SUPPLY LINES

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 64, Issue 4534, 9 February 1942, Page 8

SUPPLY LINES

FEEDING AN ARMY PROBLEMS FOR THE QUARTER-MASTER-GENERAL (By Charles E. Wheeler.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 5. The Quartermaster-General views the Army as a vast consumer; the Army views the Quartermaster-Gen-eral as a supplier of virtually everything from biscuits to boots, from trucks to trousers. And with the wider mobilisation of New Zealand’s defence forces, the QuartermasterGeneral has seen a job already big expanded and made more complicated. Consider the feeding of a thousand men in New Zealand. Every day there must be delivered at the point of consumption the following basic foods: Bread, lOOOlbs; fresh meat, 15001bs with bone (or tOOOlbs of preserved meat as an alternative); jam, 250'lbs; fresh milk, 1000 pints; fresh vegetables, 5001bs; sugar, 2501b5; butter, 1881bs. On top of these come many other items to give variety to the ration—there are at least 42 items all told. The problem is complicated by the distribution of Army units and occasional movements. All this demands planning well ahead. The unit indents 48 hours ahead of requirements and the supply system works steadily from base to front line; but the Quartermaster-General’s Department is also concerned with a steady movement from purchase point to base. Perishable supplies come through local contracts. Two days’ fresh rations and one day’s dry rations are always available in the field or within easy reach of the units. CLOTHING AND BLANKETS Men have to be clothed, equipped with fighting material, and properly sheltered. These are one of the responsibilities of the Q.M.G.’s branch. The larger mobilisation put a heavy strain on the Dominion’s manufacturers for uniforms, blankets and boots; but when the time came the supplies were ready. This was done without interference with the supply of the overseas forces. New Zealand’s manufacturers in addition have sent boots and uniforms abroad for the general pools from which Empire troops are supplied. Each individual in the Army re- ! quires: Two pairs of boots (with pro- ■ vision for frequent replacements); • one battledress; one suit of denims; ■ underclothing; shirts; cap; hat; greateoat; web equipment, including water I bottle; gas respirator; rifles, revolvers, automatic weapons and ammunition. “A BIG JOB” To-day the Army is mechanised,

and in New Zealand the Quarter-master-General’s Department not only supplies many thousand trucks and motorcycles, but has to keep this big fleet maintained and moving in useful work. The Army does “first-line” maintenance," but major repairs and overhauls are dealt with by commercial garages, thus providing work which must be welcome to the trade under existing difficult conditions. In the field every lorry has its load, and the supply column carries 24 hours’ rations and petrol refill for all vehicles. Subsequent supplies of petrol and lubricating oil are produced by a national plan in which oil companies effectively co-operate to secure widely distributed supplies. Supply in the Army is a very big job.