The Ypres Times
161
Again the matter was passed onand noted.
D.D.O.S.
Please see.
(Sgd.)D.A.D.E.O.S.
D.E.O.S.
Noted.
(Sgd.)For D.D.O.S.
There the matter rested for three months. Meanwhile, six of the rats, apparently,
had been drafted to duty at Banbury.
With reference to your B.M. 11/683/1916, would you kindly authorise the issue
of an allowance of 1 /6 per week for the upkeep of rats at A.O. Depot, Banbury, where
the storage of chemical shell will shortly commence
(Sgd.)S.D.C.S., F.F.a.
But that was not explicit enough. The department was not going to sanction
expenditure with its eyes shut.
A.D.O.S.F.F.A.
In view of your previous experience as recorded in Min. 11, can you roughly
say how many rats you want
(Sgd.)D.A.D.E.O.S.
Evidently the reply, by return, was satisfactory.
Q.M.G.7.c.
We hope to be able to make six suffice, and it was on this number that the amount
of the allowance for which we requested authority, vide minute 16, was based.
(Sgd.)A.D.O.S.F.F.A.
It was passed on for
Any remarks
(Sgd.)D.A.D.E.O.S.
5/6/18.
All the Q.M.G. had to say was
So the rats were definitely placed on the Establishment, with authority to draw
rations.
A.D.O.S. (F.F.A.
3d. per rat per week is approved for six rats or such other number as you may
consider necessary.
(Sgd.)D.A.D.E.O.S.
The last letter read
Q.M.G.7.c.
Noted. We are preparing to store gas shell at Hereford and have authorised
the O.O. there to draw a similar allowance under this authority for not more than
six rats.
(Sgd.)for A.D.O.S. (F.F.A
There ends a correspondence which those involved must have chuckled over. In
the complexity of the financial question involved the real issue may very well be over
looked. In one of the early letters there was a clearly-expressed official warning that
the rat establishment should not be unduly increased. Yet a little 'ater it is admitted
that the original dozen of rats had multiplied to the excessive establishment of 34.
Someone had blundered.
