Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1918-05-02

studied the slip issued to him by the
quarter. Then in slow, mysti1ed
voice he read out, "Eo. section. 10
men. Bread. loaves, six" He looked
puzzled and soliloquized in musing
voice:
"Six loaves. nineteen men. Let's see,
that's three in loaf for fifteen men
well, to make 1t even, four Of you'll
have to muck in on one loaf"
The four that got stuck made howl,
but to no avail. The bread was dished
out Pretty soon from far corner of
the billet, three indignant Tommies ac-
costed the corporal with:
"What do you call this, a loaf Of
bread? Looks more like sniping
plate"
The corporal answered:
"Well, don't blame me, I didn't bake
it; somebody's got to get it, so shut
up until I 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 a
while differences were adjusted and
the issue went on.
Bermuda onions. seventeen"
The corporal avoided row by say
Ing that he did not want an onion, and
I said they make your breath smell, SC
I guessed would do without one too
The corporal looked his gratitude.
Cheese, pounds, two"
The corporal borrowed q tackkntfe
(corporals are always borrowing). and
sliced the cheess-each slicing bring
Ing forth a pert remark from the on
lockers as to the corporal's eyesight
"Raisins, ounces, eight"
BY this time the corporafs nerves
had gone west, and in despair he said
that the raisins were to be turned ove1
to the cook for "duff'' Opium pudding)
This decision elected little "grous
ing" but quiet was finally restored.
biscuits, tins, one ..-..
With his borrowed jackknife, tn
corporal opened the tin Of biscuits, ant
told everyone to help themselves--no
body responded to this invitation
Tommy is ''fed up" with biscuits.
Butter, tins, two"
"Nine in one, ten in the other"
Another rumpus.
"Pickles, mustard, bottles, one."
Nineteen names were put in stee
helmet, the last one out winning tn,
pickles. On the next issue there wert
only Is names, as the winner is elimi
mated until every man in the section
has won bottle.
The rattle Is closely watched, becaus'
Tommy is suspicious when it comes b
gambling with his cations.
When the issue Is finished Tire COZ
poral sits down and writes a lette'
home asking them If they cannot ge
some N. P. (member Of parliament) II
have him transferred b the Royal Fly
ing corps where he wont have to issu'
rations.
At the different French estaminet
In the village and at the canteens Tom
my buys fresh eggs, milk, bread ant
pastry. Occasionally when he Is flush
he invests In a tin Of pears or apri
Gotta HIS pay Is only a shilling day
"a cents, or q cent an hour. Just imag
tne, q cent an hour for being unde
f1re-not much chance Of getting ricl
out there
When he goes into the fire trend
front Nne), Tommy'S menu takes ,
tumble He carries In his haversacl
what the government calls emergenc.
or iron rations. sEhey are not supposet
TO be opened until Tommy dies of star
walton. They consist Of one tin o
bully beef, four biscuits, little I'll
which contains tea, sugar and Ok
cubes concentrated beef tablets)
These are only to be used when tn
enemy establishes a curtain Of shell
fire on the communication trenches
thus preventing the carrying in" o
rations. or when In an attack bod,
of troops has been cut off from its bas
Of supplies.
The rations are brought up at nigh
by the company transport. This is
section Of the company in charge o
the quartermaster sergeant, compose,
Of men, mules and limbers (two
wheeled wagons), which supplies Tom
my's wants while in the front line
They are constantly under shell fire
The rations are unloaded at the en-
trance to the communication renche
and are carried in" by men detaile,
20r that purpose. The quartermaste
sergeant never goes into the front-lin
trench. He doesn't have to, and I hav
never heard Of one volunteering t
do SO.
The company sergeant major sort
the rations and sends them in
Tommy's trench rations consist Of al
the bully beef he cum eat biscuits
cheese, timed butter sometimes /
men to tiny, jam or narmalade, ant
occasionally fresh bread (ten 10
inafl. When It - Dossible he gets te'