The times., 1898-08-03

things which are all but absolutely
necessary to the civilized general. The
Huns of eastern Europe did not carry
any provisions on their raid into the
southern provinces. Even as late as
two hundred years ago, the savage
Highlanders, when enlisted in the SER
vice of the enemies of England, did not
carry provisions. They lived on the
country. The laws of civilized warfare
forbid the unlimited loot which char
acteriZed military operations of a hun
dred years ago. Moreover, the wars of
today are different in many respects
from those of other centuries. When
neighboring nations fought against one
another in old Europe, the food of the
enemy was not very different from that
of the attacking army. But when the
American army went TO Cuba it was a
recognized fact that American soldiers
could not eat an unlimited amount of
native fruits and keep their health.
The supply train was therefore an alb
solute necessity.
One would suppose, in view of all
these things, that the men selected for
the control of the commssary depart
ment would be men of Skill and ex-
perience, familiar with the handling of
large quantities of provisions, and, If
possible familiar with the task of pro-
visioning an army. 1t might have been
thought that tile man who was respon-
sible for transporting the army and its
food to Tampa would be selected from
r ttea, nh pf rail "a
have been an officer of the army, but
he might have been one of those cap
tains of industry developed in the
complex life of this nation, who are
equal to any sort of job, even one they
have never undertaken before, because
of their many and severe experiences.
An old railroad man would have laugh
ed at the idea of it's being necessary to
hunt among nine miles of stalled
freight cars at Tampa for the partic
ular car which contained needed pro-
visions In all the immense labor of
managing the Philadelphia, Chicago
and Omaha eXpositions it was the Won
der of the world to see how little con-
fusion there was There were incon-
veniences, of course, but everybody had
enough to eat, and a place to sleep, and
water to drink; and that in spite of the
fact that thousands of the visitors did
not know where they were going to
eat or sleep till they arrived in town,
and that the exact number of guests
was not known. In the case Of the
army camps it was known how many
men must be accommodated, and when
they were coming. 1t was known, ap-
proximately, how much food would be
needed per week for each big tem-
porary town. The time at which the
troops were mobilized was precisely
the time at which food is cheapest. In
spite of all these things, the mistakes
that were made We're appalling in their
id:ocy and their consequences. In
many cases the men did not have
enough to eat, and the food which they
did have was of poor quality. Large
quantities OF provisions We're allowed
to spoil because they could not be
found when wanted And all these
things came about, apparently, through
the determination of officials high in
power to give contracts and Salaried
positions to their own friends instead
of to experienced and competent men.
There is no city in the United States
which has had more experience in feed
ing large temporary populations than
Washington. We have huge influx
of sightseers every four years, some
times oftener, and they always have
enough to eat, and they do not have to
pay exorbitant prices. Also the res
taurant-keepers make money. 1t
seems, in view OF our experience, as II
the Government ought to be able to
feed its soldiers without very great diff
fculty.