Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-05-31
FEEDING THE NATIONS ARMY
| TASK OF GIGANTIC PROPORTIONS
Each Morning 1000 Cattle Must Be Slaughtered 10 sppy Daily
Ration Of Fresh Beef70CO Cars Required to Transport
/; Months Supply Every Ounce Must Be Inspected
Before Il Is Sent to The Men,

, divisional experts. AZ "A result The d.
vision operates along lines of high ef.
hciency. Its system of records shows
constantly the state of supplies nj
home aud abroad. enabling II to follow
any commodity from the point Of pro.
duetioh tn the port OF embafkati0n,
While the Volume OF purchase permits
direct relation with the manufacturer
aud the elimination of thu. inlidlenlin
BY the application III this central con.
trol principle there was saved To the
government in the purchase of ration
items needed for the month Of April
SlGl, 1908.
This centralized control s. also a
factor In expeditions action. Not long
ago there came from General Pershlng
Ii requisition for 24.OO0Nu raiions 10
he supplied at once" BY the terms
ration" Ii should be explained. Is
meant the complete food supply Of
one soldier FOR one day. Within TWEEN
ty-four hours the division had located
points OF production capable of sup
plying this large demand had placed
the orders and was able to report the
fulfillment of the requisition under
way.
System Of Purchasing.
While the buying Il thus controlled,
the actual purchases are not made in
Washington. The purchase depots at
variohs points telegraph 10 the divi-
sional officers price quotations on sup.
plies. with Recommendations as to their
acceptance.' The divisions experts
study them In connection with their
market reports and confidential lists
Of prices from the big food industries.
Then from the divisional Offices goes
the telegraphed word to the iepots Ia
purchase or decline.
From the depots the food goes Ia
the various camps and environments
where II Is issued to the fighting organ.
izations by the qnariermaster in
charge. Each company. battery or
troop. each separate detachment, Oper.
ates Its own kitchen with It's enlisted
cooks working under mess sergeant
Here the food is prepared for break.
fast, dinner and supper.
The wholesomeness of every food
article must be assured before It can
be placed IN the soldiers possession
The army's system of inspection Is
thorough and nnromproinising II be-
gins at the source of supply and con
i.nues until the food Is actually con
Snmed. The records al Washington
show the capabilities, character and
standard OF every establishment pur
yeying food 10 the army. The lnspec-
tors know fruits, vegetables. meat and
other articles OF purchase. The army
specifications are clear and exact. They
must be met. The inspectors make
sure they are met. And the receiving
ulcers at the depots, assuring them !
selves that there has been no detclio. |
alton Ia shipment thus make their |
contribution 10 that continual sinsrec.
tion which ceases only when the food
ias ceased To exist.
The bureau of markets Of the de.
'artment Of agriculture. with repre- /,
'phtatlVes throughout the country
whose duty 1t Is to report on condl |
ions In the periahable food markets,
aNes full help to the army inspection. |
The bureau of chemistry of the same
department also lends It's powerful as
distance, carefully Examining and ana
wing all the foods which come into
question. Samples are frequently
lrawn from shipments, the analysis
made aud the result placed on file with
he inspection branchs central office.
Any discrepancy between the original