THE FOOD OUR ARMY CONSUMES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIV, Issue IV, 27 January 1900, Page 169

THE FOOD OUR ARMY CONSUMES.

SOME ASTOUNDING FIGURES. There is a very interesting article the “Times” on the provisioning ot our army in South Africa. The basis the arrangement is that there shall be four months’ supplies always available at the seat of war for 116,000 troops and native transport helper., and 51,000 horses and mules. At the present moment there.are only three, months’ supplies on hand in South Africa, but the additions necessary to bring the totals up to the four months* limit are being despatched with speed, and that limit, once reached, will be maintained as long as may be thought necessary. Of the enormous quantities of food which go to make up a four months' supply for this number of men and animals

few persons can have even the remotest idea. The one item of preserved meat alone stands at 12,000.000 lb, and of biscuit there is the saint 1 quantity. Coffee stands at 400.000) b tea at 200,0001 b. sugar at 2,200,0001 b. compressed vegetables at 800,0001 b. and salt at 400,0001 b. One article of diet which has been found particularly suitable for troops on active service is a preparation of meat and vegetables cooked together. Of this a single contractor is sending tins at the rate of half a million each month. Of condensed milk, sweetened and unsweetened. the four months* supplies represent 360,000 tins. Particularly interesting is the item of jam. This commodity was first given to the British troops in the Soudan expedition of 18S4 and 1885. ami it was afterwards supplied to the Ashanti expedition. It was reported on very favourably on each occasion, for not only was it regarded with favour by the troops, but it was found to be a distinctly healthy food, especially on account of its anti-scorbutic properties, an important consideration in the absence of a good supply of fresh vegetables. Jam has therefore taken its permanent place as one good thing among the others for troops to fight on, and the quantities to be kept in South Africa as a four months* reserve amount to no less than 1,450,000 lb. consigned in tins each containing « single pound. In regard to the liquids the list provides for 80,000 gallons of rum, 12,000 bottles of whisky, 32,000 bottles of port wine, nearly 40,0001 b weight of limejuice. a vas? quantity of “sparklets” for making soda water, and righty tons of alum for purifying spring or river water of which the quality may be doubtful. Of tobacco, the quantity sent out by the War Office for the four months is 40,0001 b, this, of course, bring quite independent of the amount contributed by private donors. It should br said, however, that the troops have to pay for the tolwicco supplied by the War Oilier, doing so at the rate of Is per pound, so that, no doubt, they will be doubly pleased to get free gifts fiom the British public. Of ordinary hospital supplies the quantities are based on the supposition that la per cent, of the troops are always either sick or wounded, though, happily, this percentage is never reached. In the way of disinfectants, also, it is assumed that during each four months there will, or may, br required 6000)b of carbolic acid jiowder. 20 tons of chloride of lime, 10.000 gallons of iztl. and ten tons of McDougall's disinfecting powder. Still another item on the list is that of so.iHMflb of candles. For the horses and mules there are pr<»- \ hied. for the same period, 25.000 tons of hay, 31,000 tons of oats, and JUOO tons of bran.