Army bread was chronically rotten and improperly cooked despite official orders

Evidence

Supplying bread and meat are probably the best examples of the authorities’ frustrated attempts to feed the soldiers properly and of the logistical problems encountered in making sure that these essential food supplies reached the soldiers regularly and in good condition. The military journals of the army in Syria are full of administrative orders attempting to supply bread (usually peksimet, i.e. hard, dried biscuits) and meat to the soldiers in various localities and, in particular, those on the march so that they would not attack peasants’ lands on their way. However, in actual fact, these orders were very difficult to implement. The bread issued to the soldiers was often either rotten or improperly cooked, and Ibrahim Pasha had to order an investigation into why it was constantly inedible and black in color. — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 937

Categorization

• XREF: Rations feeding soldiers to keep them off peasants’ lands parallels the same motive seen in supply logistics elsewhere.