Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-12
FIND NO WASTE or FOOD
At ARMY environments
Defense Council Says Garbage Con-
tractors Arc Protesting at
Small Returns.
HOW FOOD IS DISTRIBUTED
Better Provision for Cooking and
Training Cooks in New National
Army Cantonments Than In Those
OF tho National Guard Units.

a number OF rumors have reached the
Virs inia Council OF Defense to the ef-
feet that there has been, and Is now,
great waste of food at the army camps.
The council has undertaken to find out
if there is any truth in such reports.
and as result 1t has Il review Of
conditions that is not only interesting,
but discredlts tho critics.
1t appears that the food division or
the surgeon generals Office. organized
early in September. has Investigated
food conditions, including wastagc, in
some twenty five military CAMPS. De-
tailed reports from survey parties of
officers. who have spent an average of
two weeks intwelrc. Of these camps.
arc now being received
The food everywhere isr excellent in
quality. IL is all selected b. tho quar-
termaster's department, according tot
specifications prepared by. the Bureau
OF Chemistry of the Department OF
Agriculture. Good food, however, must
be we'll prepared or there will almost
certainly be waste. The army reguia-
lions place responsibility for proper
nourishment OF the troops without
waste upon company commanders.
The mess sergeant draws rations for
his company from the quprtcrmastcr.
His estimates are based Oh menus made
out by him in consultation with the
mess officer OF the company and APP
proved by the company commander or
by higher mess officer Of the bat
TALON or regiment Tho mess sergeant
has the task OF SO planning his rcquisi-
tons as TO live within the company
allowance. which is based upon the cost
of rations and the number OF men In
his organization. The allowance pro-
Gafl h1- fl,n .
cral and permits considerable savings.
These savings accumulate to the credit
Of the organization il there il careful
management. but IL n mess sergeant Is
not careful manager. or does not
know how to calculate the needs of his
organization, there is waste.
NATIONAL. ARMY COOKS
BETTER THAN THOSE: or GUARD
Most Of these company households
as they might be termed. are still only
a few months old. The quarterraas,er's
department has provided for the train
ing of cooks. mess serGeants and com.
pany mess officers in all of tho National
Army camps. and conditions in these
camps are already better than in the
National Guards camps The National
Army cooks have the advantage Of
permanent kitchens. provided with
good field ranges. and a plentiful sup
ply OF hot water. good storerooms.
large refrigcratorS, etc: the National
Guard organizations. housed in tents
have temporary Kitchens. often with
only dirt floors. poorly constructed
storerooms smoky stoves and re-
friEerators too near the fire. The sur
seon-gcneral, upon the report of the
officers OF the food division. has recon.
mcnded the inauguration OF systematic
instruction OF cooks. mess sergeants
and mess officers In the National Guard
camps The quartermaster- general has
acted upon these suggestions.
The officers of the food division also
are authorized. with the approval of
the commanding general. TO give In
struction in food values. in balancing
of menus and methods OF cooking and
serving meals. At Camp Union a con-
ference Of this sort recently was at
tended by $50 cooks, mess sergeants
and mess officers. In other camps the
mess sergcants OF single regiments
have been called in conference. I'm
provement has resulted. The officers
show a desire TO learn. and are learning
rapidly The surgeon-general's office
aud the quartermasterS department re
cooperating upon measures looking to
the best possible nutrition OF soldiers
With the least possible waste
In many camps tho element OF waste
10 already under control. In some
camps the contractors who undertook
TO dispose oS the garbage at a price
based upon the amount they expected
20 get arc threatening 10 throw up
their contracts because the amount OF
garbage Is so small