New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-08
FEEDING THE BOYS IN BLUE.
UNCLE SAM PROVIDES BOUNTEOUSLY
FOR HIS MEMS RATIONS.
HOW BREAD Is BAKED IN TRENCHES. BONES
PACKED FOR TRANSPORTATION. WATER
PURIFIED AND FILTERED.

PACKED FOR TRANSPORTATION. WATER
PURIFIED AND FILTERED
Since the boys IN blue marched off to the war and
eettled IN the different camps in order
Of soldiers life before actual experience on the
field unanimous fppeal has been received ny
wives sisters mothers and sweethearts at home.
send us something decent to eat: we are living
on coffee and bareback" is the sum and substance
OF the letters that have been sent by the Nations
heroes at Townsend Alger Thomas and the various
other camps throughout the country. AT frs,
thought the message docs no: accord with ones
ideas Of sodieriy vacr and courage under all sorts
OF Inconvenience. hut 1t must he remembered that
the men who have marched 20 the front readily
and enthusiastically were not seasoned veterans.
but had left comfortable homes TO suffer from cold.
dampness. insufficient clothing and blankets. and
even the pangs Of hunger during the first weeks Of
camp life
The glory Of dashing into battle UNFOLDING the
country's flag and facing the enemy's bullets with
the enthusiasm Of patriotic feeling surginG in ones
breast is thing: # is another entirely different
10 suffer from hunger and thirst and n lack the
means for ordinary bathing facilities. The suffer
ing Illness and death that resulted from those first
weeks in camp have yet been told. although OLD
soldiers sneer at the "hardships." forgetting that
many a may break down through homesicK-
ness hunger and cold, who would perhaps fight
more bravely in battle than his brother who is
built Of tougher physical fibre.
II would seem as though Uncle Sam pars-
nonious in making provision for his men, but such
IS not the case. No army the world is supplied
better than faulty system regarding the
cooking arrangements in camp seems to he the spe-
cia fault Of the commissariat of the United States
Army. We waste more in preparation than would
supply an equal body Of French soldiers. when
every OF food is made 10 supply Its maximum
Of nutrition.
The question Of ratoning soldiers in camp has
been discussed In all its phases since the Civil War
when there vas considerable dissatisfaction among
the ranks to the quantity and quality or the
food served during the dreary marches In Southern
swamps and wil1ernesses. And the result of all
experimenting and research in the matter has
proved that while Injuries Of all sorts that require
intricate or elaborate preparation must be denied
the soldier in camp. there should be cause for
complaint in regard to plentiful and wholesome
fare. The Governm. nj has issued an official Army
manual within the last two years. in which full and
explicit directions gver for the preparation Of
food in garrison and camp. 1t contains all parlcu
lars as TO the percentage Of food allowed each man.
which is 80 plentiful amount that # Is possible
for the men 70 leave some rations "undrawn for
savings which amount remains with the officer in
charge Of the mess and be expended for extras
OF various kinds-ice. vegetables and frUt-or can
be put aside the nucleus of a company fund.
The care and transportation Of rations IS one OF
the subjects which is explained in detail in the
Army manual. For the field as well as in the gar
r,son ration box" is provided OF dimensions
which admit Of its being placed in the end Of an
Army wagon. e.. IT is about forty inches wide
RATION BONES
ration box IS SSi4 inches square and is 30 inches
deep II is made Of white pine / inch thick and
doubled or reinforced for inches at top and bot
tom The interior is divided by vertical partitions
extending TO within inches Of the top and covered
with an extra or false I'D. which can be used as
breadboard or chopping board. The top I'D is Sc
cured by lock and key
For field use ration sacks OF drilling or ticking
are provided. each sack marked in black letters eh
with the name OF TIE article u Is 10 "ouc " iav r
wagon transportation Is used these SACKS are
placed In their % ,e Erin Of
gunnysack Is required. -
The ola sye camp oven was as, s' gIes branches
and walls Of mud to accommodate the spols an
Se stdya a1d ovens with admit Of greater
care and nicely in the preparation OF 1000 az
tastes so delicious az food cooked in the old earth
en- OF the camp. The new styie kI'cnen ou one
extension stand. two parts OF oven. one large cover
for oven--for use in boiling water, etG.xt%o large
ders two lifting hooks OF irons. two large com
binaton frying, roasting or baking ga, pans with
Besides this there ~ hull set Of ne smaller
cooking utensils ceavers Spoons ladies' 6at fo 1aev
may be packed conveniently for travelling.
BAKING IN THE CAMPS.
The methods Of making bread in the field are
especially characteristic Of camp life The immense
pans used have capacity for BAKING huhoIeue
OF loaves OF bread. which is rxsd IN khedu"'s
trough built IN the earth and linea win paihi"s
Beside the kneading trench another is built to ac-
commodaie the bakers while mixlNs inc uo"e'
The bread Is left 70 raise In teese fchches
after being covered with branches ana nay.
The question Of pure water for drinking ana Coz %
,bs ar,Sa soIdIcrs VINO viii carry on the
paign IN Cuba Is treated with que iiiF ~, IN Cor
the Army manual which gives seversi iif,hons la o
ltering and purifying water that Is Inuuoy' pu'u
with muddy water" said the manual. me n pes,
method IL 20 filter. with purld TO Doi 10 MN w
charcoal or expose TO the sun ana an: ny lime
Is best. to all three methods AT the samL ION
With sal, water nothing avails by dis,Idt.iU"ii
TO Alter muddy water when there IS no,ni' srykn
good handful Of grass and tie 1t roughly tost.nci
n the form Of cone; six or eight nS ,hGe and
then; dipping the broad end INTO me ,ipnd VA
turning 1t up. stream OF partly nIter9u r., a
VIII ,rckle down through tie SINAI, fpd You haze
means 10 bore cask full Of anger hoes, ,, n'n
knocked out inside H. then M up he space me
tween tho two with grass moss; etc. NV ,r vii nj,
ter through the augcr holes and moss and Will ,ss
up clear at least Of weeds ana SAM ~ "' '"
cask from which II may be ladled. a., s,des
Win single cask the lower part OF s In and
may be bored and alternate layers OF ga, sanf bo les
= through tHsse LAYERS I the water will strain or any
eoarse bag that Is kept open WIN no1d nool by
having heavy stone put inside OF H. and VIII a ,Sd
On the same principle but less effectively than !he
casks Sand charcoal sponge and w9T, are peat
substances most commonly used as my =, Is
charcoal IL excellent. a small piece OF aIu n,,cr
ereacious in purifying water from organic hnnnoei,
winch Is precpita;cd by the alum anu "''
'elt at the bottom OF the vessel =, a.ar and
There also methods to toll putrid Wa a'r
70 clarity muddy water when n the hc''; v~,hir
ne ordinary facilities for such "ork arc '.
zach And there is complete set OF a inSS inc,dc
LOT use In the garrison and camp wiz. ~ M "a
many dishes with edd-sounding mntafg ...dmff :
Xcsh as cannon balls" artillery pr. whict