The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1918-05-23

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 a far corner Of
the billet, three Indignant Tommies ac-
costed the corporal with:
"what do you call this. a loaf Of
breadp Looks more like q snlplng
plate"
The corporal answered:
swell. don't blame me, I didn't bake
It; somebody's got to get II. so shut
up until l 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 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 Il
while differences were adjusted and
the issue went on.
"Bcrinuda onions. seventeen.
The corporal avoided n row by say
ing that he did not want an onion. and
I said they make your breath smell. so
I guessed ! would do without one too.
The corporal looked his gratitude.
Cheese, pounds, two"
The corporal borrowed a Jackknife
tcorporals are always borrowing), and
sliced the cheese-each slicing bring
Ing forth n pert remark from the on
lockers as 10 the corporal's eyeslght.
"Ralsins, ounces. eight"
by this time the corporars nerves
had gone west. and In despair he said
that the raislns were TO be turned over
TO the cook for dur Opium pudding).
This decision elected n 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-
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 u steel
helmet. the last one out winning the
pickles. On the next issue there were
only IS names, as the winner Is eliml-
mated until every man In the section
has won bottle.
The rattle Is closely watched. because
Tommy is suspicious when 1t comes to
gambling with his rationa
When the issue is finished the cor
poral sits down and writes a letter
home. asking them II they cannot get
some NJ. p. (member OF parliament) to
have him transferred TO the Royal Fly
ing corps where he won't have to issue
ratlons.
At the different French estaminets
In the village and mt 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 a shilling a day,
"a cents, or a cent an hour. Just imag-
Inc. a cent an hour for being under
fire-not much chance Of getting rich
out there.
When he goes into the fire trench
tfront line), Tommy's menu takes
tumble. He carries In his haversack
what the government calls emergency
or iron rations, Srhey are not supposed
to be opened 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 II curtain of shell
fire on the communication trenches,
thus preventing the carrying In" of
rations. or when In an attack a body
Of troops has been cut off from Its base
Of supplies.
The ratlons are brought up Mt night
by the company transport. This Is
section of the company In charge of
the quartermaster sergeant, composed
of men, mules and limbers 1.-TWO
wheeled wagons), which supplies Tom
my's wants while In the front line.
They are constantly under shell fire.
The rations are unloaded ut 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 (sometlmes IT
men to TIM, Jam or marmalade, and
occasionally fresh bread (ten to
Loaf. When II Is possible he gets tea
and stew.
When things are quiet and Fritz Is
behaving like q gentleman. which sal
dom happens. Tommy has the OppOrtu-