Williams news., 1918-08-09
OVER THE T0P".
(Continued)


 Nineteen names were put in al steel helmet. the last one out winning the pickles. On the next issue there were only IS names, as the winner is elimi- mated until every man In the section has won bottle.
 The raff1e is closely watched, because Tommy is suspicious when, 1t comes to gambling with his irations. a'''f1fE When the issue is finished the cor poral sits down and writes a letter home, asking them if they cannot get some M. F. (member of parlfament) to have him transferred to the Royal Fly ing corps where he won't have to issue ratfons.
 At the different French estaminefs 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 a shilling a day, "A cents, or cent an hour. Just fmag- inc, cent an hour for being under fre-not much chance of getting rich out there.
 When he goes into the fire trench (front line), Tommy's menu takes tumble. He carries in his havsrsack what the government calls emergency or iron rations. .They are not supposed to be opened until Tommy dies of star vatfcn. They consist of one tin of bulky beef, four biscuits, a little tin which contains tea, sugar and Oxo cubes Concentrated beef tablets). These are only to be used when the enemy establishes a curtain of shell fire on the communication trenches, thus preventing the carrying in" of rat1ons, or when in an attack body of troops has been cut off from its base of supplies. ~71-r CT
 The nations are brought up at night by the company transport. This Is section of the company in charge of the Quartermaster sergeant, composed of men, mules and limbers (two- wheeled wagons), which supplies Tom my's wants while in the front line. They areS constantly under shell fire. The rationss are unloaded at the en- trance to the communication trenches and are "carried in" by men detailed for that purpose The quartermaster sergeant never goes into the front-line trench. He doesn't have to, and have never heard of one volunteering to do so.
 The company sergeant major sorts the rations and sends them in.
 Tommy's trench rations consist of all the bully beef he can eat, biscuits, cheese, timed butter (sometfmes IT men to a Hn), Jam or marmalade, and occasionally fresh bread (ten to- 1oaf). When it is possible he gets tea and stew.
 When things are quiet, and Fritz, is behaving like a gentleman, which sell dom happens. Tommy has the opportu- nifty of making dessert. This is trench pudding" It is made from broken biscuits, condensed milk, jam a little water added, slightly favored with mud-put into a canteen and cooked over a little spirit stove known as "Tommy's cooker"
 GA firm in Blieflty widely advertises these cookers as a necessity for the men in the trenches. Gullib1e people buy hem-ship them to the Tommies, who, immediately upon receipt of same throw them over the parapet. Some times Tommy falls for the ad, and uses the cooker in a dugout to the dis gust and discomfort of the other oc. cupants.)
 This mess is stirred up in tin and allowed to simmer over the flames from the cooker until Tommy decides that 1t has reached sufficient; (gluelike) consistency. He takes his bayonet and by means of the handle carries the mess up in the front trench to cool. After 1t has cooled off he tries to eat 1t. Generally one or two Tommies in a section have cast-iron stomachs and the tin is soon emptied. Once tasted trench pudding, but only once.
 In addition to the regular ration fs- sue Tommy uses another channel to enlarge his menu.
 In the English papers 'Lonely Soldier" column is run This Is for the soldiers at the front who are, sup posed to be without friends Or rela-' lives. They write to the papers and their names are published. Girls and women in England answer them, and send out parcels of fOodstuffs, ciga- rettes, candy, etc. I have known a "1onely" soldier to receive as many as five parcels and eleven letters in one week.