The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-08


a the strength OF body OF
troops rests largely upon the.
commissary. Nor was he the first to
discover this fact. Ever since armies
have taken the field the great problem
has been how To feed them.
What shall We do for provisions, for
without them general and common SOL
der alike are useless This, says
Nenophon. was the momentous ques-
ton that confronted 10000 Greeks as
they started fighting their way out Of
Asa. History furnishes innumerable
examples Of how brilliant strategic cam
pa.gns have failed for no other cause
than the lack OF food
|, is with good reason, therefore, that
the ahlest military minds are trying TO
solve the problem Of how to feed troops
in the field, and most Of the European
armies are now conducting extended
experiments with stoves on wheels, spe-
cial kinds Of soup kettles, &c. a new
type Of travelling kitchen adopted by
the Russian army which enables troops
to he properly fed while on the march
and which has aroused great interest
was pictured in a recent issue Of THE
SUN
Feeding an army in permanent
camp or post Is a simple undertaking
compared with feeding the same men
in the field, that is under war condi-
tons. \ campaign may last six months
and the battle but six hours and sue
cess, according to experts. Is going to
rest. other things being equal. with the
army that enters the battle in the best
condition.
Apparently little advance has been
made in the last fifty years In the mat
ter ~ the proper feeding OF troops in
the field, according to those best quail
fled to speak on the subject. Notwith-
standing the fact that great improve
u'ut has been made in all matters Of
on"nc" and defence, transportation,
sanitation, aviation, &c, and although
the soldier Is equipped with the best
i"a' an be obtained and drilled to work
Ike machine, he Is largely supposed
20 30 the best he can for himself in the
way # providing food. 1t is to remedy
this condition that all OF the first class
Powers Of the world with the exception
u the United States have practically
adopted what is known as the CONSOLE
dated mess for the feeding Of troops In
the feld.
Many bitter experiences have taught
..'". NN'N soluleT mas I'd ODtdiu anu
cook his food foragng and struggling is
DO" rule. Then discipline is gone, and
without discipline there is no army.
German officer who as young
"- vas with Napoleon in the retreat
'v Moscow said that individual for
H' caused most OF the disorder and
S.H ring in the army, and had 1t been
Stopped and supplies conserved. plenty
do. which were to be had on the way
W" army would have arrived in France
Practically intact the rule Of every man
Tor himself made the retreat rOut.'
The company mess as used by the
H',"d States army and the National
'#1rd creates worse condition than
..' individual mess, according to critics
'"'1uSe with it the soldier expects to
aiken care OF and Is not prepared
'r the breakdown which IL sure tC
h'pp"n, This breakdown occurs because
"a" tn" cooking utensils and food are
backed on the wagons. and the wagon
rain is at times hours and sometimes
days behind the troops, and even afteI
'H" wagons have arrived in camp II
lakes two or three hours to unpack ant
set up ranges. &C.. and cook meal.
The field kitchen, az used with tn
Consolidated mess. travels with tn
Npops on the march. so that when
hiIt IL made the men can be fed
once. The consolidated mess for troop
~ the field was first used In the Unite'