The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1918-07-12
THE NATIONS army
TASK OF GIGANTIC PROPORTIONS
Each Morning 1900 Cattle Must Be Slaughtered to Supply Daily
Ration Of Fresh Beef-7000 Cars Required to Transport
Months SuppIy-Every Ounce Must Be Inspected
Before It Is Sent to the Men.

wash,ngton.-lt Is the function u
the subsistence division OF the quar'ei-
master corps to feed the United ola'es
army, furnishing three square n,e an
oaily to every one Of the nearly 1'",o''
600 men. whether In France III ruin
ing camps in this country, In the rn''p
n,nos Hawaii or the Panama Canai
Zone.
Despit. the enormous expansion =.
the American army during the pus'
wear. nothing has developed 10 lnnr .ne
American soldiers reputation OF oeins
the best-fed soldier in the worio.
Mai. Gen. George w. Goethals' act
inc ouartermaster general, as head OF
the ouartermaster corps, Is responsipie
for the feeding of the army. Inc iln-
mediate responsibility, as stated ABOVE
rests with the subsistence DIVISION
which is presided over by COL W. II.
Grove.
The food supply Of the army taxes
m nroportions so gigantic that figures
fail to give more than hazy loea OF
Its immensely. For example, 4'oo"
cattle must be slaughtered every morn
ing to give the soldier his daily ration
Of fresh beef.
Nearly 1000 freight and refrigerator
cars are required to bring tie 1000 TOT
tho present months supply into the
camps and environments on this side or
the Atlantic.
The soldiers food must Re all right
nt all times-and must be there at the
appointed hour The American fight
ing man In France may walt week or
a month for a new hat or any other ar
ticle of equipment If he can make the
old one serve, but he cannot wait
day or an unnecessary hour for MS
dinner If he Is to be the gingery, up
nnd-at-'em, 100 per cent efficient SOL
der.
Problem Long Ago Worked Out.
The provision of food in such guam
titles and with such promptness is not
feat that can be accomplished by sud
den inspiration. 1t could be only the
result Of much thought and study. The
army authorities gave the subsistence
problem the requisite amount OF
thought and study long before the
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 O
other branches of the quartermaste
corps, are many well-known officers
home of them veterans OF the army ant
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
diet too elaborate, the ration for thu
army consisted Of one and a quartz
pounds Of beef, eighteen ounces o
bread and flour, two-thirds Of an ounce
| of salt and one-third of a gill Of vine
gar. That was all, but 1t enabled tn
| American soldier to dine far more ex
tensively than did any of his foreigl
brothers in arms. Today the ration In
cludes II food articles, each capable 0
extensive variation by substitution
| The soldier eats them In Gargantua
quantities. Here are some of the thing
which Colonel Grove and his organiza
ton must provide each day in tn
year: