Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1895-10-04
UNCLEiSAM'S NAVY. /
HOW MARlNEsoF THE UNITED STATES
ARE CARED FOR.

A marine was asked by a reporter t.
give an account Of what he received il
the service Of Uncle Sam and how h'
and his fellows enjoyed themselves Oh
board ship The following was hi
story;
'HThe government engages marines fol
a period Of five years. At the end Of that
time the marine may quit the service Oh
he may re-enlist. There is no doubt Of
his being able to continue in the service
if he does his work honestly There is
no worry about getting out Of job with
Uncle Sam. During the first and second
years Of the marines service he gets in
money, paid monthly, Sl3 The third
year he gets $14, the fourth $15 and the
sixth SIG. If at the expiration Of his
first five years service he re-enlists, he
gets $l8 "A month, and if he enlists for
a third period of five years he gets $40
a month in money.
"That is the cash part Of it, but that
is not half of what a man in the service
gets. The government clothes its men
besides, and in very good style It gives
a marine a black helmet and white
one. These two are supposed to last for
the period Of enlistment, which is five
years. There is no trouble about wear
ing them that length of time, as they
are not often used. The marine also gets
one undress cap year, which is all he
needs He also gets storm {cap each
year. That makes II articles Of head
gear which the government supplies him
with in the course of five years, and ex-
perience shows that that is quite suf-
ficient. It is nearly three hats year,
and there are not many workingmen
who buy as many as that.
"The marine also gets one full dress
coat, which, as it is not frequently used,
lasts five years very nicely. He receives
a fatigue jacket each year and an over
coat. He gets eight pairs of blue tron-
sers and eight pairs of linen ones in five
years, and experience shows that if a
man is careful be does not need that
many. He is also supplied with 80 pairs
Of gloves for the five years. He gets two
flannel Overshirts each year He also
has two undershirts and two pairs of
drawers each year. He also receives
four pairs OF wooden socks aud four
pairs Of cotton socks each year. He is
supplied with three pairs Of shoes each
year and one pair of arctic shoes each
season. He receives two pairs of blan-
kets during the term of service. He is
also given 40 linen collars and three
pairs of suspenders during the same
time. That is the outfit in the way of
clothing which the government gives
each marine who joins the service.
These articles are all Of first class mate
rial, too, and very serviceable. There is
no stint at all There are a few articles,
like neckties and handkerchiefs, which
the marine must buy for himself.
eff a man is careful and economical
with his clothing, he can save fully
one-haf of the allowance which he gets,
and if he saves any part Of it he is al
lowed so much money for the clothing
he does not take There are men in the
service today who are taking only about
one-haf of what the government al
lows, and at the end of their five years
service they will be paid in money for
the clothes they did not take. The full |
value of the clothing allowed to each
man for five years is s19s.
''The sleeping accommodations Of the |
men are very good. While on shore dp- |
ty they live in houses and have beds, |
but while ON shipboard they sleep in |
hammocks which the government fur
nishes The sleeping quarters, both on
land and at sea, are clean and well yen-
tilated. The food is all that man needs.
the commissary is not we'll |
and the men complain,
but they can soon get change if they
take their complaints to the proper Off
GER. The food is very good and of suffi-
cient variety for any one.
1.-THE men ON shipboard also get all
they need free, and medical attendance
costs them nothing.
'Now this is the pay man gets as
D marine in the navy. He is well clothed
and well fed. He sleeps in a good bed
u hammock, has proper attention if
he is sick and draws handsome wages
n cash every month.
'tHis work is not at all burdensome.
De has enough drill to keep him in the
pest physical condition and give his ap-
petite keen edge He has lots of time
or amusement On shore be can play
billiards and pool free at the post, and
10 may enjoy all kinds Of exercise in
he gymnasium. The men play baseball,
landball, football. They put the ham
ner and shot and enjoy themselves just
s much as the college boys do. The !
overnment also has at each post and on
library and a reading room,
where the men may entertain themselves
With books and papers
"Out Of their wages the men must
ay their barber and laundry bills, which {
lgether amount to about 50 a month. G
Besides this the marine is taken care c
in his old age. If his life has been
at the end of 20 years service :
Q may retire to the Mariners home, |
here he will have q room to himself, /
good table, three suits Of clothes a {
ear, tobacco free and SO a month. II I
Q does not retire until after he has T
rived 80 years, he then gets three-quar-
rs pay and three-quarters Of all al
iwances Of clothing, besides a good {
Dme and good board, for the rest Of his
f.
''It will be seen that Uncle Sam is a
1t niggardly in dealing with his men. a
they do their duty, they receive good 2
and are well fed and clothed, Z
ID draw, all things considered, very 4
ir pay. New York Telegram. =
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