Newport weekly independent., 1901-06-14
Letter Received From Mai. c. w. Ruthers, Chief Commissary
 in Northern LuZon.
SUBSISTENCE DEPARTMENT IS SUPERB.
The Fresh Beef Supply an Important FactOr-The Beef Stew, with Veg etables, the Finest Component of the Ration Ever Put Into the Hands of Troops.

Washington, June s.-Maj. G. w. Ruthers, chief commissary of the de- partment of northern Luzon, in a letter to Commissary-G General Weston, dated April 15, says there are 33s sta tions in that department with about 25,O00 troops, and that the supplying of an army of this size divided into so many stations is much more difficult than if it was an army in one body. Besides the troops, there were at that time several thousand prisoners who were being fed by the government. The subsistence department, he says, is in superb condition and many gratifying statements and reports are received from all the officers. Gen. Wheaton, i'll 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. Kuthers devotes considerable space in his letter to the subject of 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 eurtailed. He had sent beef 60 miles into the interior with bull carts. He notes, as a remarkable fact, that this beef was transported through coun- try infested with ladrones and small bands of insurgents, yet the cart drlv- CTS and supplies were not molested. He says they must have paid toll to the tribal chiefs, for had the supplies been accompanied by escorts there would have been a daily ambush.
 He says there is need of more water transport ation, and if he had 1t he 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 not healthful.
 Beef Stew With Vegetables.
 Speaking of particular feature of the army ration, Maj. Ruthers says:
 "The beef stew with vegeta bles IS the finest component of the ration ever put into the hands of troops. 1t will take the place of fresh beef when the latter can not be supplied for some time, and with the addition of some hardtack, coffee, sugar, salt and baked beans, you could cut an army loose from it's transportation for some time. It is the finest ration for 'hikes' ever put into the hands of a soldier, and is highly praised by them"
 Maj. Ruthers says for some time he used the English army rations (beef stew and potatoes) in two-pound cans, which gave satisfaction, but does not compare to the beef stew issue of the United States army rations.
 Standard Emergency Ration.
 He also says that the standard emer- gency ration has given very good sat isfaction. At the same time he adds: "A ration of beef stew and vegeta- bles one pound of hard bread in tin, and tablet of chocolate, I would put against any so-called emergency ra- tion ever manufactured, and it would not cause intestinal irritation, of which some complaint is made"
 Another fact he states: Experience shows that the American soldier serv. ing in these islands needs the full army ration, including the full allow ance of fresh beef; his health can not be maintained without it. In addi- ton, his appetite apparently craves sweets and acids"
 Demand for Snuer krrWt.
 In this connection he mentions the demand for sauer kraut. Without abundance of nutritious food, he says the health of Americans can not he maintained in the Luzon climate The health of Filipinos living or American foods, he says, is much bet ter than those living on native foods