The Sunday globe., 1901-07-28
OUR JACK TARS.
What They get to Eat in the United
States Navy.
SURE OF BED AND BOARD.
Unlike Tho Soldiers in War, Who Never Know
Where They will Eat or Where They will
Camp ON The Bare GrOund-Our Govern.
ment has the Best Fed Navy in The World
and The Best Fighters, TOO.

The United States Government gives
its sailors only 80 cents day each to
live on, but the American Navy is bet.
ter fed than any other navy in the
world. In fact, 'jaCky' lives better
than the average mechanic on shore.
As the appetite of a seafaring man
can not be appeased by angel food, the
provisions are Of the most substantial
kind
All naval vessels are liable to be
sent on long voyages or to be stationed
where markets are inaccessible, and
the stores purchased for the crew must
be such as will keep for a long time
and not become damaged by changes
Of climate. Naturally, salt pork, corn.
ed beef, hard tack beans. flour, sugar,
canned fruits and vegetables are car.
ried i'm large quantities and must of
necessity constitute the main part of
the daily rations With these staples
as a basis many appetizing combina-
tions can be made At sea fresh meat
and vegetables are not to be had, but
while in port or within reach OF a
market the navy regulations require
the issuance on certain days of these
desirable additions to the food supply,
In the olden days no fresh meat was
included in the navy ration, and
'jacky' was compelled to subsist large.
ly on cOrned beef, known in the sailor
yerRacular as salt horse, owing to
the fact that some unscrupulous con-
tractor at one time long ago passed off
horsenesh for beef in a navy supply,
The barrel in which the salt meat is
kept is to this day known as the "har-
ness cask,'
The enlisted men are divided into
messes consisting Of from IS to "a men
each. Every month the mess elects
one Of its number to the position of ca
terer, and he looks after all matters
culinary during his term, TO him the
daily allowances Of staple foods are is
sued each morning by one Of the pay
masters men, known as the Jack Of
the dust presumably from his hand
ling -four. The ships cooks then pre-
pare the supplies for the table. Each
mess is usually allowed from four to
six commuted rqtions-that is, the ca
terer is given the value of such ratiOns
in cash and is thus provided with a
fund of from S36 to S54 per month with
which to buy fruits, vegetables, fish,
butter and other items which are not
included in the list of articles furnish
ed by the Government. 10 furnish the
table still further it is customary for
each man to chip in a dollar or two
each month out of his own pocket.
The old.time shellbacks looked with
glee upon a plum duff dinner, but such
dainties as that seem commonplace to
the new style navy men, who on holi-
days and frequently on Sundays have
delicacies like roast turkey with Gran
berry sauce, celery oranges, banah@s
and even ice cream.
If "jacky" has one failing in the
commissariat line, it is his craving Tor
pies of any constituency or nationality.
He will eat them on any OCCASION and
in any place. The ships cook, If he be
ambitious, takes advantage of this and
makes up a tempting array of pies
from materials which ne purchases
from the paymaster and retails them
to the sailors.
The Government does not discrim-
mate in the allowance for food sup
plies in the navy as between officer and
enlisted mau-that is, it did not up to
a year or two age, when every man In
the ship, from the admiral down to a
coal HEAVIER, received 80 cents each day.
Now the discrimination is that the coal
HEAVIER continues to draw his 30 cents,
while the admiral and all other officers
except the gunner, carpenter, pharma-
cist, chief machinists and the naval
cadets receive absolutely nothing for
a. I,rt nd al MnmU
who visit naval vessels and are enter
tanned al dinner or luncneon are heard
to remark that the Government pro-
vides very good living for its officers,
not thinking that the entire cost OF the
repast has come out Of the officers
own pockets.
The cost of an officers living on one
Of our vessels varies considerably. In
a port where much entertaining has 20
be done and where there are high
priced markets, the mess bill, as II is
called. sometimes runs as high as 800
or $40 a month for each officer, ana Is
rarely less than SIS a month. This rep
resents merely the actual cost Of the
food and the incidental expenses OF the
mess. as the Government furnishes all
servants, crockery, fuel and table
linen.
In connection with this subject II
may be interesting to note that the car
tain Of war vessel does not eat with
the other officers, but has a separate
establishment for himself, and is pro-
yided with cook and a steward whose
only duties are to wait on him. On
nagships the admiral also eats alone
The wardroom mess usually includes
an officers above the grade Of ensiga
and on most vessels consists of from
~ TO 20 members. Jnior officers and
naval cadets constitute another mes"
known as the stcerage mess