373. The food supplies levied in a theater of operations are obtained by direct requisition on the part of the troops for immediate use, or by systematic collection into depots. Requisitions must in all cases be regarded as official and not as private acts. Seizure of supplies by individual soldiers will be punished as looting. 374. Direct requisition by troops may be resorted to on the march or in detached operations. Fractions of the command will be assigned to sections of country from which to draw supplies. In case of considerable variance in the results, commissary officers will equalize them in the distribution.

Detachments making requisitions will be commanded by officers whenever practicable, and will request cooperation of the civil authorities.

375. The commanding general may order cash from government funds, or from captured public funds, or from money contributions levied on the communities to be paid for food, forage, materials, means of transportation, labor and services. This procedure will often produce supplies when other methods have failed.

In all cases when cash is not paid, a numbered receipt, duly signed, should be furnished, a carbon copy or duplicate on a stub being retained.

376. Cavalry detachments and advance guards will be directed to leave guards over supplies collected in excess of their needs, and to turn them over to following troops.

377. By extending operations over wide sections of country large quantities of food and forage may be collected to replenish supply columns and fill depots. The work will usually be in charge of commissary officers connected with the service of the line of communications. The troops are only utilized when necessary to stimulate deliveries or to overcome resistance.

378. While a well-organized system of requisitions may be of great service in relieving the immense amount of transportation connected with the feeding of a large army, exclusive reliance can not be placed thereon, even in the most productive countries. As soon as the army comes to a halt, or when it advances slowly, recourse must be had to shipments from the base.

379. Humane treatment of the inhabitants will generally serve our purposes better than harshness. However, when the population shows a hostile disposition, the degree of severity necessary to prevent jeopardy of the troops and to preserve their condition for future exertions, should not be lacking.

380. The order to collect supplies in a hostile country will often make it necessary to impress means of transportation and labor to

facilitate delivery, and may require the operation of flour mills, bakeries, etc., under charge of officers.

381. From depots.-Subsistence depots are of two kinds, namely, stationary and movable. The former are large accumulations of food supplies, including emergency rations, from which shipments are made to the army; the latter conform to the general movements of the field army and, whenever practicable, make issues direct to the troops. They are generally located on railroads, waterways, or crossroads for convenience not only of transportation but also of making issues.

Depots in our own country are filled by shipments made by the Subsistence Department, by deliveries made by contractors, or by purchases in open market. In the enemy's country depots may be formed of supplies obtained by requisition or by purchase with the revenues or money contributions of the country, or by shipment in large quantities from the base. The principal reliance will be placed on the latter method.

382. From supply columns.-The rations and forage carried in supply columns are to be considered as a rolling reserve, which is not to be touched until subsistence on the country or from depots has become impracticable. As soon as the wagon trains are emptied they proceed to the depots or supply stations to refill and then return to the troops, both trips by forced marches. During an advance a supply train approaches the troops at the end of each day's march and makes issues direct or turns over supplies to the regimental trains. During a retreat a supply train halts and awaits the arrival of the troops.

The commanding general of a corps generally retains control of the supply columns, although they may be temporarily distributed among the divisions on the march and in camp, and suitable portions may be assigned to detached commands.

383. From the emergency ration.-The emergency ration will not be opened except by order of a commanding officer, or in extremity. Detachments operating in country impassable for the ordinary means of transportation may be supplied to a large extent with emergency rations.

SUBSISTENCE DURING MOVEMENTS OF CONCENTRATION.

384. During concentration, usually made by rail or boat, the troops will carry, in addition to the emergency ration, travel rations for the number of days of the journey plus one, so that upon arrivai their subsistence for the first day is already provided.

385. Small parties of men and isolated units may be paid coffee money at the rate of 21 cents per man per day of travel, but on the regular lines of transportation liquid coffee should be furnished three times a day at stations provided by the Commissary Department. For long journeys the best system is to set up coffee boilers in a baggage or freight car of each troop train, thus obviating interference with railroad schedules and expediting the movement.

