The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-09-25
our ARMY BAKERS
The Workers Who Make Bread
For Uncle Sans Troops.
A COMPANY AT WAR STRENGTH

II Has slxty-one Men and Is Divided
Into Four Sections of Three Units
Each, With Every Unit Complete In
Itself-Garrison and Field Bread.
A bakery company at war strength
In the United States army is Invisible
into four sections of three units each.
The sections are lettered A, B, G and
D, and 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 company. One bakery company
is designed to supply normally force
Of the strength Of a division; section,
an infantry brigade and unit, an In
fantry regiment at war strength.
The organization and equipment are
such that each unit, secrien 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 a
given destination and the authority to
whom to report.
The total enlisted personnel Of bak-
cry company is sixty-one. Of a section
twelve and a unit four. Thus for
million fighting men about 1000 bakers
are required.
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 sergeants
Of the quartermaster's corps; there are
twelve bakers who have titles Of SER
geant or corporal, each one being In
charge Of a unit. and eight other bakers
for assignment to duty with the COM
pany or with detached subdivisions,
according to the necessities of the case;
thirty-two assistant bakers, who are
corporals or privates Of the first class;
two cooks for 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-
eponsibie for the operations Of the bak-
cry and the training and discipline OF
the personnel. He Is responsible and
accountable for all Of the results also
and can consider his work well accom-
phshed when the men are well supplied
with good bread both In camp and on
the march.
The chief baker has general supervi-
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, cleanlI-
ness, ETC., of his section, and it is up to
him to see that the bread produced Is
Of the proper standard. He inspects
each run of bread after it is baked and
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 complete equip
ment. which includes, for example, 492
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 a
type of bread having a greater density,
a thicker crust and a consequent higher
capacity for retaining moisture than
garrison bread. Field bread Is intend
ed for consumption by troops at dis
lance from a field bakery. Garrison
bread is used whenever the troops are
not more than days journey from the
bakery.
Seven runs of garrison bread can be
made In the army working day, insur-
ing a production Of 1872 pounds OF
bread to the unit. or 1914 pounds to
the bakery company at war strength.
In making field bread it is possible
to have seven runs in sixteen hours,
which is an average days work In the
army field bakery. Seven runs will
produce zoos pounds a unit each day
or 1906 pounds for an entire COM
pany at war strength.
The field oven in which the bread is
baked is of the portable, knock down
variety. 1t will bake approximately
$500 pounds of issue bread or 1000
pounds of field bread a day If operated
continuously. In cases Of emergency
the army bakers are obliged to provide
ovens out of the materials which ma
ture gives them. The bakery recruits
are taught how to make ovens out Of
bricks. clay, sand or even ordinary
earth, so that they win be able to bake
bread for hungry soldiers wherever
they happen to be.
Army bakers are required to bake
many other things besides bread. Rolls.
cakes and sometimes other delicacies
are provided for the men when it is
possible to do so-Baker's Weekly.