The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-06-14
OUR ARMY N TIE ORIENT.
Letter Received From Maj. 6. W.
Ruthers, Chief Commissary
In Northern Luzon.
SUBSISTENCE DEPARTMENT IS SUPERB.
The Fresh Beef supply an Important
Factor-Thc Deef stew. with Veg
ctabics. the Finest Component o'
the Ration Ever Put Into the
Hands Of Troops.

Washington, June e.-MaJ. ". w
Ruthers, chief commissary of the de
partment OF northern Luzon, in q
letter to Commissary-nencral Weston
dated April Is, says there are 33o sta
tions in that department with about
$4,000 troops. and that the supplying
OF an army of this size divided into Sc
many stations is much more difficult
than if il was an army in one BODY
BESIDES the troops. there were AT tha'
time several thousand prisoners who
were being fed by the government.
The subsistence department, ne say
is in superb condition and many
gratifying statements and reports are
received from all the officers. Gen.
Wheaton,. in command of the depart
mcnt, has taken occasion several
times to speak in the highest terms OF
the commissary department.
The Fresh Beef supply.
Mai. Luthers devotcs considerable
space in his letter 10 the subject oil
beef supply. For the most part, the
meat ration served the troops is the
refrigerated or frozen beef, although
in some Of the interior points where
there is neither rail or water trans
portation this supply is necessarily
curtailed. lie had sent beef. 60 miles
into tie interior with bull carts. lie
notes. as a remarkable fact, that this
beef Was transported through a coun-
try infested with ladrones and small
bands OF insurgents, yet the cart driv'
ers and supplies were not molested.
lie SAYS they must have paid toll &c
the tribal chiefs. for had the supplies
been accompanied by escorts there
would have been a daily ambush.
lie saws there is need Of more water
transportation, and IL he had il hs
would use more frozen beef, as the
influence on the sick report is quite
marked: the more fresh beef used the
better the health of the troops. The
native beef from which the animal
heat has not entirely departed Is moi
hcalthful.
Beef stew with Vegetables.
Speaking Of a particular feature OF
the army ration, Maj. Rathers says
The beef stew with vegetables Il
the finest component of the ration
ever put into the hands of troops. 1
will take the place of fresh beef whel
the latter can not be supplied TO
some time, and with the addition o
some bareback. coffee. sugar, salt ant
baked beans, you could cut an arm.
loose from its transportation 10
some time. II is the finest ration TO
hikes ever put into the hands OF
soldier. and is highly praised b.
them"
Mai. Ruthers says for some time h
used the English army rations (bee
stew and potatoes) in two-pound ans
which gave satisfaction, but does no
compare to the beef stew issue of th
United States army rations.
standard Emergency Ration.
lie also SAYS that the standard cTsr
gency ration has given very good sat
isfaction. At the same time he adds
"A ration of beef stew and ,egeta
bles, one pound Of hard bread in tn
and "A tablet Of chocolate, | would pu
against any so-called emergency RI
ton ever manufactured. and il woul
not cause intestinal irritation, Q
which some complaint is made
Another fact he states: 'Experienc
shows that the American soldier ser'
ing in these islands needs the fu
army ration. including the full allow
ance of fresh beef; his health can NJ
be maintained without it.. In add
ton. his appetite apparently crave
sweets and acids"
nd for Sauer krnut.
In this connection he mentions IN
demand for sauer kraut. Withou
abundance Of nutritious food. he say
the health OF American rs can not i
maintained in the Luzon climatl
: The health Of Filipinos living o
: American foods. he says. is much be
, ter than those living on native food