386. The necessary grain and hay for animals should also be carried on the train, and the cars should be of the kind permitting feeding and watering without unloading.

387. On passenger boats subsistence will usually be provided in the same way, but on vessels of the Government transport service the troops will be subsisted by utilizing the food supplies and messing facilities of the ship.

FRESH BEEF IN THE FIELD.

388. Troops in the field should be supplied with fresh beef every other day, if practicable. On the march the supply may be less frequent, depending upon transportation facilities and local supplies, and during and immediately following large engagements it may cease for some time, depending upon circumstances.

389. The supply may be furnished in the form of dressed and refrigerated beef delivered in cars at convenient sidings or kept in vessels at suitable landings; or beef cattle may be obtained by requisition or purchase in the invaded territory; or herds of beef cattle may be driven with the command and slaughtered as needed.

The first method will in most cases be preferred, because of sanitary, economical, and other advantages. In cold or cool weather dressed beef may be transported in wagons like other food, but in warm weather the haul should not exceed two hours in duration, unless ice can be furnished with the shipment.

390. The local resources of invaded territory in the way of fresh meat should always be utilized. The animals brought in by foraging parties will be assembled in corrals established on the line of communications, and the slaughtering and issue generally conducted by commissary officers.

391. The third method presents many annoyances, involves a great deal of labor in the guarding, herding, feeding, watering, and butchering of animals, and the results often are but mediocre. However, in regions distant from railroad or water communication and deficient in local supplies, there is no other way of securing

regular issues of fresh beef. The details of the organization and management of this method of supply are to be found in the Manual of the Subsistence Department.

FUEL AND FORAGE.

392. The supply of fuel necessary for cooking and heating is usually drawn from the resources of the theater of operations by requisition or purchase. The accumulation and distribution of fuel is attended to by officers of the Quartermaster's Department. In the emergencies of war, fences, lumber, and old buildings will be seized for fuel. In some cases on the march it is desirable to carry a small supply on wagons, sufficient to cook the first meal. The question of the supply of fuel existing in a country to be invaded should always be considered before beginning the campaign, and measures should be taken to supply the deficiency, for the want of fuel in a treeless country may prove a serious question.

393. The full allowance of forage is 14 pounds of hay and 12 pounds of grain for horses, and 14 pounds of hay and 9 pounds of grain for mules.

In campaign the resources of the country in forage must be utilized to the fullest extent possible. The nature of the country, the season of the year, and preceding operations of our own or the enemy's forces may have been such that no forage remains available. In the course of operations it will generally be necessary to form depots of grain and compressed hay at railroad points easily accessible for the troops.

394. On the march oats is usually the only forage carried. The regimental train of the cavalry and artillery should carry a supply for two days. Additional supplies will be carried in the forage wagons of the supply columns, the amount depending upon local conditions.

In the cavalry a small reserve of oats-about 6 pounds-will be carried on each horse.

Draft animals should receive full forage as long as possible.

ISSUES.

395. The issue of rations involves a good deal of labor, which should be reduced as much as possible. The frequency of issue in campaign is governed by circumstances. In stationary camps rations may be issued as in garrison. On the other hand, when the 30075-08-9

army is in motion rations will be issued for much shorter periods. In order to keep the rations with the troops up to a desired maximum it will often be necessary to make daily issues. Such issues are unavoidable anyway with respect to articles not usually carried in full by troops-such as fuel, forage, straw, and also as to beef. The commanding generals will designate the place and hour, generally in the evening, for making issues.

Whenever practicable, the division commissaries will issue direct to regiments.

The necessary number of wagons of the regimental train, under their commissary officer, proceed to the designated place and draw the rations on consolidated ration returns approved by the regimental commander, thus replacing the rations issued or to be issued on that day to companies, troops, batteries, and detachments.