New-York tribune., 1899-12-17
RATION AND DIET DIFFER.
AN ARMY OFFICER MEETS CERTAIN
COMMON CRITICISMS.
SOLDIERS HAvB WIDE CHOICE OF ARTICLES
OF FooD-THE SURPLUS UNUSED MAY BID
EXCHANGED FOR LUXURIEs.

OF FooD-THE SURPLUS UNUSED MAY BID
EXCHANGED FOR LUXURIEs.
Washington. Dec. 16 (specaD.- Lieutenant Colonel
Charles Smart, deputy surgeon general. disposes Of
the criticisms of the Army ration which have been
going the rounds OF the Western press. denounclng
its unsuitabty for troops in the tropics and urg-
Ing a radical change in its character. These publi-
cations. he says, based on the elementary prop
ositions that while fatty foods good where a
high development Of animal heat is required they
are harmful in climate where there is no call on
the system for large heat production. Colonel
Smart, contin ling. says:
There twelve ounces Of bacon In the Army
ration, and this is no doubt an excess Of fat for
the Army ration should therefore be changed. The
critics who see 80 clearly that the ration should be
proper to be eaten in tropical climates, and who
astounded at the dulness OF those Army officials
this kind, do not appear know that the Army
tary propositions which form the basis OF their
argument
siderable difference between the ration OF the sol
der and the diet of the soldier. The critics OF the
Army ration do not understand this. The ration Is
the allowance for subsistence Of one person for one
day. The diet Is what Is actually prepared IN the
The ration is prescribed by law and consists of the
meat, the bread, the vegetables, the trult, the
candle components
The meat component does not consist Of fat pork
tic economy of Army kitchens appear TO believe
On the contrary there IL some variety IN the meat
component. 1t consists of 20 ounces of fresh beei
20 ounces of mutton. when the cost does not
exceed that Of beef; or T. ounces of pork. or l.
ounces of bacon, 90 ounces of salt beef or IL
ounces Of dried fish, or Is ounces of picked hsh,
or 20 ounces of canned salmon, or IL ounces OF
fresh fish.
The bread component consists Of IS ounces RoS Of Of
flour, with baking powder when the mon nave 70
bake their bread. IS ounces Of soft bread or
16 ounces Of hard bread. or 70 ounces of cornmeaL
The vegetable cOmponents consist of 2 20 ounces
of beans, 2-5 ounces Of peas or 80 ounces OF
rice. / 3-j ounces of hOminy and l6 ounces OF
potatoes. Il - ounces of potatoes and
and 40 ounces of canned tomatoes or 40 ounces
can be obtained in the neighborhoOd or transported
I'm a wholesome condition from distance.
The fruit component consists of two ounces or
dried fruit such as prunes, peaches or apples. The
other components consist OF coffee green or coffee
roasted, or tea green or black and sugar, or mo-
asses or cane syrup; vinegar, salt and black pep
components.
FLEXIBLE AND ELASTIC.
The slightest knowledge of practical cookery will
enable any who reads this to form an idea or
what may be called the hexibility of the Army
ration The soldier in the tropics IS not called upon
to eat his twelve ounces Of bacon or go hungry.
And there is variety, also, In all the other con-
stituents except the soap and candle components.
If the scientist will calculate the elementary