The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-07-16
PROBE IS ORDERED
OF GUARDS FOOD
Secretary Baker Authorizes
Investigation Of Charges
That Rations Are Unfit.
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said they believed the deluge OF COM
plants sent to Senators. Corngressmen.
s %s%p ssr Of Z, the sn 10 sss. Sin
salsried positions for at least three
iod inapectors by Congress-" They said
they ..r ssw politics n the eSr,paint -,
be along the broacest lines and of the
most searching character, according to
officials at the War Department The
charges that UNIT food has been fur
the bottom and a full report made to
Secretary Baker. -
Will Make Report Public.
The Secretary has announced he will
make the report public at the earliest
possible moment after he receives 1t.
30 that the relatives and friends of the
militiamen may learn the truth as to
the charges which began to reach
Washington the day the first citizen
soldiers arrived on the border. =
Secretary Bakers investigation Is in
response to the resolution offered in the
House some days ago by Coneressmen J..
Hampton Moore. asking for facts re-
garding the food and transportation
Furnished the Pennsylvania national
guard while en- route to the border. and
The inquiry will not only include
ytgorous probe into the food conditions:
but will also embrace the character Of
the rolling stock provided for the Penn
sylvanians and the water. light and
charged that the Pennsylvanians and
militiamen from other States were
"herded like cattle into cars not pro-
vtded with lights for use at night. Ice
water or proper sanitary facilities
quartermaster's department was not
supposed to furnish standard Pullman
sleeping cars for the enlisted men This
typo Of ear is provided for officers.
while rattRn-u upholstered tourists sleep
era. used extensively in the West, were
authorized for the enlisted men.
IT was admitted at the War Depart
ment that little or no justification could
provide sufficient lights. Ice water. ana
sanitary equipment on the cars.
Think Complaints Unfounded.
While officials at the department did
not wish to be placed in the light Of
beiittling the many serious complaints
and charges made by the militiamen.
they expressed the belief that the inves-
tigation would show the relatives and
friends Of the citizen soldiers had been
unduly alarmed.
Soldiers in the field cannot expect all
the comforts Of home" said one official
today. After the militiamen have been
on the border a little while longer they
will take a delight In meeting the few
discomforts which all good soldiers have
This does not mean that they should
Put up with unwholsome or unfit food.
Or rations In any smaller quantity
than that to which they are entitled.
THE feeding Of the men Is largely up
TO the regirsental. battalion. and COM
pany quartermasters. They know how
many men they have to feed; they are
entitled to full rations for every man
hax M
."As u the quality of the food. that
has been made the subject OF an ~
yestieation and the truth will soon be
While the War Department and MEM
bers of both houses OF Congress have
many general complaints as to the
quantity and class OF food served the
milttiamen there are number Of
and unwholesome quality.
Beef Marked manila, 1908"
One Of the most serious charges thus
far made is that a number Of members
of the Connecticut and Massachusetts
militia were sent to hospitals suffering
from ptomaine poisoning after partak-
ing of Manila 1909 beef. which It is
alleged had Teen embalmed.
Any evils found will be promptly cor
rected, according to Secretary Baker.
and IL unfit food has been knowingly
served militiamen the officers re-
sponslDle VIII De severely dealt with
Secretary Baker wishes the investiga-
ton pushed with vigor and dispatch
SO that the evils may be remedled OF
the charges silenced II unsubstanti-
ated by the probe.
Thus far no complaints have been
heard from the 30 District miiitiamen
now on the border.
Although thousands OF militiamen
from a number OF states suffered FOR
want OF food on the trains en- route to
their destinations, this was not true OF
the District citizen soldiers. Major John
e. whitaker. chief commissary OF the
local citizen-soldiery provided an
abundance Of food Inc militiamen
were not only given sufficient rations
to keep them well fed while en- route to
Bisbee. but also had fod enough to last
them firve days after reaching the
Arizona town.