Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-12
PILLS WON'T WORK.



nOunced Failure.
The secretary of war recently ordered an
| investigation to determine whether the regu-
| lar army ration might not be reduced in bulk
| and weight without impairng its nourish-
| ment. The problem of supplying food and
| forage to the United States army is, says the
| New York Sun, much more serious than in
| the armies Of Europe, which are maintained
in thickly settled communities, and even
when engaged in hostiIities are usually
within reach of markets and cultivated farms.
The German army, for example, when NOV
ing in small bodies, always purchases sup
plies on the march wanted. The same is
true of the French, Russian, Austrian and
other European armies, but at the same time
the soldiers usually have in their knapsacks
what is called emergency" ration, generally
sausage or preserved meat of some kind. The
soldiers of the japanese army in the late war
with China carried an emergency ration of
rice in 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 ali
over the world that every soldier in the Jap
anese army was furnished with field glass.
The United States army, when in motion in
the west, always has to be attended by long,
heavy trains, ladened with food for both man
and horse, which necesstates large amount
of expense and trouble, and it was suggested
that bills for transportation might be very
much reduced If a ration Of less bulk and
weight could be substituted for the present
one Boards were appointed in each of the
eght military departments composed of line
0mcers who have had practical experience in
the use of rations, and report to the secretary
OF war, considering climatic as well as other
conditions. Reports have been received from
all OF these boards. Many of them have in
dulged in theories, but all contain practical
and interesting information regarding the
amount of food necessary to 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-fash-
ioned ration of bacon and hard tack is the
most practical that has ever been suggested,
although tablet soups are highly recon-
mended. The boards also agree that at least
twenty-five ounces of feed per day are neces-
sary to keep 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 formu-
late such recommendations as they consider
necessary and practical for the improvement
of the army ration.
practical test was made in Colorado with
food tablets but it was not successful, and
more than half of the men who were victims |
or the experiment had to go to the hospital. |
A company Of the Seventh infantry, at Fort |
Logan, near Denver, was detailed and fur |
nished with condensed rations, consisting of |
coffee, soup, bread and bacon. The coffee and |
soup were in small tablets, which, when |
placed in boiling water, were ready for con- |
sumption in two minutes. The bread was in |
small fiat cakes, the weight and hardness of |
brick, but when moistened swelled out like a
sponge. The bacon was compressed and |
needed only to be warmed in frying pan.
The soldiers started out with ten days
ratons, but the campaign was brought to an
abrupt end after four days of ffteen-mlle
marches. The food not only did not satisfy
the hunger or give strength, but seemed to
irritate the stomach. After 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 company
were III, and on the fourth day the whole
went into camp, and couriers were
sent to town for hard tack and ordinary
coffee and bacon. Some of the soldiers were
seriously Ill with a stomach complaint, and
we're confined to the hospital for several
laws. - |