The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1918-04-19

10 the cook for "duff' Opium puddingJ.
This decision elected 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 10 help themselyes-no-
body responded to this invitation
Tommy is "fed up" with biscuits.
''Bntter, tins, two"
Mine 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, as the winner is eliml-
mated until every man In the section
has won a bottle.
The rattle is closely watched. because
Tommy Is suspicious when II comes to
gambling with his rations.
At the different French estamInets
la 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 shilling a day,
"a cents. or a cent an hour. Just imag-
Inc, cent an hour for being under
tire--not much chance Of getting rich
out there.
When he goes into the ere trench
(front Incl. Tommy's menu takes a
| tumble. He carries In his haversack
what the government calls emergency
or Iron rRtlons. They 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 curtain OF shell
Are ON the communication trenches,
thus preventing the carrying In" of
rntions, or when In an attack a body
OF troops has been cut of from it's base
OF supplies.
The rations are brought up ut night
by the company transport. This is a
section OF the company In charge of
the quartermaster sergeant, composed
of men, mules and llmbers (two-
wheeled wagons), which supplies Tom
my's wants while In the front line.
They are constantly under shell fire.
The rations are unlOaded at the en-
trance 10 the communication trenches
and are carried In" by men detailed
for that purpose. The quartermaster
sergeant never goes into the front-llne
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.
Tommys trench rations consist OF all
the bully beef he can eat, biscuits,
cheese. timed butter sometimes IL
men 10 a tiul, jam or marmalade, and
occasionally fresh bread Cten to a
Loaf. When Il Is possible he gets tea
aud stew.
When things are quiet, and Fritz Is
behaving like gentleman. which sell
dom happens, Tommy has the opportu-
nifty OF making dessert. This is
trench pudding" II is made from
broken biscuits, condensed milk, jam
a little water added. slightly favored
with nud-put into cunteen and
cooked over little spirit stove known
MS "rommy's cooker"
| "a firm in Blighty widely advertlses
these cookers as a necessity for the
men In the trenches Gulllble people
buy them--shlp 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 dugout to the dis
gust and discomfort Of the other oc-
cupants)
This mess Is stirred up In q tin and
allowed 60 simmer over the flames
from the cocker until Tommy decides
that Il has reached sufficient (gluellkel
consistency, He takes his bayonet and
by means Of the handle carries the
mess up 10 the front trench TO cool.
After Il has cooled or he tries 20 eat Il.
Generally one or two Tommies In a
section have cast-iron stomRchs and
the tin Is soon emptied. Once tasted
trench pudding, but only once.
In addition 20 the regular ration is
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-
tives. They write 60 the papers and
their names are published. Girls and
women In England answer them. and
send out parcels OF foodstuffs, ciga'
rettes, candy, etc. have known q
lonely" soldier TO receive as many as
Ave parcels and eleven letters In one
week.