that he makes the cooks use what he tells them to.  Cooks should not be allowed to help themselves to things; the mess sergeant should weigh out or set out just what is to be used each day.
   10.  Have the food served hot and in individual portions as far as
possible; see that the food is not put on the table too soon.
   11.  During each month talk with an old soldier, a raw recruit and a
non-commissioned officer about the mess to see what the men think of it.

ON THE MARCH.—­(1. i.d.r., 669-673.)

If portable kitchens accompany troops, the men should fall in in single file and be helped to food as they pass by in companies.

FOR INDIVIDUAL COOKING.—­Rations issued might be:  1 carton of hard-tack, 1 ration of bacon, 1 potato, 2 tablespoons of rice, 1 heaping tablespoon of coffee, sugar.

Fires for individual cooking are best made out of small dried twigs to produce a hot fire large enough for a group of four men.

There are two methods of cooking with the issue mess-kit.

First Method:  Each man cooking for himself.  As there are but two cooking utensils, the tin cup and the frying pan, the cooking must be systematized in order to cook four articles on the two utensils.  To do this, the rice is first cooked in the tin cup filling the tin cup one-third full of water throwing in the rice.  The water is brought to a boil and boiled until the individual grains of rice are soft through.  The tin cup is then removed from the fire, the water poured off, and the cup covered with the lid of the mess tin, the rice being allowed to steam.  In the meantime, the bacon should be fried in the frying pan, the grease being saved.  When the rice is well steamed, it is turned out in the lid of the meat can, then the bacon placed on top of it.  The tin cup is washed out and the man is then ready to fry his potato and boil his coffee.  The cup is filled two-thirds full of water and the coffee placed in it and boiled until the desired strength is attained.  To prevent the coffee from boiling over, a canteen of water should be handy and water thrown in whenever the coffee begins to boil over.  When the coffee is strong enough, the addition of cold water will settle the grounds.  In the meantime, cut the potatoes very thin and fry them in the bacon grease and the meal is ready:  hard-tack, potatoes, rice, bacon and coffee.

Second Method:  Squads of four may specialize; one man to collect the frying pans and fry all the bacon, another the potatoes, another the rice and coffee, and the other for collection of wood.  Either method may be followed.

Mess-kits should be cleaned immediately after using, sand being used for scouring.  Mess-kits must be cleaned thoroughly.

IN THE TRENCHES.—­Usually rations and stores will be carried up to the trenches by the supports and the reserves.  If this is not possible and it becomes necessary that men from the front line trenches be employed, not more than 10 per cent of the men in the firing line are to be away from the trenches at the same time.