Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1918-04-19

The corporal borrowed q jackknlf'
(corporals are always borrowing), ant
sliced the cheese--each sllcing bring
ing forth a pert remark from the on
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
that the ralslns we're to be turned over
to the cook for dun" (plum pudding)
This decision elected little Ngrous
Ing" but quiet was finally restored.
biscuits, tins, one
With his borrowed jackknlfe, the
corporal opened the tin Of biscuits, and
told everyone to help themselv' s--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 steel
helmet, the last one out winning the
pickles. On the next issue there were
only IS names, us the winner Is eliml'
mated until every man in the section
has won n bottle.
The rattle Is closely watched. because
Tommy is suspicious when II comes to
gambling with his 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 tin Of pears or april
cots. His pay is only shilling day,
"a cents, or Il cent an hour. Just imag'
Inc, cent an hour for being under
fire-not much chance of getting rich
out there.
When he goes into the fire trench
(front llne). Tommy's menu takes q
tumble. He carries In his haversack
what the government calls emergency
or iron ratlons. They are not supposed
to be opene until Tommy dies Of star.
walton. They consist Of one tin OF
bully beef, four biscuits, little tin
which contains tea, sugar and OxO
cubes concentrated beef tablets).
These are only to be used when the
enemy establishes curtain Of shell
fire on the communication trenches
thus preventing the carrying In" OF
ratlons, or when In an attack bod!
Of troops has been cut of from Its base
Of supplies.
The rations are brought up at night
by the company transport. This Is q
section OF the company In charge OF
the quartermaster sergeant, composed
Of men, mules and llmbers 1.-TWO
wheeled wagons), which supplies Tom
iny's wants while In the front line
They are constantly under shell fire
The ratlons are unloaded at the en-
trance to the communication trenches
and are carried In" by men detailed
for that purpose. The quartermastel
sergeant never goes into the front-lint
trench. He doesn't have to, and have
never heard of one volunteering tC
DO so.
The company sergeant major sort
the ratons and sends them in.
Tommy's trench rations consist Of al
the bully beef he can eat, biscuits
cheese. timed butter sometimes Ii
men TO TIM, Jam or marmalade, ant
occasionally fresh bread (ten to {
Loaf. When 1t is possible he gets tet
and stew.
When things are quiet, and Fritz |!
behaving like a gentleman. which sci
dom happens. Tommy has the opportu
nifty of making dessert. This Il
trench pudding" II is made from
broken biscuits, condensed milk, jam
n little water added. slightly favored
with mud-put into canteen ant
cooked over a little spirit stove know
as "Tommy's cooker"
a firm In Bllghty widely advertise
these cookers as necessity for tn
men In the trenches. Gullible peopl
buy them-ship them to the TOmmles
who. Immediately upon receipt Of sam
throw them over the parapet. Some
times Tommy falls for the nd, an,
uses the cooker In dugout to the dis
gust and discomfort Of the other oc
cupants.)
This mess is stirred up In tin an
allowed to simmer over the flame
from the cooker until Tommy decide
that II has reached sufficient (gluelike
consistency. He takes his bayonet an
by means of the handle carries tn
mess up In the front trench to coo
After II has cooled Off he tries 10 eat u
Generally one or two Tommies In
section have cast-lron stomachs an
the tin is soon emptied. Once taste
trench pudding. but only Cnce.
In addition to the regular ration Il
sue Tommy uses another channel (
enlarge his menu.
In the English papers a Lionel
Soldier" column Is run. This Is fO
the soldiers at the front who are SUI
posed TO be without friends or rel,
lives. They write to the papers an
their names are published. Girls an
women In England answer them, an
send out parcels Of foodstuffs, cIg'
rettes, candy, etc. have known
lonely" soldier to receive as many Q
five parcels and eleven letters in or
week.
II Empey realizes for the first