FEEDING THE SOLDIER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 77, 11 January 1928, Page 7

FEEDING THE SOLDIER.

SCIENTIFIC METHODS. BRITISH ARMY'S GOOD FARE. That the British soldier to-day enjoys better meals than members of .the middle class homes is the proud claim of Colonel Wright, who has just retired from the position of Inspector of Army Catering. Twenty years ago the regular soldier received lib of bread and |lb of meat per day, and paid 3d for potatoes, tea and sugar. Since Colonel Wright introduced the system of scientific feeding in the Army his diet has become far more varied, wholesome, and attractive. One of the first things Colonel Wright realised was that often men did not need fib of meat per day, when in barracks. "I saved enough," he says, "out of that allowance to give him three breakfasts a week. That was a saving which means thousands of pounds a year, but the money is not lost to our soldiers, because it goes into a reserve fund for extras on special occasions, such as manoeuvres or long route marches. Finally, I drew up a dietary by which 100 men are now fed for a week at a cost of £lB 15s lid. and their meals are arranged so that they get an adequate quantity of fats, proteins, and so on." Colonel Wright discovered that Tommy Atkins, unlike. Tommy Tucker, was not very fond of supper, since the time spent in consuming this meal interfered with his amusement programmes. So, in his dietaries, he saw to it that for the tea the soldier bad something realty substantial. A further study of the soldier showed that during the week-ends he is fairly flush , with money. By Sunday night he is usually "broke." To meet that now in the Army, the tea on Tuesday is a liftle more substantial than on Monday. On Wednesday it is a good meal, and on Thursday it is sufficient to keep him going without another thing until next morning. "Soldiers have their weaknesses." says Coloney Wright. "The mail who has been in the Army for several years will guffaw at the mention of a dish like fruit salad, but the young recruit likes it. To-day, therefore, an alternative dinner is Supplied to meet the two types of soldiers. "Wheii the British Army retreated from Mons to Ypres, the men were allowed 1-jlb of meat a clay, and they ate every bit of it; but yhen they were firmly entrenched, before Ypres it was a quite unnecessary allowance. Any soldier will tell you what happened to many of the 81b tins of bully beef. In former wars— I have served in three—the soldier who was in it at the start always came off worst from a food point of view. That will never happen again, for if there should ever be another war the canteens will travel with the Army right up to the field of battle."