The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-06-09
FOOD FOR BOYS IN BLUE.
How United States Troops in the Wal
with Spain Will BE Pro-
Nided For.

1nasmuch as an army is said to 'movt
on its stomach" the question of the
commissariat is one of supreme impor
tance. The men must be fed Will,
they are on duty. During transporta.
ton they will be supplied with ready.
cooked rations, for the sake of con.
venience. The base of supplies for the
expeditionary army will be Tampa, be.
cause that point is the nearest and
most convenient railway terminus
Thither all the provisions for the troop.
will be forwarded. Commissaries OIL
the island will make acquisitions fol
supplies for a certain number of meT
for a given number of days. THESE
acquisitions will be sent to the depo,
at Tampa and the officer in charge al
the depot will deliver the supplies to
the quartermaster for shipment. The
quartermasterthe reupon will ship them
to whatever point may be designated
Thus the army of invasion vii. be well
fed and happy while the Spanish troops
on the island were pressed by hunger
as well as by the insurgents from be
hind.
1t will cost Uncle Sam is cents day
for the food of each soldier sent t.
Cuba. To this must be added four cents
for transporting and issuing the pro.
visions, etc. The total rations for ,OOC
men for one day weigh 1907 pounds
One thousand men every "a hours con.
sumo $50 pounds of bacon, 1000 pounds
of hard bread, $50 pounds of beans
1000 pounds of potatoes, so pounds OF
roasted and ground coffee, $50 pounds
of sugar, 20 gallons of molasses, ten
gallons of vinegar, 40 pounds of salt, Is
pounds of candles and 2R pounds OF
black pepper. Most of the cooking dur
ing the campaign will be done in por.
table ovens, which are folded up when
not in use, inclosing the culinary uten.
sis. In camp the apparatus unfolds
into a skeleton stove, on which may be
prepared at one time 200 pounds of
meat or fish, So pounds of bread and &C
pounds of vegetables and buildings
When practicable, fresh meat, fresh
vegetables and fresh baked bread are
substituted for the ration above de.
scribed, each man receiving a pound
and a quarter of beef or mutton, a
pound of -four and pound of vege.
tables. Opportunities in Cuba, how
ever, are not likely to be favorable &c
Il luxurious diet.
Obviously, an invasion of Cuba would
not be practicable without the coopera-
ton of the navy. Subsistence of forces
on the sea is by no means as difficult
as on land, inasmuch as each ship OF
war is fitted up like a big floating hotel
with kitchens, experienced cooks and
plentiful stores of provisions at hand
Nevertheless, it costs more to feed
sailor than a soldier. Every person on
board of one of Uncle Sans fighting
vessels has an allowance of 80 cents per
diem for food, from the cabin boy tC
the captain. The officers draw their al
lowance in money, however. For the
grew an ordinary ration is pound and
a quarter of fresh meat, pound of
fresh vegetables. pound of fresh bread,
half an ounce of tea or two ounces OF
coffee, and four ounces of sugar. Such
luXuries, of course, are not obtainable
always, and hard tack, beans, rice and
salt pork or salt beef are substituted
For each man daily there is always
an additional allowance of half pint
of pickles, half a pint of molasses or
sirup and half pint of vinegar. Blu.
ter is furnished three times a week.
Canned meats, ham, sausage and pre-
served fish are served at intervals. The
cruiser New York has 455 men. 40 ma
rines and A officers. To feed her per-
sonnet costs about 5000 a month.
In addition to the food and pay of a
soldier, Uncle Sam is obliged to reckon
for his clothing. TO provide him with
clothes the infantry private receives
an allowance of $4S.36 for the first six
months of his enlistment. He has the
advantage of purchasing from the gov
eminent such articles as he requires
at cost price, including Blankets
Chicago Tribune.