the next afternoon il was sent TO
Corregidor Island by boat, thirty-siX miles
from Manila. and when used the day after
was found 10 be just thawed out. During
hostilities and owing 10 the movements
of troops organizations could not always
draw their meat. which had been ordered
This beef was covered with tarpaullns and
ISSUED next day, and was always in eX-
cellent condition. Had this been chilled
beef or freshly slaughtered it would have
sneled. The quarters being covered witt
muslin keeps The meat clean while be-
Ing handled.
ION April p sixteen head OF cattle were
killed and the meat issued to troops. The
cattle we're we'll bred. fat Australian
steers. weighing about $50 pounds gross
In the market they would have been class
ed as dressed beef Steers-a class OF cattle
not used by firms in the States which sup
plv the army with beef. The cattle were
inspected by DR. W. T. Monserrat and
pronounced healthy. This beef did no
sive the satisfaction that the frozen bee
does The objections are: 0) The climate
here is such that the cattle must be kille'
during the night. issued in the early morn
ing. and cooked at once ~ The meat i
used before the animal heat leaves th
carcass: this causes intestinal disorders
tSl 1t does not stand transportation.
The army at Manila and vicinity woul
require about 20 cattle tAustralian) pc
dav or 100 if native cattle were used Il
the first case it would require a numbe
of cattle steamers, probably four, TO fur
nish the necessary number of animals.
the second case there are not at presen
enough native cattle 10 supply the de
mand In addition the cost of inspectors
butchers slaughterhouses, etc, must b
taken into consideration.
An attempt was made to issue sma
amount Of chilled beef from the Unite
States transports Grant and Sherman up
on their arrival at this port The meat
while not bad if used on the transports
was not fit for issue to troops in the city
AS soon as the fresh beef came in contaC
with the warm air il turned green, an
the bad odoT was very marked.
Having served IN the Philippines sine
June 90, 1885, and having observed tn
native cattle slaughtered in Cavite upc
the arrival Of the first expedition; an
having observed the frozen beef, chile
beef and freshly dressed slaughtered Aus
tralian beef issued 10 the troops, / am q
the opinion that the frozen beef is supe
rior in quality and more economical tha
any other class of fresh beef that may b
supplied the army serving in the Philip
mines -