Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-12-22
ARMY RATION IN TROPICS
Report OF the Board Submitted
to the Secretary of War.
RECOMMENDATIONS SUGGESTED.
Reduction of the Fresh Meat Ration
Opposed by the Board - oatm cal
substituted For Dried Peas.
Amount of Sugar Increased and
Amount of Fruit Reduced.

/
Amount of Sugar Increased and
Amount Of Fruit Reduced.
The secretary Of war will shortly an
nounce his decision regarding proposed
changes In the tropical ration for the
use of American troops, writes the
Washington correspondent Of the New
York Sun. The question Of an emer-
1 gency remains undetermined by the
board appointed for its consideration.
but it is an open secret that the board
fayors the emergency ration prepared
by it's direction. This ration differs
very much from the commercial ra-
! tons of the war department 1t is
much cheaper, but lacks the nutrition
of the commercial ration. The board
1 expected to make up this deficiency by
I giving the soldier chocolate instead of
/ tea to drink. The experiments with
the troops demonstrated, however. that
1 tea was better than chocolate. and the
board has now determined to substi-
/ tute tea and improve upon the ration
so as to increase it's nutritive value
The question of the regular tropical
ration has been considered by the same
board. and its conclusions, together
with the recommendations of Commits
sary General Weston. are now before
the secretary Of war for action. Re-
ferring to a recommendation made by
i board In the Philippines that the
tity. the board says:
THE recommendation that the fresh
meat ration be reduced In quantity was
so opposed to all the teachings of ex-
perience, both In our own country and
in Cuba and Porto Rico. that the board
was unable to accept this recommends
ton as conclusive without further in
! vestigation. Two members of the board
have served in Cuba and the third in
Porto Rico. and their personal expert
| ence has been that as much fresh meat
was desired and eaten as In the Unit
I ed States and with no deleterious eff
feet on the health of the men. The ma
tives of these countries are also large
meat eaters, when they are able to Sc
+ II,
/ ably stronger and healthier looking
| than the poorer classes. who from ne
! cessity are mainly vegetarians The
board also interviewed number of Of
| ficers and other persons who had been
! In the Philippines. and, taking all
sources of information together, the
board is of the opinion that 1t would
/ h. N icta tn 10
ton in the meat ration.
ANY ration adopted must comprise a
meat. bread, a vegetable. seasoning
anda coffee sugar and fruit component.
and when careful comparison Is made
between the articles now composing
these components and all those suita-
| BILE for the purpose 1t will readily be
seen that no important addition can be
made to the list and that, in fact the
articles comprising the ration must be
about the same in all climates. The
problem is really to find such ration
as will by substitutions among its va
rious ingredients be suitable for all eli
mates. Such a ration should possess
the following qualifications:
at should be nutritious, sufficient In
quantity, easy of transportation and
should consist of as few different arti-
Giles as possible. 1t should be proof
against climatic changes and susceptt-
bic at all times to the greatest feXibili-
ty and elasticity, suitable to either the
tropics or the polar circle and capable
of affording such changes in diet as
will be best calculated to preserve
the health of the soldier under the con-
ditions surrounding him. In cold coun-
tries heterogeneous food and that calcu-
lated to produce bodily heat are neces-
sary. but in warm climates such foods
NAV not be needed. and the ration
should accommodate itself to the needs
of the soldier everywhere. In the
north it should supply him with an
abundance of the heat producing ele-
ments needed. while In the tropics 1t
should supply him with a diet suited
10 his environment, and when he is
called on for any extra exertion 1t
should readily adapt itself to the in
creased demands of the system.
"The bread ration has been simplified
by eliminating cornmeal and providing
that 1t shall consist of one round of
hard bread or Is ounces of -four, with
the necessary leavening component.
/ The only change made in the vegeta-
1 BILE component is the striking out of
1 dried peas and the substitution there
1 for of oatmeal. to be issued at the same
! rate as rice. Peas have not proved
! satisfactory component of the ration
/ Oatmeal is a favorite article of food
with the soldier both in temperate
/ and tropical climates, and large guam
/ titles are purchased and paid for out
/ OF the company funds and used
Z throughout the service. while in the
4 Philippines it has been made a part of
/ the regular ration. with very satisfac-
( tory resulrs. Ground coffee has been
added as an alternative component.
The necessity for such an issue will
Il . in