New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-07
FOOD FOR THE TROOPS.
DIFFICULTIES THAT HAVE SUCCESS
SIVELY ARISEN.
AFTER BEING on HALFRATloNs FOR "EhNs
THE SOLDIERS ~ CUBA AT LAST HAVE
CIV

AFTER BEING on HALFRAT1oNs FOR WEEKS
THE SOLDIERS ~ CUBA AT LAST HAVE
ADEQUATE SUPPLIES
fynoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE'I
Santiago de Cuba, July 22.-Fresh beer ana
soft bread were landed here to-day Tor the COM
missary. and the soldiers feel that at last they
can make a beginning of recuperaton' since
,ha landing month ago to-day. they have sub
sisted on canned goods. hardtack ana picked
nork Even these were seldom in sufficient
Quantities. Hope has always seized on each de-
velopment Of the campaign as being likely to
aid in solving the food problem. The removal
Of the transports from Ba!qulri to Siboney, and
The CONSEQUENT cutting off Of seven or eight
miles OF land transportation. was looked on as
certain 70 make a substantial difference, yet 30
MANY supplies were landed at the further place
that many wagons and pack mules had to be
Len, on the service from Baiquiri TO the new
base.
After their long trip on the transports the
draueht animals were much weakened on idhu-
ing. Some were utterly unfit for service; 'hose
that could travel were not equal 10 theT usual
loads 1t was thought that in snort time MI
would get stronger, and then amHuniuon anu
provisions could be got 10 the front IN ainPe
.moupte Rut the necessities of the situation
compelled the overworking Of packers. drivers
and mules Some animals became useless or
died Others strayed away. wagons were
broken in the terrible roads. and. In the absence
OF proper mechanics and tools. couio not DC
mended So in this regard, also. the limitations
were constant.
REFUGEES EAT. SOLDIERS SUFFER-
After the battles Of July and 2. when the
American lines were stretched around the De-
leaguered city it seemed as If there must DE at
least an approach 10 the regular ratonihe Vi
the troops There was truce for week Gar
tridges. which while the firing was gong on
were Of first Importance. did not nave any
longer to be moved forward in such quantities
This relieved the transportation facilities OF part
~ their work and should have made possible
better feeding of the men,
But here came a new complication FL Caney
was crowded with refugees from Santiago Mos'
Of them had no food. In pursuance OF the Po'-
icy that has been followed from the iirst' sup
plies were sent to them several thousand ra-
lions a day This cut down the amount for the
troops just so much
One Of the early difficulties OF the commlssarE
denartment was getting the articles ashore. At
siboney there was no dock. Boxes OF bareback
and sides OF pork had to be transferred from the
Of the way to shore. Then barge carried the
things a little further. Finally men waded out
and brought them to dry land. Sometimes they
had TO hold the boxes above their heads TO Keep
the surf from dashng over them. Necessarily
some goods were ruined. 1t was also difficult to
get enough abe-bodied men for this. A number
had been brought from the United States. but
some got sick. some found the work too hard and
others quit for other reasons.
PIER UTILIZED.
Here too. a remedy was found. A small pier.
at which troops could be landed from rowboats'
although with difficulty when a high was
running was already standing. This was
strengthened and extended. An abundance OF
squared timber for the purpose was found IN
sawmill few hundred feet away. 1t Is true
that II took days TO determine on the building of
this pier and 10 do the work. but after the thing
was accomplished it possible to land new
classes of supplies Barrels of potatoes and
onions too bulky TO be carried ashore before
could now be got TO the pier and most well
come variation in the camp diet was thus intro
duced.
The surrender Of Santiago and the return Of
its non -combatant inhabitants relieved the com
missary of feeding the thousands at FL Caney
But for the period OF two weeks and half after
the battles Of July and the troops hardly
averaged more than half rations. Regiments
and brigades with commissary officers Of un-
common energy and enterprise Jared better than
others.
WHAT THE MEN HAD TO EAT.
It was a day of rejoicing in one line OF
trenches when instead of can Of tomatoes for
each ten men. the supply was sufficient TO give
every one an eighth Of can. Hardtack and
pickled pork were least likely to fail, but even
they were not inexhaustble. Canned beef came
at times, coffee was usual. but sugar was lack
ing for days at time.
The Regulars exercise considerable ingenuity
In getting a variety OF dishes out Of bareback
and picked pork. The bread may be fried
whole: Il may be cooked overnight, and then
heated with grease. the addition Of sugar max
ing 1t kind of pudding. But with all such de-
vices these staples pail on the healthy man. To
the soldier I'll from malaria or heat exposure.
they are likely to become nauseating. Doubt
less a certain amount Of illness due to In
ADEQUATE and improper food yellow fever itself
is said to be due to infection, and nothing else,
but it seems reasonable that well -nourished
patient has better chance OF recovery than
weakened one
SICKNESS DYING OUT.
Malaria, due digging in the earth. to ex-
posture to heat and rain. and TO other causes.
has been a common illness. Thermal fever.
which seems to yield readily to treatment II the
patjent Will keep In the shade has also attacked
a number Fortunately, much OF the foregoing
is now in the past tense. The cavalry and much
of the infantry have been moved back TO more
wholesome region in the hills. Fevers of all
kinds will be wiped out The transports that
still have rations in their holds are In Santiago
Harbor A short haul will bring the food into
camp Not only will there be plenty of II. but
q variety. Fat pork, ideal for the Klondike, will
no longer be the only or the chief meat. To-
bacco will be easy TO get Officers may soon
buy canned fruits. lime juice and other deca-
ces The fresh beef will be a great blessing.
One officer who happened TO be here when the
meat was unloaded could get no wagon or pack