Cooking Apparatus For The Army

A new cooking apparatus, designed t'or tlie use of troops 011 active service in the field, was exainined last week at St. Petersburg by tlie Assistant Director-in Ohief of the Bussian Intcndance, and so successful was the trial made of it in his presence that orders were at once given for a nnmber to be íorwarded to the army in the valley of the Danube. The advantages of the new kitchen, which is the invention of Col. Lichin, are its great simplicity and portability, The apparatus, which is fltted on a twowhecled vehicle drawn by two horse, consists of a oylindrical pot, providecl with a íumace and chimney, and arranged so that it always remains vertical, even when the cart is moving rapid]y' along and jolting over the inequalities of ' a rough road. Cooking can, therefore, be carried on during a ínarch as well as when the kitchen is stationary. The interior of the apparatus consists of two copper eylinders placed one inside the other ; the inside of the largor and both the inaide and the outside of the smaller being tinned. The outer cylinder is fltted with pipe and a stop-cock, by which water can be introduced.while the inner vessel is closed with a lid, fitting hermet ically, through which, however, a curved pipe enters thé" smaller from the top of the larger. The food to be cooked is placed in the inner vessel, and consequently is not subjected iminediately to the action of the flre, but to that of the boiling water in the outer vessel and of the steam which enters by the pipe írom the latter. Safety-valves are provided, and also coaks for emptying and cleaning the outer cylinder. Suoh a kitchen of the size recommended by Col. Lichin for use in the field wül cook in three hours enough stchi and oattneal soup for a company of 250 men ; and as the appnratus only occupies the hinder part of the conveyance the otiier half of the carriage is available for the transport of uncooked food, cups, dishes and so forth.- Pall Mali Gazette.