The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-06-30

rangements for an ample supply Of hot
along the route.
Not a little OF the complaint which mas
arisen in some OF our camps. notably at
Tampa and Chickamaugua. Of insufficient
food IS attributed 20 the fault OF company
or regimental officers who, either from the
ignorance OF the system or from negi-
gerceor indifference, have failed 10 Rake
their acquisitions properly or promptly.
In some such cases the comm!sary off,
Ger OF tne corps has departed from routine
and supplied the lack. A few days ago a
complaint was made az the headquarters
Of the Seventh corps that the men Of
the newly arrived regiment had received
no breakfast. The report was made az
eleven O'Clock. Waving formaliy. Col
Wood cook the matter il hand with char
acteristic energy, ard within an hour or
two the regiment was not only provided
with a breakfast, but also with q supply
OF rarions FOR future use. One thing IS
wholly certain, the United States govern
rent allows no empty sIomachs X there
be any way 20 I'LL them. There IS neither
negl1 gence nor Indifference, nor Is there
any delay that can be avoided, az head
quarters Food supplies have been sent
IN carloads lots by express, instead OF
the slower freight. 10 meet cases which
were regarded as important.
The total quantity OF food allowance. as
already stated in these columns, is three
and a quarter pounds per day per man.
The impression prevails ;hat this is
limited IN variety TO bacon. beans and
bareback. with coffee. That may be the
case in some regiments. but II IS not the
case in all, and need not be the case in
any except for a brief time, and under ex-
ceptional circumstances. Under the ordin-
airy conditions OF camp. -four is issued
instead of bareback to those having
ranges which will enable them to utilize
it for BISCUIT. AS rapidly as possible all
are being supplied with such ranges In
camp sufficiently near q bakery, -four is
issued and is exchangeabIe at the bakery
for fresh bread on the basis of pound of
-four for pound OF bread. AS the ex-
change gives the soldier a pound for a
pound, and gives the baker d profit Of Is
percent on the transaction, there is no
difficulty in the process and the result is
of mutual benefit When fresh meat and
vegetables are obtainable a suitable
amount OF both are issued IN place Of an
equal weight OF bacon or beans. If the
meat is bad or the vegetable decayed.
the fault is with the company cook who
HIS failed TO take due care of the issue,
The inspection Of all purchases is very
rigid. and nothing is accepted by the de-
partment which is not the best Of its
kind and in the best order and condition.
The officers OF regiment provide their
own food. One OF their number is Sc
lected TO act as caterer. He thus be-
comes target for all the kicks and ''jol-
lying. gOod-natured and otherwise, OF
his companions. A cook is engaged. and,
according TO the opulence or the economy
of the mess. the colonel and his associates
live on the fat of the land with cham
payne and truffles, or on a good variety
of substantial food, except at times. when
they fare as the men do The expens Sc
of the table and kitchen is divided equal
ly among those who share in the pro-
vision The ranks of the regular army
nave an advantage over the volunteers.
They are provided with cooks who, by
long eXperieN.e, have learned to vary the
menu with palatabIe dishes made from the
same materials, and TO secure every pos
sible advantage from the ratIons, what
ever they may be-