The Washington herald., 1906-10-29
ARMY MEN LEARN TO COOK
Three Schools in Operation Interest
Officers as Well as Privates.
Gen. sharpe Says Result Is Already
AND Less Waste-The Purpose,

Commissary General Sharpe and his
assistants in the Subsistence Depart
ment are greatly pleased with the re-
suits of the experiment they have been
making for over a year in conducting
school for bakers and cooks of the
army.
The main school az Fort Riley and its
branches at the Presidio and the Wash
ington Barracks have proved to be Of
immense benefit ia the work Of feeding
Uncle Sans troops, and have grown
steadily in favor, not only with the men
assigned 10 that work, but also with
the officers themselves.
When the project was first put under
way, It was greeted with rather con-
temptuous tolerance. If not absolute de-
rision. IN the few months the work
has been carried on. however. It's utility
has become so evident that now it is re-
garded as a necessity, and the officers
are anxious 70 take the course along
with the cooks and bakers.
The officers in the Commissary Depart
ment have been regularly detailed to
take the course of instruction. and at
the same time the officers az the posts
having seen the advantages to he de-
rived from 4 scientific knowledge OF the
work Of preparing the food for the sol
diers have become eager TO take the
lessons along with the others
The COmmissdry Department has been
greatly hampered in the work through
/ lack of special funds for maintaining
the schools. Il has been necessary 10
! condne the instruction TO the prepara-
ton OF the regular rations of the three
posts where the schools are established
and to do this without wasting the sup
plies. For this reason the lessons are
given while the daily meals arc being
! prepared, and care has to be taken that
none Of the food is spoiled. In spite OF
this handicap, however. a great improve
ment has been made in the cooking. and
this progress has become all the more
marked rs the graduate cooks are sent
out to other posts.
one OF the chief advantages resulting
from the special training is that the cooks
are taught how 20 make the most of the
supplies issued 10 them. By careful man
agement q certain per cent can be saved
and exchanged for various delicacies 70
make the meals more attractive The
training all the way through is practical.
not theoretical That is, instead of show
ing the cooks merely how to make the
dishes. they are shown just how much
is needed in preparing a meal for sixty
five men, the present complement of a
company The methods by which the ma
terials can De utilized in making different
dishes are also demonstrated at the same
time.
The practical effectiveness Of the schools
was shown 10 Gen. Sharpe's greatest sat
iSfaCtiOn last summer. when during the
encampment at Mount Gretna the bak-
ers frcm the Washington Barracks pro-
vided the entire army with bread Train
ed cooks We're also detailed among the
militia regiments and instructions given
/ TO the cooks OF those organizations
'One of the most pleasing results OF
the experiment" said Gen. Sharpe, lis the
interest that has been aroused among the
officers In the work. at the three posts
where We have schools the officers sta
toned there from time 10 time have all
taken the course. There was a good deal
OF joking when we first started, but the
officers soon came to realize how much
II would be TO their advantage to know
just how the food should be prepared and
when the cooking was being done prop
erly- They are in a better position to
look after the needs of their men, and
at the same time. ii has a good effect
upon the rank and file when they see
their officers are looking after their in
terests in the proper manner. We hope
in time TO be able to establish more
schools. but in the meantime we are ac-
comp!shing even more than We hoped for
with the three we have in operation now
It isn't hard to see where the benefits
arise from having the cooks and bakers
properly trained, for every one knows
now important a part good food plays in
making good soldiers. The food is bet
ter cooked, the meals show a greater va
riety, and there is less waste"