The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1918-10-12
TROOP SUPPLIES i
3 MONTHS AHEAD
Army Could Get Along for 80
Days If Not Another Pound
Went Over.
VAST STOCK IN RESERVE
Held in Miles of Warehouses Extend.
ing From the Coast Inland to the
Fighting Line-DaiIy De-
Iiveries Made

Tours.-The American army in Eu.
rope could be fed and clothed and all
its creature comforts looked after for
three months if not another pound Of
supplies was secured. This was the
statement made here by officers of the
army quartermaster's department,
which directs this mammoth work of
supplies.
1t gives an idea of the vast stock
of reserve resources stored in the
miles Of warehouses stretching from
the coast inland to the fighting line,
and it is comforting assurance, too,
that this huge reserve will be kept
up through the coming winter period,
so that the American soldiers warmth,
as we'll as his food and clothing, will
be fully looked after.
Some Big Job.
1t is a huge undertaking to feed a
million men even for a single day-a
million men scattered to a thousand
points, in trenches, on battlefelds and
camps, along 300 miles of front and for
a depth Of 500 miles. And when are
added housing and clothing and the
period is extended through the win
ter months of cold and frost, with the
prospect that another million or two
of men may be headed this way before
1ong-with these elements one gets
some idea of the magnitude of the
supply problem for million or more
men.
Here at the center Of the system,
where the receipts are regulated and
the distribution made, there was an
opportunity of learning some of the
details of how the system operates.
In the food branch alone it takes
over 100000 pounds of food every
day to feed the army. This prodi-
gious daily consumption of food en-
braces 1000 pounds of flour baked
into million pounds of bread every
day, $4,000 pounds of fresh beef,
$4,000 pounds of potatoes, 100000
pounds of sugar and 125,000 pounds of
tomatoes. The pepper and salt for a
single day is 42,5OO pounds.
Army coffee is roasted at the rate
of 10000 pounds a day, and it takes
10000 pounds of solidifed alcohol to
cook this coffee through the month.
The beef is the bulkiest product
used each day, and occupies a daily
space Of $4,000 cubic feet, or about
the dimensions of a business block, of
solid meat. Flour comes next, requir-
ing $4,000 cubic feet of daily space,
and potatoes about the same.
A Few Daily Items.
These are only few Of the main
items. But the list runs all through
the many requirements of the over
sea army ration, with vast quantities
in each case. Here are some Of the
other daily items: Bacon, 225,OOO
pounds; beans, $4,000 pounds; rice,
$4,000 pounds; onions, 100000 pounds
F. evaporated fruit, 10000 pounds; jam,
10000 pounds; milk, 62,500 pounds
vinegar, 10000 pounds; lard, 10000
pounds; butter, $1,000 pounds; syrup,
10000 pounds.
These being included in the over
sea ration, every one of the million
men is entitled to his full allowance,
and it must 60 forward to him wher-
ever he is. So that besides the vast
daily stock there is the question OF
unfailing daily delivery, first by rail.
ways and canton trains, and then to
the Individual soldier.
Besides this 100000 pounds of food
moving forward daily to the troops
each man carries with him two days
emergency ration, 5 pounds to the man
an additional 100000 pounds Of food
for an army Of million men. OF the
emergency ration, carried on the back
there is outstanding every day 1000,
600 pounds Of corned beef and 2,OO0,.
600 pounds of bareback, 100000 pounds
of sugar, $4,000 pounds of coffee, 90
600 pounds Of salt, and 100000 pounds
Of solidified alcohol for heating and
cooking while on march.