The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-07-10
How Soldiers We're Fed by Powers in
China.

The Washington correspondent Of
the Philadelphia Public Ledger gives
this interesting account Of the mau-
ner in which the different armies Of
China are fed, clothed and otherwise
provided for:
Captain Thomas Franklin, of the
commissary department, who was on
duty with the United States troops in
China, was designated to examine and
report upon the equipment and pro.
visions made for maintaining the
troops of the several nations on duty
in China and to especially observe
how the American troops compared
with those Of the other nations.
Captain Franklin in his report dc.
clares that the American soldier was
the best fed and best cared for of all
the allied army, and was the best all
round fighting man. The soldier re-
quired and received better food than
the soldier of any other army, fact
which astonishcd European military
officers. When British officer, who
had observed the quality aud quantity
of supplies issued to the American
soldier, inquired how often the excel
lent bacon that was issued was given
the men, was Informed they could
have it three times if they desired, he
was incredulous. But, while our sup.
plies of every description were more
generous in quantity and superior in
quality than those Of other nations,
they were not packed with the same
care to insure safe transportation and
ready handling.
In this particular the British and
Japanese were in advance of the 9th
ers. With the Japanese few packages
exceeded in weight iG0 pounds and
were arranged to tit the coolie labor.
Considerable quantities of food were
lost by the Americans in transit be-
cause of the weight Of the packages,
which was GOO pounds These we're
difficult to handle and in consequence
were liable to accident aud breakage,
with inevitable loss by theft. In the
British army the weight of packages
was limited to 100 pounds for pack
animals, which enabled them to be
moved easily and rapidly. Except
generous supply of ammunition, the
Russians did not seem to have any
stores to move. Most of the supplies
for the French army were purchased
in the east, for the reason that they
were dispatched hurriedly from
France. Their commissariat, there
fore, could not be compared with that
Of the United States.
The Germans were handicapped
with big packages, and in that respect
were as bad as the United States. In
addition to bulk, the packages we're
sufficient in strength, leading to break
age and consequent loss.
In addition to rice, bread, dried
fish and tea, the Japanese ration was
varied with beef and mutton. The
Sikhs used only mutton or goat, but
the Mohammadans ate everything, ex-
cept pork. The Russians seemed to
have no commissary, and practically
lived on black bread and o soup made
OF every and anything, yet they thriv-
ed and were apparently contented.
The Russians, however, had cooking
arrangements superior to the others.
Upon springless carriage was mount
ed an iron furnace under boiler with
water jacket. Into this boiler the
Russians put everything in the way Of
material for soup that came into their
possession. The cover was then
screwed down, the FIRE lighted and the
perambulating caldron was sent after
it's company. When camp was made,
all the men had to do was to stack
their arms and march past the soup
machine. As they passed each soldier
received his ration of hot, we'll cook
ed, thick soup, which was drawn from
q faucet. Meanwhile the cook was
chopping bread with hatchet. The
bread seemed to have been made of
equal parts of bran, sand and sawdust,
and was sour. The Russians looked
hearty and strong, therefore it is IN
ferred they thrived on their diet.