The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-05
Buffers army as contrasted with that fur
nished by Eagan to the american troops in
the Santiago campaign:


eign army, which is very different nom American
beef for American soldiers. ! have lived and
thrived this beef under the British flag II
various climes at different times. But before
and since Santiago, have never met with the
canned ofal which there caused the death oi
many brave soldiers. The beef supplied today in
South Africa bears little resemblance TO the IA
ton sent to Cuba.
OF biscuit Il 10000 pounds were shipped. A
part OF this ration made from whole meal
The British army biscuit is harder TO mastlcate
than the finer grade of 'hardtaek' supplied &c
the United States Army, and though II contains
more nutriment. / believe too much of it is irri
tating to the bowels and produces dysentery.
The wooden cases are lined with tin and the
contents carefully protected, while in Cuba The
gaping seams OF the unined boxes let IN ram,
imbibei the mud, and spoiled tons OF excellent
ration it reached the front. The British
field bakers also supply excellent fresh bread,
which was a great, though never supplied, wal'
in Cuba.
must also include in the first consignment
$4,000 tins OF the Maehonochie ration OF stewed
beefsteak and vegetables. This has been tired
successfully in several recent campaigns, and a
similar or even better ration could be prepared
for the United States War Department at a
moderate figure. When great and generous
nation was ready TO eNpend millions for its army
IN Cuba the troops were starving rancid pork
and canned refuse from 4 beef tea factory. The
Machonochie is full and luscious dinner Of
meat and vegetables for two men, in a portable
can. The tin is self-opening, and may be readily
heated, or its contents eaten cold. In Cuba it
would have proved boon, in a bi-weekly
issue. 1t has been supplemented in Africa by
other compound rations, chiefly Scotch. The
square cans used for all rations in the British
army have every advantage for portability over
the round cans supplied to the United States
Army.
One of the greatest hardships entailed on the
American soldier has been the lack of anti
scorbutics When fresh meat and vegetables were
not obtsiaabie. Four hundred thousand pounds
weight OF lime juice accompanied the African
n Ashanti an
OF jam was made on alternate days with lime
juice with excellent results.
The medical comfort panniers and boxes that
accompany the British army the march also
deserve notice. The sick and wounded in Cuba
had the cho &c Of rancid pork and bareback or
nothing. The British Tommy" when sick is
moderately iieted on port wine, chicken broth,
and beef tea, though at times the demand
ceeded the supply st the immediate front after
important baths 8. BY this means many men are
rapidly nursed oaek 10 health at the field hospi-
tai. the sick-ess taken in its early stages being
easily defeated without necessitating invaliding
to the base for treatment. The NJ. C.. panniers
go on mule back with each bearer company and
field hospital They contain brandy, port, whis'
ky, arrow root, sago, boyril, roast chicken, meat
essence. special condensed milk, soap, candles,
spirit lamp, cooking vessels, and matches.
Each soldier also carries as part OF his equip
ment an emergency ration 30 often advocated,
apparently without effect, by General Miles.
Such ration will save many lives in every war.
The regulation ration, packed compactly in
fattened oval tin with two compartments, con-
sists Of four ounces of compressed cocoa, honey.
and Iceland mos, and four ounces OF Australian
pemmiesn, bee dried, ground to powder, and
II can only be opened by order OF
an officer or in extremity, and will maintain
strength for two days.
