SUPPLY LINES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 14, 9 February 1942, Page 5

SUPPLY LINES

QUARTERMASTER GENERAL'S PROBLEMS

ARMY, A VAST CONSUMER

The Quartermatcr-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 much more complicated. Consider the feeding of a thousand men, remarks Charles E. Wheeler in an article on the problem of supplies in New Zealand. Every day there must be delivered at the point of consumption the following basic foods: Bread, lOOOlbs; fresh meat, 1500lbs with bone (or lOOOlbs of preserved meat as; an alternative); jam, 250lbs; fresh milk, 1000 pints; fresh vegetables, 500lbs; sugar, 250lbs; butter, 188lbs. 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. Men have to be clothed, equipped witli 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 books and uniforms abroad for the general pools from

wheh Empire troops are supplied. Each individual in the army requires: Two pairs of boots (with provision for frequent replacements); one battledress; one suit of denims; underclothing; shirts; cap; hat; greatcoat; web equipment, including waterbottle; gas respirator; rifles, revolvers, automatic weapons and ammunition. To-day the army is mechanised, and in New Zealand the Quarter-master-General's department not only supplies many thousand trucks and motor cycles but has to keep this big fleet maintained.and moving in useful work. The army does "firstline" 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 suppies of petrol and lubricating oil are produced by a national plan in which oil companies effectively cooperate to secure widely distributed supplies. Supply in the army is big word.