Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1918-03-28

were piled. They consisted of the fol-
lowing:
Six loaves of fresh bread. each loaf
of different size perhaps one out OF
the six being as fiat as a pancake, the
result of an army service corps man
placing Il box Of bully beef on 1t dur
ing transportation.
Three tins Of jam, one apple and the
other two plum.
Seventeen Bermuda onions, all dir
ferent sizes.
A piece of cheese in the shape of q
wedge.
Two one-pound tins of butter.
handful of raislns.
tin of biscuits, or as Tommy calls
them "jaw breakers"
bottle of mustard pickles.
The "bully beef" spuds, condensed
milk, fresh meat. bacon and "Macono.
chic rations" Ga can filled with meat
vegetables and greasy water), had been
turned over to the company cook to
make a stew for next days dinner. He
also received the tea, sugar, salt, pep
per and flour.
Scratching his head, the corporal
studied the slip issued to him by the
quarter. Then In n slow, mystlfied
voice he read out, "No. 1 section, 10
men. Bread, lOaves, six" He looked
puzzled and soliloqulzed In musing
voice:
"Six loaves, nineteen men. Let's see,
that's three In loaf for fifteen men
20 10 M UOnlI
have to muck in on one loaf"
The four that got stuck made a howl,
but to no avail. The bread was dished
out. Pretty soon from far corner OF
the billet, three indignant Tommies &C.
costed the corporal with:
"What do you call this, loaf OF
bread? Looks more like sniping
plate"
The corporal answered:
"Well, don't blame me, didn't bake
It; somebody's got TO get 1t. so shut
I'D until l dish out these blinkin' ra-
TONS"
Then the corporal started on the
jam.
Jam, three tins--apple one, plum
two. Nineteen men three tins. Six
in tin makes twelve men for two tins.
seven in the remaining tin"
He passed around the jam, and
there was another riot Some didn't
like apple, while others who received
plum were partial to apple. After
while differences were adjusted and
the issue went on.
Bermuda onions. seventeen"
The corporal avoided a row by say
ing that he did not want an onion, and
said they make your breath smell, so
l guessed I would do without one too.
The corporal looked his gratitude.
"Cheese, pounds, two"
The corporal borrowed a jackknlfe
(corporals are always borrowing). and
sliced the cheese-each slicing bring
ing forth a pert remark from the on
lockers as to the corporars eyeslght.
"Raisins, ounces, eight"
BY this time the corp0ral's nerves
had gone west, and in despair he said
that the ralsins were to be turned over
to the cook for "duff'' Opium pudding).
This decision elected a little "grous'
ing" but quiet was finally restored.
biscuits, tins, one"
With his borrowed jackknife, the
corporal opened the tin of biscuits, and
told everyone to help themselves-no-
body responded to this invitation.
Tommy Is "fed up" with biscuits.
Butter, tins, two"
"Nlne In one, ten In the other"
Another rumpus.
pickles, mustard, bottles, one"
Nineteen names were put in steel
helmet, the last one out winning the
pickles. On the next issue there were
only 10 names, as the winner is elimi.
mated until every man In the section
has won a bottle.
The rattle Is closely watched because
Tommy is suspicious when IL comes to
gambling with his rations.
When the issue is finished the cor
poral sits down and writes letter
home, asking them If they cannot gee
some NJ. 2. (member of parliamenD to
have him transferred to the Royal Fly
ing corps where he won't have to issue
ratiOns.
At the different French estaminets
in the village and at the canteens Tom
my buys fresh eggs, milk, bread and
pastry. Occasionally when he is flush,
he invests in a tin of pears or april
cots. His pay is only shilling a day,
"a cents, or a cent an hour Just mag
inc, a cent an hour for being under
fire-not much chance of getting rich
out there.
When he goes into the fire trench
(front line), TOmmy's menu takes q
tumble. He carries in his haversack
what the government calls emergency
or iron rations. Jrhey are not supposed
to be opened until Tommy dies of star
walton. They consist of one tin Of
bully beef, four biscuits, a little tin
which contains tea, sugar and OxO
cubes concentrated beef tablets).
These are only to be used when the