American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-05-21

wedge. {
Two one-pound tins Of butter. {
A handful Of raisins.
A tin Of biscuits, or as Tommy calls
them 'jaw breakers"
A bottle Of mustard pickles.
The "bully beef" spuds, condensed
milk, fresh meat, bacon and "Macono-
chic ratlons'' "a can filed with meat,
vegetables and greasy water), had been
turned over to the company cook to
make stew for next days dinner. he
also received the tea, sugar, salt, pep
per and -four.
Scratching his head, the corporal
studied the slip issued to him by he
quarter. Then in a slow, mystified
voice he read out, mo. 1 section, 10
men. Bread, loaves, six" He looked
puzzled and s~oliloquized in a musing
voice:
"Six loaves, nineteen men. Let's see,
that's three in a 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 a howl,
but to no avail. The bread was dished
out. Pretty soon from a far corner Of
the billet. three indignant Tommies &C
costed the corporal with
"What do you call this, a loaf Of
bread? Looks more like a sniping
plate"
The corporal answered:
swell, don't blame me, I didn't bake
it; somebody's got TO get 1t, so shut
up until 1 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 a 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 a row by say
ing that he did not want an onion, and
1 said they make your breath smell, so
1 guessed I would do without n too.
The corporal looked his gratitude.
"Cheese, pounds, two"
The corporal borrowed a jackknife
(corporals are always b%orrowing), and
sliced the cheese-each slicing bring
ing forth a pert remark from the on
d lockers as to the corporal's eyesight.
"Raisins, ounces, eight"
" By this time the corporal's nerves
had gone west, and in despair he said
D that the raisins we're 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
y, body responded to this invitation
n Tommy is "fed up" with biscuits.
70 Butter, tins, two"
70 "Nine in one,t ten in the other"
70 Another rumpus.
"a "Pfckles, mustard, bottles, one"
Nineteen names were put in a stee
~ helmet, the last one out winning tn
"A pickles. On the next issue there wer
- only IS names, as the winner is elimi
N mated until every man in the sectiol
has won a bottle.
M The rattle is closely watched. becaus
10 Tommy is suspicious when 1t t
A. gambling with his rations.
II When the issue is finished the cor
70 poral sits down and writes a lette
II home, asking them if they cannot ge
" some M. P. (member Of parliament) t
have him transferred to the Royal Fly
ing corps where he won't have to issu
rations.
At the different French estaminet
in the village and at the canteens Ton
my buys fresh eggs, milk, bread an
pastry. Occasionally when he is dusl
Is he invests in a tin Of pears or apr
ne cots. His pay is only a shilling a da,
We "a cents, or q cent an hour. Just imai
inc. a cent an hour for being undo
ire-not much chance of getting ric
u.s. out there.
When he goes into the fire trenC
or (front line), Tommy's menu takes
tumble. He carries In his haversaC
what the government calls emergenC
nd or iron rations. They are not suppose
to be opened until Tommy dies Of sta
ter walton. They consist of q tin
ON bully beef, foul biscuits, a little t
a which contains tea, sugar and o.
en- cubes concentrated beef tablets
ice These are only to be used when d
my enemy establishes a curtain Of sh'
the fire on the communication trencht
but thus preventing the carrying In
my rations, or when in an attack a boz
use OF troops has been cut off from its ba
OF supplies.
.eet The rations are brought up at mig
las By the company transport. This Is
1t. section Of the company in charge
I the quartermaster sergeant, compos
let. Of men, mules End limbers (tW
Tag. wheeled wagOns), which supplies To
- - -. u-kIIn In tho front LII