The Washington herald., 1916-07-09
ARE STIRRED BY ATTACK
Food Specialist Says Ancient
Canned Beef and Mouldy
Bread Are Served.
CALLS BACON OF POOR GRADE
Says Corned Beef Was Greasy Mass
of Shreds, Fibre Tissue and Girls
tle-Black Crime Found.

Senators Broussard and Fletcher, Of
the Senate Military Affairs Committee.
declared last night that II charges made
by Alfred w. McCann, a pure food ex-
pert, to the effect that the District Ma
tional Guard was being served ancient
canned beef, mouldy bread and poor ba-
con, were substantiated. they would de-
mand a Congressional investigation.
1T seems Incredible to talk Of such
conditions after 1888" said Senator
Fletcher. You can say for me it is the
FIRST I have heard of it. and II hnd
there is a substance OF truth IN the
charges I shall favor an Investigation" 4"
McCann has been inspecting the COM
missary Of the local mflitianen during
the past week.
salmon Called Cheap.
Describing the canned goods served to
the militia, he says:
The canned salmon was Of the cheap
been packed July, 1872 and November,
1913. II was greasy mass Of shreds-
fiber tissue, and gristle. From one can
We picked particles of black CRIME,
wrich the cook declared was Just meat
blackened by burning in the can. In
the officers quarters this meat was not
served, the cook declaring the officers
would not eat it"
Speaking Of the bacon he inspected, the
report says: The bacon was green
Green bacon means bacon that has not
been fully smoked. 1t contains so much
moisture that in a few days It becomes
'skippery.' The cook complained of It
bitterly and said: II the packers were
not so damned greedy they wouldn't be
afraid to shrink that stuff as it ought
to be shrunk before sending it down
here"
OF the bread he says: There was
bread. white starchy, conventionaIly good
at the time Of baking. some OF it mouldy,
all of it exposed to some extent to the
swarms Of flies which infest the camp"
Camp Is Inspected.
Mccain inspected the camp in COM
pany with Representatives Hurlburt
and Chandler and also made an in
spection with Senators Chamberlain
and Weeks Of the Military Affairs
Committee OF the Senate.
Senator Robert F. Broussard, who
is on the Senate committe on military
affairs, said last night that condi-
tions at Camp Ordway had not been
brought officially to the attention of
the committee.
'Of course, if they are as bad they
they are painted, I shall favor an
Investigation" he said.
Informed of McCanns charges,
Brig. Gen. William E. Harvey, COM
manding the militia, declared there
was no complaint to be made of the
quality or quantity Of food served
to the soldiers.
Harvey Answers Charges.
Il made frequent personal inspec-
tions of the Kitchens" he said, "and
the meals served to the men, and I
have always been satisfied that every
thing is all right No complaints
have reached ~ ears. either from
the men or the cooks"
He said the supplies for the camp
we're obtained through the quarter
master at Fort Myer. and that all
the food was regular government is
sue, inspected to see that it came up
to the standard
During the first few days in camp
the beef issued was not up to stand
ard, he stated, but It was pror,ntIv
rejected, and since then there has
been no complaint
Orders were received at Camp Ord
way yesterday providing for the use
Of canned corn beef. Except in ex-
treme cases, it must be used only
twice. week, and then only with
plenty Of vegetables and fruits.