New-York tribune., 1917-07-19
Quartermaster's Depart.
ment in France Rushes
Supply Work
Wines Are a Problem
U.S S. Officers Deliberate About
Distributing Gifts of the
French Government
lRx The A"oeIated rre..l

American Training Camp in France,
July 1s-The busiest of all the Amer-
can troop departments these days is
the quartermaster's, which is working
almost feverishly to perfect its system
Of supplying the men with all the
necessaries. The work has gone ahead
so fast that the quartermaster already
has a three months supply of all foods
within a short distance of the camp
and a constant ten days supply here.
The troops are still eating the dark
French bread, but within three days
bakeries will have been established, and
the rations will change to white bread
with heavy crust, which makes it
transportable and durable. The Ameri-
can army will then be the only one in
Europe eating white bread. 1t is to-
day the biggest meat consumer, as the
men receive a ration Of twenty ounces
daily.
Twenty Ounces Of Beef Day
The American soldiers are now living
on the so-called field ration, which con-
sists of twenty ounces of fresh beef
daily, or twelve ounces of bacon, or six
teen ounces of canned meat, or six
teen ounces of canned salmon, eighteen
ounces of soft or eighteen ounces of
hard bread, or flour, or beans; twenty
ounces of potatoes, with a similar
amount of onions or tomatoes; an ounce
and a quarter of coffee and three
ounces of sugar, with salt, pepper and
syrup, as we'll as prunes, dried apples
or peaches or jam. When the supplies
all arrive there will also be butter,
which will be distributed as an extra
on special occasions.
The entire plan of the quartermas-
ter's department is to be entirely inde-
pendent Of the French at the earliest
date possible, so as 20 be no burden
either to the government or the popu-
lation. The department is still trying
to decide what to do with the gift made
by the French government to the Amer
lean troops, in honor of July Ia, the
French national holiday, consisting Of
champagne, red wines, jellies, ham and
other delicacies.
Wine for Every Man
There is considerable quantity of
champagne and red wine for each SOL
dier and officer but for the present
the authorities have not been able to
decide whether the distribution of
these wines would be a violation of the
spirit of the recent legislation cover
ing the question of liquor to soldiers.
SO far the troops have been rigidly
held to water, even though the diff
culties of filtering are considerable.
Refrigerating plants will be necessary
both for water and food supplies. and
recommendation for the construction
of these plants have already gone for
ward.
Practice to-day began early, as usual,
despite dismal weather. II included
anti-aircraft practice, which was pro-
nounced highly successful.
The first death occurred at the camp
yesterday, when Private Nolan. of the
infantry, was drowned.
Troops Have Own Postoffice
The latest development Of the
camp is postoffice, which will en-
able men 10 mail letters either
home or to any other point in the
world, to keep in constant communica-
tion with friends without revealing
their exact whereabouts by the tell
tale cancellation mark on envelopes,
and TO receive mail either through
families or friends who do not know
what the destination Of their letters
may be. The system naturally will be
enlarged TO fit needs.
At present it consists in requiring
of each soldier or officer that he ad-
dress his communications of every
nature from the American training
camp and deposit them in special
postoffice, from where they will be
taken by pouch to Paris and mailed
in the ordinary manner. Similarly, re-
turn mail should be addressed to the
training camp of the American Expedl-
tionary Forces. Paris, whence it will
be forwarded to the proper address.
Officers, who are billeted among the
inhabitants, are still billeting at the
moderate prices that prevail for the
majority. They may by request pay
one franc daily for quarters and, pro-
vided they eat at "hotel," expend
seven francs daily for excellent food.
Prices are thus kept low, to prevent
a repetition of events early in the war,
when Allied troops in French territory.
accustomed to city prices, all but spoiled
the French population by paying what
seemed to them moderate, but really
enormous, rates for everything.