Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-07-06
MORNING LEADER.
-WEDNEsDAY MORNING, July 9.


1 COACCAANHNC1
The propriety Of furnishing concentrate
and desiccsted food for-Our sailors and sol
diers. is now being investigated by com
mittee of army officers By this plan, &
ration can be reduced from 40 to l6 ounce:
in weight, and from lO0 to IS cubic inches
in bulk In doing this, the ration can be
| greatly improved in every way. The meat
thus prepared can be eaten raw or made
into a stew. - --+
The Post observes concerning this sub
ject 4.i..-.7
Both meat and vegetables are deprived
of their watery elements the former is
stuffed by strong pressure INTO long canras
| cylinders, round, and three or four inches
in diameteri some Of these are smoked
others not; bOth-can be eaten raw, are
thoroughly seasoned, and readily carried
The meat will keep for months, and IS
packed SO firmly as not to spoil even if it
gets wet. The vegetables are prepared IN
blocks a foot square and two or three
inches thick. We do not know if they
have waterproof coating, but that could
easily be put on. One of the blocks we
have described, ofmixed vegetables, weighs
about three pounds, and with the addition
of meat will make good strong soup for
forty-two men. Three ounces of the con
eentrated meat are equivalent TO a soldiers
ration. ''
1t is proposed to substitute roasted wheat
or self-raising -four for the present cracker
ration which Is 50 incOnvenient TO carry,
50 easily spoiled, and so wasteful Ohla
long march troops carry with them only
bread and meat, and it is shown that, by
using roasted wheat and concentrated meat,
the bulk of eight day rations, which the
soldier often has to carry, would be reduced
from eight hundred TO two hundred and
fifty cubic inches With the help Of mules
to carry additional supplies Of sausaged
meat and roasted wheat, there is reason TO
believe that an army Of one hundred
thousand men might safely cut adrift from
it base for an operation requiring from
thirty to forty DAYS That Is to say, ii
General Sherman had supplies Of this kind
now he would not have to guard his rear,
but could collect all his detachments, and
with his whole force advance against At
lanta regardless of the threats against his
communications Such an advantage
would quickly decide the campaign in the
West.
One of the great benefits which would
result from the use of concentrated meat
and desiccated vegetables in the army, Is
that every soldier would be able, with little
trouble, and in very short time, to pre-
pare for himself with the ration carried
on his person, tasteful, healthful meal
he could do this without wasting an ounce
Of food and in about one-third of the time
that Is now required to prepare anything
but coffee and roasted pork. Besides this,
if for any causes fires were forbidden, he
would still have meat ready to eat we'll |
seasoned, and in such shape that with his !
pOcket-knife he could white of enough |
for a meal, without the slightest waste.
Many efforts have been made in modern
times 10 increase the mobility Of armies =
The emperor of France has long occupied
himself with this question, and the i'm
provements in dress and arms suggested |
by him have been adopted in Europe and |
also partly in this country. But in carry |
ing on the present war, whose field lies In |
country thinly populated and already !
ravaged and made a desert by the enemy, |
to diminish the monstrous army train is Of |
the utmost importance We hope to hear |
that the officers who are engaged with this
question viii report without loss of time, !
1t is satisfaction to know that whenever |
the War Department chooses to adopt !
new and improved army ration Of concen-
trated food, little time will be needed for |
the accumulation Of such supplies. |
: j