The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-06-25

some fruit. In tnis particuiar osase' ais 1t was left to me, l gave this man the benefit of the doubt. and retained him in the hospital. However, he ap- peared much more husky than anyone of the other six that were allowed to return to duty.
 More and very interesting duties have devoived on me during the past ! week. I am in charge of rations for the entire sanitary train or the First division. There are nine organiza- 1 tions in this train. totaling 92o men. These organizations run in about this lfashion-46, TT. 91, ST, 9S, 12o, l2i, l3o, I 1S3 So you will see the difficulty that l confronts me, when the quartermaster dumps out rations daily, for 92o men, and I must issue as justly as possible This is particularly hard when there are four or five or six quarters Of beei ] to be hacked up.
 .This is my work every afternoon al 1 9 o'clock. I liked it at first because I have long since resolved to like any thing that devoived on me as duty Now, like it because it is really like
 able. pleasant and instructive work.
 MESS SERGEANTS CAPABLE
 There are nine noncommissioned of l ficers who come as representatives Of l their organizations, each one earnestly desiring his share, or more than his share, if possible. These are the mess sergeants, and they are usually old al ! the game As rule they are compe- tent, have been in the army many years, are skilled cooks, and eight oi the nine are very reasonable when 1t comes to close decisions.
 For a few days. we were given French rations. which were very scanty, comprising beef, bread sausage, potatoes, sugar, coffee and wine sugar being substituted in place of wine
 This pleases most of us for it is wise order that prohibits sale or gift Of intoxicating beverages to American soldiers. The wine. of course, IS not intoxicating, but 1t is harmful, for one thing because of the colon bacillus that 1 il likely contains. being well diluted with water.
 "As soon as our quartermaster de- Ipartment could reach us. however, we began to receive American rations again. These rations are very liberal l indeed.
 "Yesterday there was issued for the First division, beef, bread. potatoes milk, butter, syrup. jam. canned toma- i rots, turnips, garlic, dried peaches wood, straw and matches. For anima outfits, oats and straw are added. Many of these items. of course, come in smal quantities, but repeated day after day soon give an organization enough foi
 a meal, or assist largely in soups I The boys are well fed. and 1 might add are much better fed than theii
 hrothers in the other armies, witt
 home are behind them. and by theil laystematized Hooverizing. their self denials and self-sacrifices, are doing much to win the war
 WRITES OF ALABAMIANS l Tt would please me if this testimony from the actual fighting ground of the
 selfishness of home folks could bs made known through some of olll papers-papers that like the Mobil' Register, The Age-Hera1d and Mont Eomery Advertiser. have consistently and consistently fought for just sucf 1 d consummation.
 By the way. the division quarter
 master is an Alabamian. Lieut.. Col Bertram T. Clayton, brother of Judg, lresentative in Congress from the Thirt Congressional district.
 Colonel Clayton is a perfect old time southern gentleman. He is yer, efficient in his duties, and 1ovable il
 his habits The 27,0O0 men in the Firs
 division feel secure when Colonel Clay l ton is son the Job.'
 l "The commanding officer of our di
 vision, Major General Bul1ard. is alst from Alabama, and beloved by the en- 1 tire division. He is a striking figure and one of the most capable officer: 1 oyer here.
 We are using an old chateau fol
 our hospital. in addition to six wart
 tents. It is an interesting old place
 and has seen better days. A confrert from New Orleans shares with me z very pretty room that faces the south l My roommate is one of the bright
 est men I have ever known. Hi! father was for 25 years professor O. History in Tulane University. His ma ternal grandfather was Gen. Edward Rorter Alexander, chief of artillery II General Longstre6t's corps during th'
 war between the states. These inheri tances prove valuable aids to his nat tral endowments. He speaks Frencl 1 fluently.
 There are many books in this cha teau. and he soon discovered Die tionaire Francaise-Anglais. by Speirs.
 and brought it around. This was yer, Interesting to me, for I recalled th frequent expressions of my father a. flo French descent of our family. 1 found that this book was one of tn sixth edition, compiled by A. Speirs 1S49. professor iii English in Lecol imperiale des ponts ct Chaussees ct al ! Lycee Imperial Bonaparte' at Paris l wish that owned this work.
 1 i've have moonlight nights again
 the military significance of that.
 rfcl nf m,