The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1901-07-05

III China, was designated to examine
and report upon tho equipment and
provisions mado for maintaining the
troops of tho several nations Oh duty
in China and to especially observe
how tho American troops compared
with those Of tho other nations
Captain Franklin in his report do
clares that tho American soldier was
tho boSt fod and bcst cared g.. of all
tho allied army, and was tho bost all
round fighting man. The soldior ro-
Quirel and received better food than
the aoldior of any other army, u fnct
which astonishod European military
officers, Whom British officer, who
had observed tho quality and qunn-
tHy OF supplies issued to tho Amcri-
can Soldior, inquired how often tho
excollont bacon that WAS issued was
given tho men, WAS informed they
could hnvo it threo times if they do
sired, ho was increl lnious. But,
while our supplies Of every doscrip-
ton worc moro generous in quantity
and superior in quality than those of
other nations, they wero not packed
with tho same care to insure safe
transportation and ready handling.
In this particular tho British and
Japanese were in advance of tho
others. With tho Japanese few
PACKAGES exceeded in weight 100
pounds and wore arranged to fit tho
coolie labor. Considerable quanti-
tics Of food were lost by the Amer-
cans in transit because of tho weight
Of the packages, which was 600
pounds. These were difficult to han.
die and in consequence wore liable
to accident and breallage, with in
ovitablo loss by thoft. In tho Brit
ish army tho weight of packages was
limited to 100 pounds for pack ami
mails, which enabled thom to bo moved
oasily and rapidly. Except gem
erous supply Of ammunition, tho
Russians did not seom to have any
stores to movo. Most Of tho sup
plies for tho French troops wero
purchased in tho east, for tho reason
that they were dispatched hurriedIy
from France. THOR commissariat,
therefore. could not bo compared
with that Of tho United States.
Tho Germans were handicapped
with big packages, and III that ro-
spect were rs bad rs tho United
States. In addition to bulk, the
packages wero insufficient in strength,
leading to broakage and consequent
loss.
In addition to rice, broad, dried
fish and tea, tho Japanese ration was
varied with bocf and mutton. The
Sikhs used only mutton or gont, but
tho Mohammcdans ato everything OK
copt pork. Tho Russians seemed tc
have no commissary, and practically
lived on black bread and a soup made
of ovory and any thing, yot they
thrlvcd and wore apparently contont
cd. The Russians, however, had
cooking arrangements superior tc
tho Others Upon n springless car.
riage WAS mounted an iron furnace
under boiler with water jacket
Into this boiler tho Russians put
everything in tho way of material fol
soup that came into their possession
Tho cover was then screwed down
tho fire lighted and the perambulat
ing caldron was sent aftor it's com
pany. When camp WAS made, al
the mon had to do WAS to stack thoil
arms and march past the soup ma
chine. AS they passed each soldier
received his ration Of hot, well cooked
thick soup, which was drawn from {
faucet. Meanwhile the cook was
chopping bread with hatchot. The
bread seomed 10 have been made O.
equal parts Of bran, sand and saw
dust, and WAS sour. The Russian,
looked hearty and strong, therefore
it is inferred they thrived on thol
dict