Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-22
TOMMY ATKINS AFLOAT.
Account OF Hts Life on the Transports
En- Route TO Africa.


From Tie Inu.l5n Naval and Military Record,
". hear much of the embarkation of
Tommy Atkins for the front. and also of
his dpfngs when arrived at the seat of war.
But between the two happenings there is
blank. How does he live on shpboard?
What does he do during his leisure mo-
nieutsl How is he fed. and how does he
generally conduct himself? These are ques-
lions. says the Syren and Shipping, to
which nine persons out of ten will reply,
We d. not know There is a notion
abroad that the soldier atleat Is practically
4 thlrd-clasS passenger, and treated as
such No such thing. He is a passenger
iuasmUch as he is indiyidual-not one of
IN" crew carried on shipbOard-but he is
soldier ever, and subjected 10 much the
sane discipline and routine as when on
shore Storage passengers are carried, at
least on the more up-to-date boats, in
closed berths- Tommy is fed and housed
in the open troop deck. Ranging from the
ships sides are plain. substantial deal Ia
bies. secured, with the attached seats, to
snowy wilderness. In ship of big beam.
say a siXty-footer. each table accommu-
dates mess of eighteen men, and in the
transport Bavarian each troop deck-the
one forward and the other aft of the en-
gine room spaceS-has seats for over 1000
men. AT the ships side end OF each table
vas powerful electric light, while the
beams above hold the hammock hooks from
which Tommy hangs the canvas couch in
which he slept during the night The sol
diers night terminates at am. when the
first bugle blows. Then follows the first act
Of tbs days routine. The hammpcks are
unsluns and taken with the bedding to the
deck above, where they are aired until 1899
Then they are taken down and slowed
in the room set apart for that purpose
After the hammOcks. etc. are taken on the
upper deck comes breakfast, consisting OF
dry bread and chocolate, and nothing more.
And then comes the inevitable smoke on
the deck above. The next meal after break
last is, Of course. dinner. and here again
the menu is by no means of an extensive
character
The soldier cooks-who. by the way. usu-
ally draw their cooked ratiOns from the
chefs of the ship-cannUt ring many changes
on the allowance which the admiralty Dor
lions out to Tommy when afioat. To be-
gin with. the daily allowance of water per
head IS SIX pints at least with a minimum
Of one gallon when the ship is in the trop-
les. or meat there are twelve ounces of
salt beef on Sunday and ditto on Wednes-
day, with an equal quantity of pork on
Tuesday and Friday, and twelve ounces of
preserved meat on the three remaining
days OF the week. Where cold storage is
provided fresh beef. etc. may be dispensed
in lieu Of the salt meat mentioned on SIM
day, Tuesday and Thursday IL ounces of
biscuit are Forthcoming. and on other DAYS
one pound of fresh bread: while each week
Thomas is allowed twelve ounces of flour
together with one-quarter pound of rafsius
aud ditto Of rice, The supply of sugar Is
more generous, being four ounces on Sun
Ha( ana half that quantity on other DAYS
mere is not much chance of a soldier firing
OF vegetables while en- route to the Cane
for on four DAYS Of the week he has tu.o
ounces OF preserved potatoes. along with
TWO ounces OF compressed vegetables each
Week and last, but not least especially
when the possibilities of the salt pork are
considered. fOur-uiDths of a pint of splt
peas per week. With such VfandS as these
@I'"u by one-sixth OF pint of vinegar. half
an ounce OF mustard One-Sixth of a n ounce
or pepper. six ounces of pickles and two
ounces Of salt per man per week a skiIlful
mess COOK has, of course, the materials for
producing nutritious. II not luxurious
meals OF tea the daily allowance per man
Is hdit an ounce. and half this quantity is
considered equal to an alternative ounce
OF chocolate or coffee. There is il will he
noticed. no fruit, jam, butter or cheese
AMI Thomas. If he wants these delicacies
must purchase them he does his drink
al the canteen and stores provided on ali
IIoOpetS. his early supper over. he wiIes
away the time as best he chooses until
e;l9. when he must be in his hammock.