Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-23
TRENCH DUTY FEATURES
At MOBILIZATION CAMP
Hungry Guardsmen, Without so
ciety" Distinction, Touch FL
bows at the Mess Tent.

Prominent Washington society men
doing real trench duty" side by side
with their own chauffeurs was one
of the interesting sights that attracted
the attention and comment Of early
visitors to the mobilization camp last
evening.
This trench duty" consisted of hum
CRY members OF the batteries eating
their rations whine seated on the edge
of a trench being dug, for a three
inch water main.
Visitors are not admitted to the camp
until after the evening mess is out
of the way But those visitors who
came early had chance to see the
hungry guardsmen and troopers line
up at the company kitchens. mess Kit
in one hand and tin cup in another, to
get their rations.
The folks at home seem to be more in
terested in what the soldiers in camp are
getting to eat than in any other phase of
the camp life. and the guardsmen them
selves are showing keen Zest for this
part of the daily routine.
When "Mess Call" Sounds.
When the mess CALI sounds there are
few who do not answer the bugle call
with alacrity. 1t is a picturesque sight
to witness the tired men who have been
drilling for hours start on the run. bang
ing their tin cup for coffee in a glad
marching tune against their ration pan.
Each of the nearly thirty organiza-
tions in camp has it's own mess, its own
cooks, it's own kitchen. The daily al
lowances are the same per man in
each organization, but the way in
which the beef and other items of the
meal are prepared depends on the COM
pany cook.
five-day supply of the groceries
component of rations was issued by the
brigade Quartermaster's department
yesterday. This provisioning is under
the direction of Maj. John C. Whitaker,
acting chief of the Quartermaster
Corps, and the details of the distri-
button are worked out by Capt. D.
Spencer Bliss.
This five -day allowance must last
from June % to IS, inclusive.
The fresh component of the mess is
portioned out daily. This consists of
fresh beef, bread baked in the post
bakery at Fort Myer by enlisted men
of the District National Guard, and
100 pounds of ice per company each
day.
In the present camp the men are
No padding" is allowed, as hereto
fore. in the National Guard encamp-
ments. The custom previously has
been for an allowance of 10 cents per
man per day to provide subsistence
such as would make the meals more
palatable and attractive-fresh vege-
tables fresh milk and certain season.
ings. This is not provided for in the
garrison rations now being distributed.
Getting the Men Into Condition.
The purpose of this is to fit the men
just as fast as possible to meet the
conditions they will have when in actu-
al service and to get them into proper
physical shape for the life they are ex-
pected to lead in the field.
There are twenty-six kitchens in the
camp-one each for the companies of
the Sd Infantry, one for officers I9ess,
five for the LIST Separate Battalion. one
officers mess of LIST Separate Battalion.
one for the field hospital, one for the
Signal Corps, one for Troop A of cav
airy and one each for Batteries A
and B.
Experienced enlisted cooks are in
charge of each of these kitchens. The
tional Guard. Heretofore in the annual
encampments the companies not having
an enlisted experienced cook were al
lowed to hire civilian cooks and one as
sistant to each. This practice has been
discontinued in the present regular
service concentration camp.