The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-02-21
SOLDIERS GET
PLENTY OF FOOD,
SAYS WRITER
ny LOWELL NlsI.I.ETr
"a nit~i Press Correspondent

t'opNfikht. WV pN thit"d ifchD
BREST. Feb. si.-Thc mothers OF
America who are waiting for their
boys Ia come home may rest aAAur,
Ell that iirost u not pest hole"
despite reports 20 the contrary.
This assertion IL based ON official
figures showing the sick and death
rate here 10 he lower than In any
other camp In France and ON the
results OF personal Investigation
by the correspondent.
iircst was selected as the chief
port for tho arrival - American
troops In France primarily because
IL IN the closest To the q. =. and the
dangers OF the submarines and
mines were lcssened in consequence.
It's strategic and geographical adj
vantagcs outweighed is climatic
drawbacks. The rain seem. 10 fan
everlastingly In firest The soft
ground Ia usually morass 81 mud.
Hut when rain and mud are men.
toned. the worst IL told.
A trainioad OF soldiers arriving Mt
Camp Pontancxzen from the city.
find Red Cross nurses waiting on
the platform 20 serve them with hot
chocolate before thehike TO their
eillets. II II IL in the daytime.
Given Big Supper
~ Il IL a, night the men are given
a hig supper az a Kitchen capable OF
feeding 1000. When they arrive at
the camp proper they are bllletsd
either In tents or barracks These I.
tents arc fioorcd, have stoves and Z
are equipped with hunks securely I
fastened IN the side walls. They |
hold six men, each receiving more 1
air space than the regulations pro /
vide. When given their choice. |
many newcomers prefer tho tents To |
the barracks Tho same l. true OF 1
a part OF the permanent garrison. |
There II no question OF their |
The correspondent visited 4
several on one OF the coidest nights /
firvst has experienced this winter. /
This describes tho condition the Ay. /
cragc train load Of soldiers find. but 4
the failure OF trans. 4
ports 10 arrive on time. resulting In 4
crowding. causes utilization OF un.
fioorcd tents. In such rasrs the per. 4
rnancnt troops turn out and collect 4
buck boards from storchouscn with 4
which temporary floors are made /
Before the big dock kitchen was
completed. the kitchen crews also
used TO turn out and Evt up meals
for the newcomers. no matter what
the hour
Arras We'll DRAINED
The tented areas are well drained. /
regardless % the rain. The new.
are warm and dry their first
night The next morning they are
given breakfast OF praised beef.
cornmeai rnush. bread and jam or
ryrup and coffee. They arr Eiv~n
\ bath which In Designed To remove
any yerruin. and isav, all thcir
clothes behind. receiving a complete
now outfit Then they NOV. TO new
either in tents OF barracks.
Dinner consists OF roast beef.
potatoes. brown gravy. 4
salad usually made Of cold beans.
onions. tomatoes and pickles. peach .
oobbler. coffee and. Of course. bread.
For supper they have Turkish stew.
baked beans. crcamed potatoes.
bread pudding. bread and coffee.
This IL one day's typical menu for
men and officers alike. Tho menu
varies among the Kitchens. and from /
day 20 day.
The result IL that there IL keen
competition for the prize given the
kitchen judged To be serving the
men bcSt--a weeks leave every
month. Sometimes. rs oonse
Qurrlce the rnen get hot cakes and /