The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1895-12-27
THE ARMY RATION.
Eight Boards Favor Bacon and Hard
Tack-Food Tablets "a Failure.

Eight Boards Favor Bacon and Hard
Tack-Fooh Tablets Failure
The Secretary Of war recently ordered
an Investigation to determine whether
the regular army ration might not he re-
duced in bulk and weight without i'm
pairing its nourishmrnt. The problem
Of supplying food and forage to the init
ed States army is much more serious than
i'll the armies of Europe. which are main
tanned in thickly settled communities,
and even when engaged in hostilities are
usually within reach Of markets aud
cultivated farms. The German army,
for example. when moving in small bodic.
always purchases supplies OIL the march
as wanted. The same is true of the
French. Russian, Austrian and other Eu
ropean armies. but at the same time the
soldiers usually have in their knapsacks
what is called al ''emergency" ration
generally sausage or preserved meat of
some kind. The soldiers Of the Japan-
csc army IN the late war with China car
RED an emergency ration Of rice in Il
little till case strapped to the TOT, Of their
knapsacks. These cases. being covered
with leather and Of the shape of opera
glasses, gave rise to the story that was
printed all over the world that every
soldier in the japanese army was fur
nished with field glass.
The United States army. when III mo-
ton i'll the West, always has to be at
tended by long, heavy trains, ladcned
with food for both man and horse. which
necessitates a large amount of expense
and trouble. and it was suggested that
bills for transportation might he very
much reduced if ration of less biuk
and weight could lie substituted for the
present one. Boards were appointed in
each Of the eight military department.
composed of line officers who have had
practical experience in the us" Of
tons. and they were directed to max"
Investigations and report t" til" set.r,.-
tary of war. considering climatic well
as other conditions. Reports have ber,
received from all of these boards. Many
of them have INDUCED iii theories but all
contain pTa ctical and interesting inf0r-
nation regarding the amount of food
necessary to sustain life. and the kinds
Of food which furnish the greatest
amount OF n0nrishm"nt for the least
weight and buIi. They all agree that
the old-fashione.' ration of bacon and
hard tack is the most practical that has
ever been suggested. although tablet
soups are highly recommended. The
boards also agree that at least twenty
two ounces of food per day is necessary
to keep soldier III good condition when
IN active service and hay" recommended
not less than I" cnty-siX uunces i new
general board will he upia,inted by tho
secretary of war ~ consider the eight
reports and formulate such rtcollmtn.l;-
tons as they consider necessary and
practical for the Improvement of the
army ration.
A practical test was made i'll t,iora.l,
with food tablets. but it was not sue
cessful. and more than half of the men
who were victims of the experiment
had to go to the hospital i company
of the Seventh Infantry at Fort Logan
near Denver, was detailed and furnished
with condensed rations. consisting Of cot
fee, soup. bread and bacon. The cnti,.c
and soup were in small tablets which.
when placed in boiling water. ware ready
tor consumption i'll Two minutes TIE
bread was in small fiat ca kes The. weight
and hardness Of d brick. hut when moist
ened smelled out like Il sponge Tie
bacon was compressed and needed Only
to he warmed in a frying BAH The
soldiers started out with ten days IA
tons. hut tn" campa ign WAS hInugh1 10
an abrupt end after four days Of tifteriI-
mile marches. The food not only did
not satisfy the hunger OF give strength
but seemed to irritate the stomach. Aft
er the first meal two Of the enlisted men
had to be placed under the surgeon :
care. At the end of the .ec"Dd day
thirty of the seventy men id the COLL
pany were i'll. and on the fourth day tE,
whole command Went into camp. and
courlerS were sent to town for hard tack
and ordinary coffee and bacon. Some
OF the soldiers We're seriously i'll with u
stomach complaint, and were ..tHtincL
to the hospital for several DAYS