The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-12-26
MESS COOK BIG
man OF army
Even Company Officers Have to
Be Considerable to the New
Autocrat.
NOBODY "BAWLs HIM OUT"
Any Kicks or crumbIinS Against the
Worst Cook Are Made In Private
and Out Of His Earshot-
Word Is Final.

Field Headquarters, American Expe-
dictionary Forces, France.-"Who's the
great hero in the estimation Of the pri-
Yates in the American army?" asks the
man interested in the psychology Of
soldering.
"The commanding general, of
course" interrupts his companion, an
noyed at the apparently foolish ques-
ton.
"Naw, not him. amt never seen
him even," replies a private, kicking
his hobnailed shoes into the turf.
"Your captain, them" suggests the
wise friend, coming down several
ranks.
Jaw. he's all right and we're al
ways there to salute him, but there's
Others" says the private.
''How about your top sergeant,
veteran 'noncom' with rough talk and
n strong right" asks the friend. losing
confidence.
"we're all for him, but there's others
Just as good as him toO," insists the
private.
"Put us next, who's the boss Of the
company" the first questioner insists.
"The cook, who elseT chorus half a
dozen.
That's the hero-the company cook,
writes Junius B. Wood, in the Chicago
Daily News. The cook may be hot
and grouchy, his uniform greasy and
his eyes red from smoke, but he Is the
most respected man in the mess. That
is, If he is a good cook. Even If he
isn't good cook, indeed is very poor
cook, which is unusual for our army,
nobody "bavls him out" to his face as
they might even do to sergeant major
who isn't much Of a scrapper. Any
kicks or grumbling against even the
worst cook are made in private and out
of his earshOt.
"Say, cook, gimme another helpin' Of
the 'slum gullionT" asks a soldier,
coming up with his tin mess kit
secured clean with hunk of bread of
all traces of the first helping of stew.
"No seconds, tonight" replies the
mess sergeant.
CAV, be good fellow, I'm nearly
starved" begs the soldier.
"Nothin' dom, some of the fellows
haven't got here yet, beat it."
Mess Cook Is Boss.
American soldiers are always hungry
and a stand-in with the mess cook Is
equivalent to one with the landlady's
daughter if you. want the second piece
of pie" He is the company autOcrat.
Anybody who has suddenly dropped
into strange company about mess
time knows that the chances of dining
well, though he may be obliged to
squat on the ground, hold the mess
other, are better If the first call is
made on the mess sergeant than if it is
made on the captain. The captain
possibly eats off table made out of an
old box. Certain formalities, however,
are observed among officers. The cap
tain may not always volunteer as host,
and 1t is not good form to invite your
self.
"Say, sarg, any chance of cumming
some chow?" is good formula.
"Always can scrape the old pan for |
a hungry man." is his usual reply.
"Dont want to crowd you, and I
haven't mess kit either" you say.
"Guess I've got an extra one around !
I'll fix you up all right" he says, and
you eat.
The American army eats well but 1t !
figures closely. RatiOns are drawn for |
exactly the number of men and the !
exact number of days that they are to
eat. It is up to the mess sergeant and |
his cooks to see that everybody gets
his share Of everything and that moth
Ing is left over. That means close fig
uring with only his eyes and a big
spoon to measure by.
Not Too Many Cooks.
For each infantry company of 2O4
men there are a mess sergeant and
three cooks. Under the old organiza-
ton there were sergeant and three
cooks for company of 1853 men and
officers. The way 1t works out up to
brigade unit is:
Company. talon ment Brigade.
Officers and men.20 766 2.736 5,49l
Ness Ness serseants... = 4 e
Rolling Kitchens. Is 80 !
Ration wagons. 1 2S S.
In the field, officers eat the same
food as the men. If they want to pur-
chase some extra dainties that is their
affair. Any man can do the same. The
issues sugar for the coffee,
and jam or preserves or dried fruit. At