New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-19
THE FOOD THE ARMY EATS.
,->.orcu AND IN SUFFICIENT VARIETY
IF PROPERLY TREATED.

real attention and the truth concerning
~ natter should be widely published In order
" -o,,eve anxious friends and at the same time
'o,n,eract injurious influences that may be ex-
.rted BY such misstatements
7, was because OF these complaints that Mrs
,nuise E. Hogan. member Of the American
prhl,c Health Association. determined TO In
..stjrate the subject thoroughly. and through
~. courtesy OF Secretary Ager, Surgeon-Gen-
20, s,ernberg. Commissary General Eagan and
,,.,or-Goneral Graham, commanding officer Of
~. Second Army Corps at Camp Ager, received
cory facility TO find out the truth. AS re-
,,,l, Of her investigation she said to-day:
"1 have not completed my study Of camp cook
,.r drawing OF rations and proper balancing Of
.,s,ar,es but have gone far enough TO dis
aver. first that there Is more than sufficient
,sntlty OF food supplied by the Govern
vent for every man: second, that the
constituents Of food required for properly
balanced rations for every season Of the
v.sr are present in the Army ration, as
.noved. as may be seen by any one who has OPP
,or.un,ty 10 examine the Issue and Conversion
rshe' published by the Government for this
,r-nose: third that were the rations drawn
,,onerly. with due regard TO season and
.c,entlfc understanding Of physical require
wants there would be no room for complaint
An ths score of rnonotony and fourth, that II
n. cooks who prepare the meals were persons
VINO understood how to handle food properly in
csnp and how TO prepare appetizing meals with
,trl As might be done with proper teaching
nom a much more meagre supply Of food than
that given BY the Government, there would be
absolutely no reason for complaint.
SCRUTINY GIVEN TO THE SUBJECT.
"surgeon-General Sternberg has expressed TO
me personally his concern in regard TO having
the soldiers food properly balanced. and both
he and Commissary- General Eagan have invited
the closest scrutiny. This is e direct refutation
Of Poulteney Bigelow's questioning assertion, is
any one looking after our men, \ great many
earnest men looking after their Interests
carefully. and It behooyes the men themselves TO
help IN the earnest effort being made to meet
difficulties Of no slight character.
Secretary Wilson told me that in his opinion
there is not the slightest reason to fear the hot
weather in Cuba and elsewhere If the food be
properly prepared and correctly prOport'oned,
and he IS greatly interested IN the effort to &C
complsh this end Commissary General Eagan
has been working for twenty years 10 secure
skilled Army cooks. one for each company and
he has inst sent to Congress a resolution. based
on a convincing presentation Of facts they
exist now. in which he clearly points out that
the chief trouble in regard to food is due TO
the want Of experienced cooks in the Army. and
asks that Congress make special provision for
enlisting professional cooks and bakers for each
regiment.
"The food furnished the Army by the Govern
ment is Of the very best quality. but when II Is
not properly cooked and served II Is naturally
rejected by the soldier. The commissary service
.s undoubtedly 3o.1.s .ts bcs: under IT. circuIn-
stances, and every complaint concerning It's
work. from whatever source. is carefully inves-
fgated.
II have seen during the last week the food
supplied 10 five different regiments at Camp
Alger: have tasted some Of the food when
cooked and found it appetizing; saw the sup
plies directly after they had been issued, and
also investigated the storage methods. In
ONLY one instance could 1 trace a fault TO the
Commissary Department. and even this was but
a trlAe that was easily corrected. If this be
true OF five regiments. is It not likely to be so
Of others?
WHERE THE TROUBLE LIES.
THE keynote Of the whole difficulty lies IN
the fact that the facilities for transportation are
unsatisfactory and the instructions that should be
given 10 every commanding officer or company
IN regard TO the drawing Of ratons are elther
not sufficiently clear or they are not gwen d.
all These Instructions should be given In some
quick effective and comprehensive way, as soon
as possible. in order TO place the men in
position to help themselves. 1t is not TO the DIS
credit Of these commanding officers that they
DO not know just what to do. l, Is unreason-
able 10 expect them to know. BY study and ex-
kyCN
There are certainly not enough experienced COM
m!ssaries in the Regular Army upon whom 10
call for such work in the volunteer army ana
even were they available 1t IS hardly likely that
they would understand the scientific side OF INC
question OF correctly proportioning the rations
for hot weather.
''What then can be done at once. in the most
effective WAY. to meet this condition? 1t is TO
meet this nroblem that am receiving every
possible facility from every division in the
War Department upon which have occasion
to call. and Yet the public is being led to be-
lleve bv careless editors and still more careless
correspondents that the United States Govern
ment il taking no care of It's soldiers beyond
what is absolutely necessary to keep them
alive Even now there appears 10 be a saus-
factory way out Of the difficulties arising from
lack o. experience Of which there will be more
TO say very soon.
an the mean time, let me assure you tha'
even to-day. with change In existing regu-
lations, but simply by understanding the SUD-
Jet in all its bearings. with proper assistance
any one could draw the Regular Army "a
ton and offer a pleasing variety OF food TOT
every day. There need be no constant recur-
renee Of salt pork and bareback with proper
knowledge in regard TO drawing rations
VARIETIES OF FOOD TO BE HAD.
Consider for O moment the varieties Of food
allowed for the troops. that may all be hau
Tor the asking II care be taken to keep within
The percentages allowed Where cooking Is
practicable. there may be had beef mutton
Hesh' dried or picked FISH, pork and bacon
solt OF hard bread. -four. cOrnmeal. baking