The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-09-24
OUR ARMY BAKERS
The Workers Who Make Bread
For Uncle Sans Troops.
A COMPANY AT WAR STRENGTH

II Has siNty-One Men and Is Divided
Into -Four Sections of Three Units
Each, With Every Unit Complete la
ltself-Garrison and Field Bread.
A bakery company Mt war strength
in the United States army is Invisible
into four sections of three units each.
The sections are letterod \. b. c and
D. aud the units are numbered from
one TO twelve. In peace times there
are nine units TO a company, but for
war service this is increased to twelve
units a company. one bakery company
is designed to supply normally force
of the strength of division: section,
an infantry brigade and Il unit. an in
fantry regiment ut war strength.
The organization and equipment are
such thu, each unit, section or COM
pany is complete in itself, so that or
ders directing assembly may specify
simply the number of bakery units,
sections or companies required at
given destination and the authority to
whom to report.
The total enlisted personnel of bak-
cry company is siXty-one, Of section
/ twelve ana unit four. Thus for n
million lighting men about 1900 bakers
| are required .l Cd lf s
There is one commissioned officer In
charge of company, his title being as
sistant TO the quartermaster; there is
also a chief baker, with the title Of
quartermaSter sergeant or sergeant
first class; four assistant chief bakers.
one for each section. who are serseantS
Of the quartermasters corps; there are
twelve bakers who laye titles Of ser
geant or corporal, each one being in
charge OF a unit ana eight other bakers
for assignment TO duty with the tOm-
pany or with detached subdivisions.
| according 10 the necessities OF the case,
thirty-two assistant bakers, who are
corpornls or privates Of the first class;
two cooks fer each company and two
other cooks or general police make UP
the total enlisted strength Of bakery
company.
The commissioned officer in charge
of bakery company in the field is re-
| sponsiblc for the operations Of the bak.
cry and the training and discipline OF
the personnel lie is responsible and
accountable for all Of the results also
and can consider his work well accom-
plished when the men are well supplied
with good bread both in camp and Oh
the march.
The chief baker has general superyi'
sion of the bakery company and the
field bakery He keeps the company
records. prepares bread cost statements
and is general custodian OF the supplies.
The chief Of each section is response.
Bile for the general efficiency. cleanll,
ness. etc. OF his section, and 1t is up to
him TO see that the bread produced is
of the proper standard. He inspects
each run OF bread after 1t is baked aud
before it IS put in storage.
Likewise the chief of each unit is re.
sponsible for the work done directly
under his charge
Each field bakery receives from the
Quartermaster general n complete equip
ment. which includes. for example. 49,
bake pans thirty-six folding bread
racks. four ranges and such other MI
nor articles as axes, brushes. buckets
cans. hatchets. fire hose. measures
paulins. scales scoops. dough scrapers
etc.
Bread used In the army posts IN
peace time is known as garrison bread
The term field bread is applied TO q
type of bread having a greater density
thicker crust and n consequent higher
capacity for retaining moisture thar
garrison bread Field bread is intend
ed for consumption by troops at dis
lance from field bakery. Garrison
bread Is used whenever the troops arr
not more than a days journey from th'
I bakery. . 7.tfr
Seven runs of garrison bread can .
made in the army working day. insur
Ing d. production of 1,512 pounds q
bread to the unit, or 1874 pounds Z
the bakery company at war strength,
In making field bread il is possible
to have seven runs in sixteen hours
which is an average days work In th
army field bakery. Seven runs vii
produce ZOOS pounds unit each da,
or 1906 pounds for an entire com
pany at war strength.
The field oven in which the bread /
baked Is of the portable knock dow
variety. II will bake approximate
$500 pounds Of issue bread or 300
pounds Of field bread day II operate
continuously. Tn eases of emergenc
the army bakers are obliged to provid
ovens out Of the materials which ma
ture gives them. The bakery recruit
are taught how TO make ovens out a
bricks, clay, sand or even ordinar
earth. so that they win be able to bak
bread for hungry soldiers whereye
they happen TO be.
Army bakers are required to hak
many ether things besides bread. Roll
cakes and sometimes other dellcacic
are provided for the men when II