FEEDING THE SOLDIER.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 11 January 1928, Page 10

FEEDING THE SOLDIER.

SCIENTIFIC METHODS. BRITISH ARMY’S GOOD FARE. That the British soldier to-day en10vs 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 #!.b of meat per day, and paid 3d ior potatoes, tea and sugar. Since Colonel Wmight introduced the system of .scientific feeding in the Army liis diet has become far more -varied, wholesome and attractive. One or the first things Colonel Wright realised was that often men did not need fIS 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 moans 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, dieta/ry 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 adeqirate quantity of fats, proteins, and so on.” Colonel Wright discovered that Tommy Atkins, unlike Tommy Tucker, was not very fond of supper, since the' lini" spent in consuming this meal interfered with his amusement programmes. So, in his dietaries, he saw to it. that for the tea soldier had something really .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 little more substantial than on Monday. On Wednesday it is a good meal, and on Thursday it is suiffeient to keep him going without another thing until next morning. “Soldiers have their weaknesses,'' says Colonel Wright. “The man who ha.s 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 alten.a- 1 tivo dinner is supplied. <.o meet- The two types of soldiers. ‘‘When the British Army retreated I from Mons to Yp res, tire men a ere allowed IJlb of meat a day, and they ate ; every bib of it; hut when they were firmly entrenched before Ypres it was • a quite unnecessary allowance. Any soldier will tell you what hastened to many of the 81b tins of, bul'y beef. In former Avars —I have served in three — tlire soldier who wns,jn it at the start (tvav-s came off worst from a food point 1 of view. That will never happen ; again, for if there .should ever be an- ' other Avar the cantepns will travel Avith ! the Army right up to the field of •' battle.” i