Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-12-09
THE ARMY RATION.
| Eight Boards Favor Bacon and Hard
Tack-FoOd Tablets Failure.

Eight BOards Favor Bacon and Hard
Tack-Food Tablets Failure.
The secretary of war recently ordered
an investigation to determine whether
the regular army ration might not be re-
duced in bulk and weight without inn
pairing its nouriShment. The problem
OF supplying food and forage to the Unit
ed States army is much more serious than
in the armies of Europe. which are main
tanned in thickly settled communities,
and even when engaged in hOstilities are
usually within reach of markets and
cultivated farms. The German army,
for example, when moving IN small bodies
always purchases supplies on 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 i'll their knapsacks
what is called an emergency ration
generally sausage or preserved meat of
some kind. The soldiers of the Japan
csc army in the late war with China car
ried an emergency ration of rice in u
little tin case strapped to the top 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 in mo-
ton i'll the West, always has to be at
tended by long, heavy trains, ladened
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 be very
much reduced If a ration OF less Dluk
and weight could be 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 use of ra-
tons, and they were directed to make
investigations and report to the secre-
tary of war, considering climatic as we'll
as other conditions. Reports have been
received from all of these boards. Many
of them have INDUCED in theories but all
contain practical and interesting infor-
nation regarding the amount of food
necessary tG sustain life, and the kinds
of food which furnish the greatest
amount of nourishment for the least
weight and bulk. They all agree that
the old-fashioned 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 a soldier in good condition when
in active service, and have recommended
not less than twenty-six ounces. A new
general board will be appointed by the
secretary of war to consider the eight
reports and formulate such recommends
tons as they consider necessary and
practical for the improvement of the
army ration.
A practical test was made in Colorado
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 A 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 coffee
and soup were in small tablets, which,
when placed in boiling water. were ready
for consumption in two minutes. The
bread was in small flat cakes, the weight
and hardness of brick, but when moist
ened smelled out like a sponge. The
bacon was compressed and needed only
to be warmed in a frying pan. The
soldiers started out with ten days ra-
/ tions, but the campaign was brought to
an abrupt end after four days of fifteen
mile marches The food not only did
not satisfy the hunger or give strength,
but seemed to irritate the stomach. Aft
err the first meal two of the enlisted men
had to be placed under the surgeons
care At the end of the second day
thirty of the seventy men in the com
pany were ILL., and on the fourth day the
whole command went into camp, and
couriers were sent to town for hard tack
and ordinary coffee and bacon. Some
of the soldiers were seriously i'll with a
stomach complaint, and were confined
to the hospital for several days.