Evening star., 1943-04-20
u. 5. Troops Abroad
To GET New Rdtions
Based on Research
CoIorie Content Is Cut,
Vitomins Increased;
Local Foods Used
BY THOMAS r. HENRY,


AMERICAN sos HEADQUAR-
TIERS IN ENGLAND (By MaiD "A
new field ration for American SOL
diers has just been adopted here.
Based on extensive research under
the direction of It. Col William H
Griffith of the Medical Corps and
Maj. C. G.. Harman of the Quarter
master Corps. this ration seeks to
adjust the Army menu to the nu-
triton schedule adopted by the Ma
tional Research Council in WASH
ington two years ago.
At the same time, it attempts to
meet these requirements so far as
possible with foodstuffs obtainable
where the troops happen to be sta
toned.
1t is believed to represent the last
word in the science of soldier feed
ing, insuring under all normal cir
cumstances an adequate supply of
the proteins and vitamins essential
to health and morale.
The number of calories-the heat
producing, fat-making elements usu-
ally provided by heavy, starchy
foods-is cut down from 4,50O to
1000 a day. The latter amount was
considered by the National Re-
search Council to be adequate for
the average active man.
Some Vitamins Doubled.
At the same time the amounts of
ascorbic acid and some other vita
Minis, such as are provided by to-
matoes and citrus fruits, have been
more than doubled over the amounts
hitherto fed overseas.
A few typical examples indicate
the evolution of the Army ration:
In the World War the soldier over
seas was supposed to get 154 ounces
of meat day. Troops in the United
States now get 1874 ounces. When
they are brought overseas they have
been entitled to Is ounces. In the
new eastern theater of operations
ration this is cut down to 1915
ounces.
In the World War a man was en-
titled to only Is of an ounce of eggs
a day. This was raised. with rec
ognition of the high nutrition value,
to 2.56 ounces, now allowed troops in
the United States. In England this
was cut to half an ounce, largely
because of the difficulty of obtain
ing them, but it now has been
raised to go of an ounce.
Tomato and citrus allowances for
ETO troops have been raised from
2 to ounces The allowance in
the United States is slightly over
ounces. In the World War it was
a little better than ounces, al
though at that time the food value
was not appreciated.
Different in Principle.
But, Col. Griffith explains, it is
in the basic principle rather than
in absolute amounts that the new
ration is fundamentally different
from any of the old. Formerly the
mess off1cer-or more often the mess
sergeant-had a lot of leeway for
substitutions. A soldier was entitled
to so much meat, according to the
ration schedule, but all sorts of sub
stitutionS could be made so long
as the daily money allowance was
not exceeded.
Under the new system. Col. Grit
fifth says, there is no chance for a
clever mess sergeant to convert
starch into peaches or beans into
tomatoes He can substitute some
thing for beans, provided it is cas-
ier to obtain locally and adds va
riety to the diet, but it must be
something with all the essential nu-
triton properties of beans 1t is
no longer possible to juggle the ra-
ton so as to deprive soldiers of
for example, all the vitality needed
aScorbic acid.
Sixteen categories of foods are
laid down. Each supplies some
thing essential in the diet. A mess
officer can substitute only. within
these categories. He cannot sub.
stitute one for another When he
buys local foods they must fit into
these classes.