New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-27
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
WHAT THE SOLDIFRS GET To EAT.
COMPLAINTS OF rNsrFFIcIENcY AND THE

COMPLAINTS OF INsUFFIcIENCY AND THE
STATEMENTS As TO RATIoNs ISSUED.
To the Editor o. The Tribune.
Sir The question. What are tho soldiers se'-
ting to eat" is now Of much popular interest,
and is being widely discussed. Ms Hogan
contribution to our knowledge u the subject
appearing i'm to-Gay's issue Of your paper. VIII
doubtless attract general attention. tn fact
that she vigorously defends existing conditions
is Of special interest There is belief abroad
among our people that defenc" Is necessary
II the professional reputation. and perhaps also
the reputation for personal integrity. of some
officers in the Commissary Department is TO be
preserved
Mrs Hogan gives list Of ito Use her own
words the varieties Of food allowed for the
troops. that may all be had for the asking"
one notices. among other staples and dainties.
beans. peas. rice. hominy. onions. canned to-
matoes beets carrots and moasses Mrs. Hogan
says ANY good cook will see AT
glance the possibilities Of a food supply such as
| Is given" We are to infer that the men al
Chckamauga Tampa and Falls Church wao
have complained II their rations have suffered
under a fare Of pork and bareback because they
did not ASK" for rice and hominy. or peas and
/ tomatoes. perhaps owing 20 fear thai they
would not be able to prepare the food when ob-
tanned As all know. none but chef can cook
rice and hominy and as far beans Doston
expert is surely needed TO handle them
II we grasp Mrs Hogan's idea. the food trou-
bic may be settled AT once by existing for each
regiment dozen men who can cook beans and
one man who can ask" for them-the latter
viii doubtless recognize beans when he sees
/ them.
Mrs Hogan expresses grateful appreciation II
the official aid lent her in making rer investiea-
lions She describes in terms II COMMUNICATION
the food she inspected AZ Camp Algcr appar-
'} the only encampmcnt visited. AID de-
cides that tine distress occasioncd by reports
Of insufficient food is needless She conclud-
with "A homily t. careless news editors" upon
the Improperly u permitting he publication %
"unauthenticat,d matter upon 50 vital n ques-
ton"
The information obtained IN an Investigation
under official auspices ray %" said - be "au-
thcnticated." perhaps but doubt is always
present i'm the mind ~ tho reader as To- the r...-
ton between the Information and the facts
spanish newspaper reports NJ insurGent defeats
have been invariably authentic but their uni
formity has given rise To desire for vcriiica-
tiOn before acceptance. With due Pr gard for the
author. Mrs. HoCan's statement. n must be- said.
bears evidence ~ inspiration from official quar-
tiers. H. indeed. it does not bear the carmarks
~ complete official PREPARATION
Poultney Bgrl0w kroNlcdc - military
matters IN Europe. particularly in Germany.
where acquaintanc" with high officials secured
him means Of ohtalning inf rrnati.r 30 a degree
seldom eGualled 10y American. gives 30 his
criticisms Of conditions iu our Army great
weight Mr. Rigelpw's allegations ~ insufficient
food supplies and inadequat" transportation ar
rausefn,nts corrohDrat. TIE reports - stan cor
respondents 90 many u he leading papers 4
the country. such evidence cau.lt I. q .-,l.,ecl
with official denial Nj He~l.w's query
hat hos