The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1900-06-15

ss.ary.
II is very probable that 90 people
out OF every 100 think Of an army as
a great aggregation OF lighting men,
armed to the teeth with rifles, swords
and what not, while they never once
give a thought TO the men In the
rear" Yet these men In the rear are
an important part OF the nghtlng ma
chine
When an army IL encamped In a
friendly country there Is not 80 great |
a difficulty In feeding II as when II Is |
penetrating hostile territory and has |
separated Itself from It's own country. |
And yet in either case II is no light |
task to furnish and distribute the food
that is to keep say 10000 stomachs
satisfied and 10000 hearts In the right
place. This Is the work OF the COM
mlsaary department
When an army division or an army
corps is cncamped at home the prob
lem OF getting supplies is compare
lively simple. Sometimes they are fur
nlshcd on contract. sometimes brought
IN large quantities week or more in
advance OF the time at which they
will be needed. The commisaary gen
eral In responsible for the procuring
OF these supplies and having them de-
posted at a depot within easy reach
OF the troops.
Each company OF regiment has Its
cooks; each regiment has It's commits
sary depot. where supplies are kept
sufficient for, say, week or 10 days
for all the men. Men are detailed from
each company to assist In the work OF
getting the supplies from the regi-
mental depot TO the company kitchens
every day. Others are detailed to help
transport the supplies TO the regiment
al depots from the general headdunrt-
ers whenever the stores In the form "
are getting low.
As all supplies are Issued from head
quarters only on orders and receipts
are given for everything secured. Il
can be seen that there Ia an immense
amount OF clerical work necessary 10
the smooth and uninterrupted work OF
the department.
Suppose an army TO have landed on
. q foreign coast. The lrat move after
|. the landing OF the men and arms IN
to secure a convenient spot for depot
J, OF supplies. These are landed and
piled high on the shore until there
seems TO be a mountain OF boxes In
, extricably mingled In the general
a mass. Gradually these are separated
!, into different piles and order Begin
10 make its appearance out Of chaos
:, until all the supplies are properly
I" housed.
= For an army OF 10000 men an'
- Ia estimated that there are nee
I, essary II 900 totns OF food and for
~ age. This food IL made up O
palatable and strengthening sup
n. plies. with proper proportion o
/. meat. vegetables. coffee and -four 10
"A bread or biscuits. The meat is gen
orally canned although sides OF ba
con are abundant. and even herds o
live cattle are taken along for fresI
meat.
IA Whenever any important move Is l.
m be made by the army each soldier
an generally supplied with ratlons for
IN day. which he carries In his haversach
of These he is not TO use unless ordere
al TO do so. There are. besides. two day.
ko rations carried In transport for eac
he fraction OF a command TO tide IN
troops over the march In the Eng
iish army there are even wagon ar
rangements for cooking meals on IN
march. F'ePt quantities OF sop bein
heated ana meat and potatoes beln
prepared while on the march. hui
when the army moves away from II
base of supplies. then II Is that IN
feeding problem becomes more CON
pllcated.
There are always a number OF me
detailed from each regiment 10 assil
In the work Of bringing up suppllel
The keeping open OF line OF commu
nlcation with the base OF supplies
the first thing that commander mus
see TO, for II means the safety OF hi
army. II this line OF communicable
Ia but a days march, the work Is sin
pie. and does not take many men d
tailed 10 wagon driving TO replenis
the Impoverished stock OF the reg
mental or division larder, But whe
the distance is Increased to 60 or IL
miles the trick is one OF great ain
Guilty.