Meade County news., 1918-06-06

sistence for the forces in the United
States, subsistence for the forces over.
sea, food inspection, purchase, plan
ming, field bakeries and the like.
Branches Of these subdivisions spe.
cialize In beef, In milk, in -four, in
canned goods and other required foods
The proportions of single purchases are
almost staggering. The other day the
division was casting about for little
matter of 100000 cans of soup to
supply the army for stated period.
And so 1t goes down through some
25O items of supply running from ham
to shoe strings and from metal polish
to macaroni.
Formerly the work of the food pur.
chase was distributed. Depot quarter
masters In various sections Of the
country bought supplies in conformity
with the tone of their localized market
area. Soon, however, 1t became clear
that this function must be centralized
In Washington under. the control of the
divisional experts. AS result the d.
vision operates along lines of high ef-
ficiency. Its system of records shows
constantly the state of supplies at
home and abroad, enabling 1t to follow
any commodity from the point Of pro-
duction to the port of embarkatiOn,
while the volume of purchase permits
direct relation with the manufacturer
and the elimination of the middleman.
BY the application of this central con-
troll principle there was saved to the
government in the purchase of ration
items needed for the month Of April
$161, ,750.59.
This centralized control is also a
factor In expeditions action. Not long
ago there came from General Pershing
q requisition for 24,OOO,OOO ratlons to
be supplied "at once" BY the terms
ration" 1t should be explained, is
meant the complete food supply of
one soldier for one day. Within twen-
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
fulfllment of the reQuisition under
way.
System Of Purchasing.
While the buying Is thus controlled,
the actual purchases are not made in
Washington. The purchase depots at
various points telegraph to 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 depots to
purchase or decline.
From the depots- the food goes to
the various camps and cantonments,
where 1t is issued to the fighting organ
izntions by the quartermaster in
charge. Each company. battery or
troop each separate. detachment, oper-
ates its own kitchen with its enlisted
cooks working under a 'mess sergeant.
Here the food is prepared for break
fast, dinner and supper -
The whOlesomeness, of every food
article must be assured before 1t can
be placed in the soldiers possession.
The army's system of inspection is
thorough and uncompromising. II be-
gins at the source of supply and con-
tinues until the food Is actually con-
sumed. The records at Washington
show the capabilities, character and
standard of every establishment pur-
veying food to the army. The inspec-
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
officers at the depots, assuring them
selves that there has been no deterio-
ration in shipment, thus make their
contribution to that continual inspec-
tion which ceases only when the food
has ceased to exist.
The bureau of markets of the de-
partment of agriculture. with repre-
sentatives throughout the country
whose duty 1t is to report on condi-
tions In the perishable food markets,
gives full help to the army inspection.
The bureau of chemistry Of the same
department also lends its powerful as
sistance, carefully examining and ana