The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-15 00:00:00

THE FRENCH ARMY IN THE EAST.

The Moniteur says :—" The situation of our
army in the East justly occupies the attention of
the public ; persons badly informed have expressed
a fear that the military administration could not
sufficiently provide for all the wants of such a con-
siderable number of men. In order to remove all
uneasiness, it is merely necessary to point out what
has been done by the administration, to prove that
solicitude could not have been carried further :
" Food.—The regular ration of meat of 250 grammes
has been increased to 350 (rather more than the ilb
English) ; the ration of bread from 750 grammes to 1,000
(about 21b 3ozs. English) ; and that of rice from 30
to 60 grammes. A good ration of coffee and :sugar is
given every day to the soldier, and replaced occasionally
by a ration of wine. The distributions have been re-
gularly made from the very first day, and have gone on
without interruption. The quantity of provisions which
had been landed on the 20th ult., on the different points
of the theatre of operations, will give an idea of the zeal
and efforts which have been exercised to secure the re-
gular supply of our army in the East : Flour sufficient
for 7,670,000 rations ; biscuit, for 4,830,030 ; rice, for
27,740,000 ; live cattle, for 5,200,000 ; salt beef, for
520,000 ; salt pork, for 2,140,000. To the above must
be added the following supplies delivered at the end of
August :—Live cattle sufficient for 2,800.000 rations ;
wine, for 2,110,000 ; brandy, fur 946,000 ; sugar
and coffee, fur 5,730,000 ; a further quantity of
coffee and sugar for 4,584,000 rations was expected
at the end of August. The consumption up to the
end of August may be estimated at about 8,500,000
rations, leaving in store for the ulterior wants of the
army 4,000,000 rations of bread and biscuit, 19,000,000
of rice, 2,160,000 of meat, and 4,870,000 of wine, sugar,
and coffee. It must be remarked that, up to the present
time, two-thirds of the consumption of the army has been
in fresh meat, and the same proportion will be maintained
for the future. The making of bread has been secured
by the means of twenty-four field ovens sent from
France, independently of the permanent ovens which
have been constructing on different points.—Clothing,
equipment, and camp equipage—Every man is provided
with all the articles set down in the military regula-
tions. To these are added such others as the expe-
rience of the war in Algeria and the anticipation
of a rigourous winter to be passed on the coast of
the Black Sea have proved to be necessary for the
health and comfort of the soldier. In order to meet
these additional wants without taking into account the re-
newal of the supply of the regular articles of equip-
ment there are about to be sent to the army of the
East :
Flannel belts 137,600
Great coats with hoods. 70,000
Worsted gloves (pairs) 70,000
Sheepskin gaiters (pairs) 70,000
Cachias 70,000
Sheepskin great coats 15,000
Cotton shirts 280,000
Shoes (pairs) 290,000
Leather gaiters (ditto) 24,080
Linen gaiters(ditto) 25,000
Boots (ditto) 21,000
Half-boot (ditto) 6,500
Drawers (ditto).
together wath a large supply of blankets, tents, ves-
sels for cooking, and fur the use of the different
messes ; camping tools, pickaxes, shovels, hatchets,
and every other necessary. The administration has
betides sent out everything necessary for the formation
of a foreign legion of 2,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry.
The service of the permanent and field hospitals has
been also abundantly attended to. The arrangements
made will allow for the accommodation of 8,250 sick,
Each of the hospitals is abundantly supplied with every
necessary. The linen supplie lis sufficient for 180,000
dressings. Every attention has also been given to the
supply of such articles as may be necessary for the food
of the sick. There are 15 regularly-organised pharma-
cies with a supply of medicines sufficient for 7,500 sick
for 3 months, and there has been a central' depot estab-
li-hed at Constantinople, which has a supply in reserve
sufficient for 6 months. It will be thus seen that from
the moment of the arrival of our troops on the theatre
of war, and uninterruptedly until this day, their wants
have been supplied, and that there are considerable
quantities in reserve. These supplies will continue to
be kept up with perfect regularity, so that no part of the
service will ever be allowed to be in want."

THE LICENSIII) VICTUALLERS AND THE

BEER LA W.

At a public meeting of licensed victuallers, held in the
saloon of Drury-lane Theatre, on Thursday week, it was
determined, on account of certain circumstances which
attended the passing of the recent act fur the better re-
gulation Gf the sale of beer, to found a new association
of their body for mutual defence and protection, and a
committee of 20 members was appointed to draw up a
series of rule, and to form its constitution, subject to
the approval of the general body of subscribers.
Yesterday the committee presented the rules, on which
they had decided, to a general meeting, in the same
place, presided over by Mr. T. B. Simpson, of Cremorne
Gardens.
On the motion of Mr. Foster, seconded by Mr.
Grimes, the rule was agreed to which enacted that the
society be called the Metropolitan and Provincial
Licensed Victuallers' Defence Association, and that its
objects should be to get an immediate relaxation of the
beer law ; to strive for its total repeal ; to take steps to-
promote the urgent interests of the trade, consistently
with the wants and requirements of the public ; and so
soon as existing societies, and the paper belonging to a
great number of the members, would fulfil their duty to
the trade, to work with them in combined action.
The other rules, which comprehended the organisa-
tion necessary to carry out the foregoing objects, were
all unanimously agreed to, and the proceedings brought
to a dm by the usual eomplisteOsiry Tot!,