Tombstone epitaph., 1918-05-26
FEEDING THE NATIONS ARMY
 TASK OF GIGANTIC PROPORTIONS
Eah Morning 4000 Cattle Must Be Slaughtered to Supply Daily Ration of Fresh Beef-7000 Cars Required to Transport Months Supply-Every Ounce Must Be Inspected
 Before 1t Is Sent to the Men.

washinCton.-It is the function or the subsistence division Of the quarter master corps to feed the United states army. furnishing three square meals daily to every one of the nearly 2'"o' 900 men. whether in France. in train ing camps in this country. in the fhiip- pines, Hawaii or the Panama Cahai Zone.
 Despite the enormous expansion ot the American army during the past year, nothing has developed 10 mar the American soldiers reputation of being the best-fed so!;iier In the world
 Mai. Gen. George ~. Geethais. act Ing auartermaster general, as head or the Quartermaster corps, is responsioie for the feeding of the army. The i'm mediate responsibility. as stated above. rests with the subsistence division, which is presided over by Col. W. R Grove.
 The food supply of the army takes on proportions so gigantic that figures fail to give more than hay idea of its immensity For example. 4,Ge rattle must be slaughtered every morn ing 10 give the soldier his daily ration of fresh beef.
 Nearly 1000 freight and refrigerator cars are required to bring tie food for the present months supply into the camps and cantonments on this side of the Atlantic.
 The soldiers food must te all right at all times-and must be there at the appointed hour. The American fight ing man in France may wait week or n month for a new hat or any other ar ticle of equipment if he can make the old one serve. but he cannot walt day or an unnecessary hour for his dinner If he is to be the gingery. up- and-at-'em, 100 per cent efficient sol dier.
 Problem Long Ago Worked Out.
 The provision of food in such quan- titles and with such promptness Is not feat that can be accomplished by sud den inspiration. It could be only the result of much thought and study. The army authorities gave the subsistence problem the requisite amount of tboukht anu sNuhs tohN pci'aN t'S darker war clouds began to gather on the American horizon. At no time has there been serious criticism of the subsistence end of the quartermaster's department.
 Under Colonel Grove. or associated with him in the co-ordinated efforts of other branches of the quartermaster corps, are many well-known officers. some of them veterans of the army and some fresh from civil life. but all ex- perts in commissary service.
 Back in 1898. when distinguished gentlemen on the floor of congress were experimenting that the American soldier was being pampered with a die. :cc elaborate. the ration for the army consisted of one and quarter pounds of beef. eighteen ounces of bread and four. two-thirds of an ounce of salt and one-third of a gill of vine gar. That was all, but 1t enabled the American soldier to dine far more ex- tensively than did any of his foreign brothers in arms. Today the ration in- cludes IT food articles each capable of extensive variation by substitution. The soldier eats them in Gargantuan quantities. Here are some of the things which Colonel Grove and his organIza- ton must provide each day in the year: