The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-06-13

Rations are often much more concen-
trated. Colonel Maude, famous
strategist, wrote recently:
Il have myself lived On rations OF
mixed meat and vegetables Of which
eight days supply weighed only one
pound, SO that single mule could
carry a days ration for war
strength battalion or a single mule
wagon. loading UP TO two tons could
transport $4,000 rations or enough
for cavalry division Of 1000 sabers,
for nearly a fortnight
Brigadier General Henry G.
Sharp, commissary general Of the
United States army. recently called
an army city flung down sudden
ly in the country, each day moving.
each day requiring fresh alterations
Of the arrangements by which food is
conveyed from the producer TO the
consumer"
Ierican army operating in foreign
country would be the United States.
Officers OF the commissary service
would purchase food here in the
and this food would be delivered to
the depots whence it must be de-
spatched TO the army in the field.
The army in the field has a base
of operations TO which the food sup
piled follows from the main depots
This line of communication is very
important. It must be guarded if
necessary, by large bodies of troops,
for if it is cut the amy is liable to
starve or to become demoralized.
When the army advances a series
Of intermediate depots are estab-
lished. As far toward the front as
is considered safe the advance depot
is set up. Here the flow of supplies
thru the line of communication from
the main depots by way of the base
of operations, is received and dis
tributed. Wagons, automobiles or
mules take the food directly to the
different bodies of troops, in trench
es lying in the skirmish line or
wherever they are assigned from
moment to moment.
The line of communication is in
control of a single officer who is sub
ject only to the commander of the
army. In thory troops carry enough
rations to last them several days and
distributions of new rations are made
every night. In practice the chief
often put to his wits end. These
days the best commissary officer is
the one who is the most ingenious
in using railway lines. Locomotives
move the field bakeries whenever
possible and are even made to supply
power to operate the mechanical
kneading troughs.
Our armies in Mexico will be I'M
der strict orders to pay for all sup
plies taken from the natives. This
was done in the Mexican war of
1S46-47, but the Mexican response
to humane and civilized treatment
was far from satisfactory. President
Polk said in his message to Con-
gress of December Z, 1847: after
the lapse of a few months it became
apparent that the mild treatment had
failed to produce the desired effect
upon the Mexican population. While
the war had been conducted On our
part according to the most humane
and liberal principles observed by
civilized nations, it was waged in a
far different spirit on the part of
Mexico. Not approaching our fore
bearance, the Mexican people gene
States and availed themselves of
every opportunity to commit the
most savage excuses upon our troops.
Large numbers of the population
! took up arms and engaged in gueril
la warfare, robbed and murdered in
the most cruel manner individual
soldiers or small parties whom acct
dent or other cause had separated
from the main body of our army.
Bands of guerilleros and robbres in
! tested the roads, harassed our trains
and whenever in their power cut off
our supplies.