The Robesonian., 1918-06-24

other two plum.
Seventeen Bermuda onions, all dif-
ferent sizes.
A piece of cheese In the shape OF q
wedge.
Two one-pound tins Of butter.
A handful of raisins.
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 "NIacono-
chic rations' Ca can filed with meat,
vegetables and greasy water), had been
turned over to the company COOK to
make a stew for next days dinner. He
also received the tea, sugar, salt, pep
per and flour.
Scratching his head, the corporal
studied the slip issued to him by the
quarter. Then in q slow, mystlhed
voice he read out, "No. 1 section, l9
men. Bread, loaves, six" He looked
puzzled and soliloquized in a musing
voice:
'Six lOaves, nineteen men. Let's see,
that's three in loaf for fifteen men
we'll, to make it 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, loaf Of
| bread? Looks more like sniping
plate" ~s,tx
The corporal answered.:
"Well, don't blame me, didn't bake
it; somebody's got to get it, so shut
up until I dish out these blinkin' ra-
| tions."
Then the corporal started on the
jam.
"Jam, three tins-apple one, plum
| two. Nineteen men, three tins. Six
in q 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
said they make your breath smell, sc
I guessed I would do without one too
The corporal looked his gratitude.
"Cheese, pounds, two"
The corporal borrowed a jackknife
(corporals are always borrowing), ant
sliced the cheese-each slicing bring
ing forth a pert remark from the on
lockers as to the corporars eyesight
"Raisins, ounces, eight"
By this time the corporars nerve!
had gone west, and in despair he sait
that the raisins we're to be turned ove
to the cook for "duff'' (plum pudding)
This decision elected q little "grous
Ing" but quiet was finally restored.
biscuits, tins, one"
With his borrowed jackknife, tn
corporal opened the tin of biscuits, an,
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 wer
! only 18 names, as the winner is elm
mated until every man in the sectio
has won a bottle.
The rattle is closely watched, becaus
| Tommy 9 nj yuh
. gambling with his rations.
When the issue is finished the CO..
= poral sits down and writes lette
home, asking them If they cannot ge
> some M. P. (member of parliament)
have him transferred to the Royal FL,
ing corps where he won't have to issu
rations.
At the different French estaminet
in the village and at the canteens Ton
i my buys fresh eggs, milk, bread an
pastry. Occasionally when he is f1usl
s he invests in tin Of pears or apr
e cots. His pay is only shilling a da
e "a cents, or cent an hour. Just fma
Inc, a cent an hour for being unds
d fire-not much chance of getting ric
), out there.
When he goes into the fire trene
r (front line), Tommy's menu takes
IL tumble. He carries in his haversae
r what the government calls emergent
d or iron rations. They are not suppose
to be opened until Tommy dies of sta
r vation. They consist Of one tin
N bully beef, four biscuits, a little t
q | which contains tea sugar and n,
T. cubes concentrated beef tablets
e These are only to be used when tt
~ enemy establishes a curtain of she
le fire on the communication trenche
1T thus preventing the carrying in"
~ rations, or when in an attack boz
Sc of troops has been cut off from it's ba
of supplies.
ct The rations are brought up at mig
s. by the company transport. This is
| section of tho oopopopx, oborro