New-York tribune., 1904-08-15


Subsistence Department made It possible to
supply hot food on the firing line During the
Boxer trouble in China in 1900 It was called
upon 70 meet the sudden demand of the army
transported there among hostile SURROUNDINGS
ana successfully met every requirement to the
envy Of the other troops in the international
force, especially regarding the amount and
quality furnished. The new army ration estab-
hsheo by President Mckinley in 1901 is the best
and most liberal one Of any army ration in the
world as may be seen by comparison and goes
Tar toward insuring the hcalth and efficiency OF
the troops. who are so largely dependent on tbs
food supply. One of the greatest authorities on
food diet and hygiene said in 1902: MY ex-
perience in studying the diets of the different
armies Of the world is that far and away the
best for the making Of physically powerful, SOL
dIers is that given in the army OF the United
States OF America"
The Subsistence Department is constantly ex
perinenting with foodstu1s, and has by a new
method for the preparation and packing of
bacon. roast beef hash. corned beef hash and
vegetable stew greatly facilitated campaigning
in tropical climates and remote regions Troops
are afforded at all times an ample ana excellent
supply Of the meat ration wher fresh meat
cannot be obtained, all of which adds greatly
to the comfort and effectiveness Of the troops
and insures in a marked degree their mobility
in campaign. Recently Comn1:ssary General
Weston, who combines with his long military
experience knowledge of practical chemistry
has prepared for issue a canned fresh beef
vegetable ration" which, it is believed will
solve the important problem how best to sup
ply the army in time OF war. especially in hot
weather and distant fields of operation.
All devices heretofore adopted have proved
more or less unsatisfactory in the tropics. and
under no circumstances have desiccated vege-
tables been found palatabe by troops The
new ration, when canned consists of II ounces
Of fresh beef and IA ounces Of vegetables IN
cluding potatoes, onions, etc.
ARMY AID IN EMERGENCIES.
When some sudden calamity, due 10 fire, food,
famine hurricane. has overtaken the people
OF region where the army had supplies within
reach, prompt and generous relief has always
been afforded those made destitute by these ap-
palling calanitieS. These efforts have called
forth the warrnest expressions OF gratitude from
the benedciarles. Among some of the most
notable instances which have occurred in this
respect are thosa on the occasion of the loss
Of life and property in the food on the Missis-
sippi River in 1891; in the Santiago campaign
Of 1898. when the Spaniards expelled the peo-
PIE from the city, and they came TO the Ameri-
can army IN a wretehed and starving condition
and were fed and cared for; when Porto Rico
visited BY the destructive hurricane in
1899. which left death and starvation In its
wake; in the disaster at Galveston in 1900 when
the city almost swept away by flood and
thousands OF lives lost: when the vol
canic eruption occurred in the French West
Indies In l5O2. In which nearly forty thousand
human beings perished, and when the people OF
Cuba were subjected 10 the horrors OF the re
concentrate order and were starving. II was,
in a measure a race against death when the
steamship Comal carried suCcor TO the helpless
and famished people OF that island. who
aavF- n
timely and generous efforts IN their behalf. The
subsistence department fed the helpless and
starving Fihpinos by purchasing and distrib-
uttng for the insular government over twenty
million pounds OK rice. sugar and salt in 1902.
This. while from motives OF humanity. operated
In the end as a vital war measure. In num-
berless instances. too. the subsistence depart
ment afforded relief 10 the destitute people ot
the archipelago
these two great supply departments OF the army
undoubtedly make large demand upon the in
dustries OF the country, and without catering
70 any particular region or locality the general
theory OF efficient and economic administration
has naturally evolved a plan IN each depart
ment where selected geographical centres ara
recognized as best calculated 20 meet all ends
IN view. For supplying subsistence, the army
has established it's principal purchasing and
storage depots at Boston. New-York. Philadel
phia- Chicago, st. Louis Omaha, Kansas city,
New-Orleans and san Francisco. at each OK
which stores and foodstuffs purchased I'm
large quantities. the purchases at New-York and
San Francisco amounting TO about $l,TJ0OO0
annually at each place, while at Chicago Kan
sas city and Omaha they average about ST.
2JOOOO a year at each place. san Francisco
supplies the larger portion OF the regular ra-
ton, ard many OF the sales stores which are 10
be bought by officers and men. Chicago fur
nshes the bulk Of the salt meats and meat
products, Kansas City and Omaha are drawn
upon largely for packing house products. while
IN New-York the bulk OF special articles for
sale and supply are purchased.
PURCHASES MADE IN BEST MARKETS.
The policy OF the subsistence department is
10 purchase in the most advantageous markets.
considering cost and quality. and by always
favoring home or local markets, when prac-
ticable. much stuff is purchased at or near
various military posts in the country where the
comfort of the soldier and the interests or the
government can be best subserved. When Sc
cured at the general purchasing or supply
depoLs articles are required to be up to a pre-
scribed standard, and after being duly inspected.
are boxed, marked and shipped by the con-
tractor or dealer. under supervision Of proper
officials, direct to the storage depots or post
commssaries. II viii take only casual computa-
tion to the advantages which, through their
expenditures of millions OF public money, result
to the producers of fOodstuffs and the manu-
faCturers OF canned articles, into all or which
skilled unskilled American labor 50 largely
enters.
When the subsistence department has
cured the food and made IL ready for shipment
there begins the important task of the quarter
masters department to transport IL quickly ana
surely for the maintenance OF the troops. To
accomplish this. railroads or water routes must
be selected with regard TO economy ana talr
division and distribution Of the government
patronage. all in time resulting In the better
ment of industrial conditions. The quarter
masters department, too, has its map OF mill
tary geography ever open. The country Is judi
ciousIy divided into supply sections, which,
though based UpoE military exigencies and pub
lie interests only. insure to the people of all
parts Of the United States & fair share in the
thirty-odd millions Of dollars expended annually
by that branch of the supply department OF