RATIONS (from Lat. ratio, reckoning, rela tion, reasoning). In the United States Army, a ration is officially defined as "the allowance for the subsistence of one person for one day. and varies in components according to the station of the troops, or the nature of the duty performed." There are four descriptions of rations, which are known severally as the garrison ration, field ra tion, travel ration, and the emergency ration. In active service, or during emergencies, troops receive the emergency ration. Beef cattle are bought only when necessary for supplying troops on the march or during a campaign. Fresh meats are issued ordinarily seven days in tell, and salt meats on the remaining three days. In the United States Navy the ration is not allowed to officers paid on the army basis, but for all others it is commuted to a cash payment of 30 cents a day. The enlisted force of the navy is furnished food in accordance with a fixed allow ance table without regard to its cost, which is, however, about 30 cents a day. and this sum is allowed when the ration is commuted (i.e. paid in money).
British soldiers have only one regular ration, which is the equivalent of the United States Army garrison ration. ]t consists of three-quar ters of a pound of meat and one pound of bread per clay. hi war time the meat ration is in creased to one pound. The official value of the ration is sixpence (12 cents). All other food
over this amount. and such articles as tea. coffee, sugar, butter, salt, pepper, etc., are bought by the soldier at his own expense. Fourpence per day is deducted from the soldier's pay, and from the fund thus raised the articles necessary are obtained. In time of war, or on transports, the Government supplies all needed food, and the soldier receives his full pay. One of the most important features of the Army Reorganization Bill submitted by the Secretary of State for War in 1902 was the proposal that the Govern ment supply all necessary food, without charge, to the soldiers.
In the German Army the same skill and refine ment of detail that marks the entire army or ganization is brought to bear on the question of the soldiers' daily food, with a result that while probably it is the most economical system in Europe, it is also one of the most excellent. The component parts are bread or zwieback, rice, bacon, fresh or canned meat, coffee, and salt.
Japanese soldiers in time of peace receive a ration of rice besides which they are allowed extra pay to cover the expense for meat, vegetables, and so on. The most scientific ration in the world is that of the Italian Army. There are two regular rations, the garrison and the campaign.