The Washington herald., 1918-05-03
Army and NaN NeyN::
Best Service Column in Che. civ,

All the food purchased. for Uncle
Sans lighting forces n rigidly In
spected by the quartermaster corps
who see 20 II that only pure srti-
cles are supplied. AZ for the
amount Of food that must be OBJ
tanned. here are. some Interesting
data:
A million and q half men consume
daily 100000 pounds Of beef; z25.-
900 pounds Of bacon: 21o.e00 pounds
of ham: lss,eoo cans Of tomatoes;
225,000 cans Of jam; 5000, bottles of
tomato cstsup: etc sggregstinE no
less than s.75o.ooe pounds Of food
stuffs.
These enormous quantities of
foodstuffs are subject TO thorough
inspection. which begin At the
source and continued until the food
is actually consumed. Every pos
sible safeguard is employed In this
inspection, which Is directed by the
inspection branch of the subsist-
ence division of the Quartermaster
corps, with headquarters In the
Capitol
Each depot OF the Qusrtermaster
corps is q central subsistence busl-
ness of its own. supplying the
camps, cantonments. aviation fields.
and other posts In its territory. The
subsistence officers here are held
responsible for the quality of the
goods they receive. Before the sup
plies ever reach the depots. how
ever. they have been passed upon
by expert inspectors in the packing
houses. in the canneries. and in
other sources Of origin. The rec
ords at Washington show the capa-
bilities, character. and standard Of
every establishment purveying food
to the Army. The inspectors know
fruits, vegetables. meat. and the
other articles Of purchase. The
Army specifications are clear and
exact. The inspectors make sure
they are met. And the receiving
officers at the depots, assuring
themselves that there has been no
deterioration in shipment thus
making their contributions to that
continual inspection which ceases
only when the food has ceased to
exist
The bureau OF markets. Of the
Department OF Agriculture, with
representatives throughout the
country whose duty Is to report on
conditions in the perishable food
markets, gives help to the Army
inspection. The bureau of chemis-
try, of the same department. also
lends its assistance, examining and
analyzing all the foods which come
into question. Samples are drawn
from shipments, the analysis made.
and the result placed on file with
the inspection branch's central ON
ce. Any discrepancy between the
original sample and delivery brings
prompt action.
Settling the question OF tenn
peramental" characteristics OF an OIL
ficer who in line for promotion Is
very troublesome one 10 the military
naval authorities who are TO decide
his fitness or unfitness for promotion.
In the Navy Department the fitness
reports Of an officer recently examined
for promotion indicated that he Is
IRRITABLE" and that he ''Scolds and
nags enlisted men," and that in deal
Ing with enlisted men. he habitually
expresses i'll temper in his speech and
manner"
The department, in this instance.
took occasion to remark in its action
on the record OF the examining board.
as follows:
"Such temperamental characteristics
are most seriously detrimental TO sue
cess and efficiency. both Of the inoi-
vidual and of the organization TO
which attached. They are regarded
by the department as strong evidence