The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-21
oRoo IN OUR NAVY,

A reader or Ihe NEWS VINO hotcu oui
observations the other day as TO she
splicing OF the main Brace by the
crews OF the Spanish ships prior TO go
| ing into action at Santiago, writes "a
know IL the "sros ration'' has been
abolished In the American navy, and IL
under the suppression that while visiting
one OF our warships he saw liquor
served 10 the crew. who stood in line to
receive it. in their tin cups.
We think ii likely that what our in
quirer saw was the serving of beer to
the crew, 10 which extent under certain
conditions the "grog ration" has been
revived in our navy. But IL goes no
farther than that. The regulation
against the serving of spirits on our
warships applies alike 10 the quarter
deck and the forecastle. The officers
mess is permitted TO serve beers and
wines, but no rum, whiskey, gin,
brandy or article OF that hot nature
although il may be suspected that oc-
casionally in an officers private locker
the material for cocktail may be dis
regulations. the duties of the service.
the obligations and discipline all tend
to temperance with the officers and
men, and this tendency enjoys steady
growth with the succeeding years in
the American navy. M
The idea that fellow couldn't do
business except that he had a glass of
something inspiritIng so soon Us the
sun rose above the fore yard-which
is II a. M, so to say-was prevalent
in former times alike with the sailor
and the landsman. The latter learned
different, perhaps before the former.
and 1t was not until 1862 that the
United States government refused TO
sanction further this venerable delusion
OF our forefathers. The regular serv-
ing of 'grog" began with the British
navy long before the United States
came into being, and our young navy
not unnaturally adopted the "grog ra-
ton" with other details of good sea-
manship and lighting qualities. Capt.
Paul Jones on a memorable occasion
grieved more because "only thirty gal
Ions Of rum" were In his hold than be-
cause his sea biscuits were honey
combed with weavils. When congress
first tackled the grog problem on ship
board IL approached the matter tenta-
lively. offering an extra six cents a day
to the wages of every Jackey who
voluntarily relinquished his grog ra-
ton. In 1912 the ration was cut down
to one gill, but the alternative Of half
Flint of wine was added. and the COM
mutation price was fixed at three cents.
The first year OF the civil war brought
a greatly increased naval force and i'm
creased trouble from strong drink.
Moral sentiment had progressed, too.
In July, 1852. congress revolutionized
the American navy by passing the his
toric law providing: THAT from and
after the first day OF September. 1862,
the spirit ration In the navy OF the
United States shall forever cease, and
thereafter no distilled spirituous liquors
shall be admitted on board Of vessels OF
war except as medical stores, and upon
the order and under the control Of the
officers of such vessels, and to
be used only for medical purposes.
From and after the first day of septem-
ber next there shall be allowed and paid
to each person In the navy now entitled
to the spirit ration cents per day in
and lieu thereof, which
shall be In addition to the present pay"
And that is how II came about that
when our ships saw Cervera's prows at
the mouth of Santiago harbor the crews
were sent TO the guns without any one
1t at all necessary to take
brace" Neither after the battle was
there any thought OF serving an extra
grog ration to celebrate the victory.
Observes our perverted contemporary,
the woonsocket Call: ''Dr. Andrews
will go to Chicago. His exile is due to
New England narrowness."
Rot! DIR. Andrews is no exile. He
goes to bigger place Offering a bigger
salary, just as the editor of the Call or
any other Yankee would do that had
he chance.
There appears TO exist some differ
ence of opinion as 10 whether Il was
Capt. Evans swearing or Cant. phiIips'