New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-16
HOW yEW.YORK SOLDIERS FARE.
GRoUNDLEss STATEMENTS OF LACK OF
FOOD FOR THE SEVENTY FIRST


Tampa Fla. June II dspecAD.-I,etters and news
papers from Sew-York havo given tho hrst news
70 mnny men IN the lis, Regiment New-York Vol
unte.r. that Il suffered from insuHciency OF
food and that tho quality Of what there was was
moor Some OF thos. who wrote home in this strain
merely for The family ear regret the publicity
given 70 their letters Statements made In idle
corre,pondence appear different formulated In cold
tyne rs charges No ono here understand how
a momber Of the regiment could have gone thirty
s,x hours without food Certainly. II that hap
pened II must have been his own fault In The re-
moval from Lakeland to Tampa Heights. the men
were day on travel rations. Some nte all OF theirs
In the morning. and went hungry afternoon ana
evening Others contrary 70 orders. were forag-
Ing for themselves when the food distributed.
and falling In tho object Of their search. got moth
Ing whatever.
A for the quality OF the food itself. that rests
chiefly with the company cook and quartermaster-
scrseants The stores furnished by the Govern
nent are almost invariably excellent In time the
cooking Will also be But In some cases. the cooks
have been learning at the expense OF the soldiers.
n the oatmeal Is burned or The bread Is dough in
the Interior the blame Is easy 10 FIX There has
been great difference I'm the company kitchens,
hut the worst have been steadily improving.
rno ,atis.actoriness OF the commssary Is largely
dcncnden. on the duartermaster- sergeant. II he Is
alert and knows his business his company VIII reap
abundant comfort. one OF these non-commissioncd
officers I'm the list If restaurani-kceper In clvI
life and besides man Of energy. The result Is
that his company has nner table tnnn any other
lie knows how the ratIons TO much better
,urnosc than others do and has a variety Of food
that is surprising The men pay n little extra and
get many delightful additions TO tho camp fare in
consequence At FIRST the volunteers knew nothing
about exchanging regular ratlons for delicacies.
They are permitted TO to the commissary depot
and return beans. -four. meat or anything else they
have saved from tho company mess receiving
therefor condensed milk. canned fruits and vege-
tables whatever else the place affords. With
good MANAGEMENT A company can put something
aside every day without deprivng the men OF an
ample supply OF food a., - 1T,
In some cases this surplus goes to kind Of sick
fund Patients In the hospital receive the ordinary
railOns and being unable 10 eat them. would sur
fr but for the company treasury kXtra Dag PAX, Oh
four however. exchanged for matted milk or
beef tea or some other food that n sick stomach
can digest and convalcsccnce u fastened
Some compalies In the list have learned ms
trlck and In consequence enjoy dishes when are
~ envy OF their fellows Then one quarternaster-
90 rceant went into tho lemonade business Com
many funds provided the capital, and In day I'll
was cleared. This meant luxurious dishes TO sup
plcTrent the Army rntions
All tho companies VIII learn these devices In time.
and then they Will fare better. ANYWAY, II Is the
Tendency Of recruits to grumhe, and little longer
service will eliminate much OF the fault-inding.