Another interesting bit of information Is
this:
AS the fortunate recipient Of three Mauser bull
let's can testify TO the merciiul qualities Of the
Ii
ties Of the nickel-plated bullets are too well
known, perhaps, 10 need recapituiation. When
Mr.. Marshall, the war correspondent, was shot
in the spine, such wounds were precedentedly
fatal. number OF soldiers have surprised the
British surgeons with similar Tecoveries. Men
shot through the brain have also recovered. But
unfortunately, the Beers soon discovered the
temporary disablement OF the wounds that they
inflicted, md they speedily remedied the de
feet"
Prisoner after prisoner has been found with his
ammunition doetored by an incised cross on the
nose OF the bullet, which makes it spread far
more terribly than the DUN DUN. Some also
have been found with their bullets plastered with
verdigris. Individual British soldiers have re-
taliated by filing the tips of their bullets, after
the DUN DUN pattern, until detected and the
men severely punished. But pause in your de-
good people, your horror of Boer
baTb2rism may be mitigated by the knowledge
that the evil Of poisoned bullets is greatly miti-
gated by heat generated in discharge and the
rapid flight through the air. The incsed bullet
contTavenes civilized warfare bu. the Boer in
knows not Of Geneva conventions. As
10 the British DUN DUN, though 1 can posi-
lively state il has not been issued in South Afri-
ca, it is certainly less inhumaHe than the leaden
bullets Of the Springfield used in Cuba, those
Of any other rife used in war before the recent
adoption Of coated pellets.
The factory at DUN Dunn, Calcutta, turns out
several kinds Of ammunition for Indian use and
the cases marked DUN DUN found by the Beers
at Dundee contained regulation cartridges made
here fnTul-I tItT ftlqfg Ar
IS triumphantly exhibiting split bullets Of Eng
ish make, therefore used by Buffers forces"
These bullets are nosed sporting bullets made by
Eley, Of Loudon Tons of these have been
shipped to the Beers for hunting, and / have
seen several cases of them captured after va
-ious battles. They cannot be used in tine Lee
detford rife, and the fact Of their imprint by
private London firm rather negatives than
proves the charge that they used by the
British
This testimony will be interesting to
people who have hitherto been 'halting
two opinions" as to the compare
i've barbarity of Briton and Boer.
Mr.. Musgrave also defends the English
'fficer in most vigorous style He says:
There IS as little iayoritism in the British
Army in the United States, and trained Off
GERS in time Of war do not find themselves super
seeded by political appointees who have never
shouldered rihe-a distinct hardship during
the late unpleasautness with Spain. The social
butterflies who adopt the army for a profession
have 10 pass an examination rigorous as in
any country in the world. The democracy Of
Rugby, Eton, or Harrow is carried through
sandhurst into the army. AS certain prince
had to flag for young Aston, SO the Queens
grandson in the Rifles, not long since was sub
servient 10 the son OF a wholesale draper, who
boasted three months seniority. What other
amy can show the fearless, clear-cut, intelli-
gent type OF men who officer the United States
and British armiesf The common assertion that
leaders are chosen by social preierment, more
officers being superseded through ia
goritism, is directly negatived by the present
leaders. Wolseley, Roberts, Butler, Kitchener
clery, French, and many others have won their
-ank and hOnors by sheer hard service in the
irmy, which they entered unknown CUBS. II
{ unfortunate TINT there are not more Hector
but when "Bobs'' is commander-in.
,hef direct promotion from rank will be easier
To-day field marshals' hatons can hardly be said
o lie in every private's knapsack.
The authors story of the relief of Lady
ninth is also interesting:
The garrison was ragged, shoeless. AID hungry.
Neat soon disappeared Unfortunately few
vegetables had been planted in the vicility;
ven kafir mealies grew terribly scarce, and the
taryins horses and mules soon became the sta |
lie diet Disease grew apace The neutral ci-
'ifan camp hospital was OVERLOOKING, and Isl |
ulcers and 1853 soldiers had passed through |
he hospital during the first nine weekS sie,e.
'hese figures were doubled during the final eight
weeks and the proportion Of deaths grew larIer |
In the native quarter there was real starvaicsi,
or though the unfortunate people crowded in |
y the Beers to help cat out the town, received /
equation allowance. the same every soldier |
4 the line. mark you, the unfortunate Hndoos /
referred q die rather than risk damnation by |
ating cows meat; and curiously their scruplcs |
we're eSterded to horse flesh, though SOM yota-
les finally accepted this ration in last *
rCnity.
CThe scruples Of the Hindoo in tabooing |
lorse flesn as well as other meat appear |
ess curious" when it is remembered that |
he Buddhist religion forbids the eating |
( any sort Of lesh)
The eonsideraie treatnent Of NATIVES At all |