New-York tribune., 1905-05-21
DISCONTENT IN OUR NAVY.
JACK T4RS GIVE REASONS FOR SO MANY DESCRIPTIONS
FROM WARSHIPS.
Declare They Get Bad Food Mist Uniforms Punments
and Not Enough Shore LcaUe


why sre so many desertions occurring in the
Tinted States navy? Why DO so many sailors
rbo serve out their terms avail themselves of
che first opportunity TO secure an honorable dis
.Asree2 Why is there so much discomfort and
6,ssatisfaction manifested among the jack tars?
These are questions at present engaging the
c,ose attention OF all those who are interested
:, the welfare Of the American navy.
Statistics show that desertions from battle
.b,ns in the last few years have been occurring
At surprising rate. In almost every port war
,t,ns touch blue Jackets are unlawfully quitting
,bo service Within the last two years the crew
n At least two American warships have been
reno-ted IN q mutinous state. Bluejackets
who do not desert nutiny grumble openly
whenever they get a chance on land TO air their
grievances Dissatisfied sailors appear 10 be the
ruIe instead OF the exception.
That Jackie has well defined list OF griev-
arces and that he believes he knows how the
service could be improved enough to reduce the
rresent surprising proportion Of desertions to a
minimum. Tribune reporter has definitely as
certained by inquiry among sailors Of the navy.
THEIR CHIEF GRIEVANCES.
Stated in the order Of Importance in which
ors. the list is as follows:
FYrst-Bad grub.
second-The uniform question.
Third-Excessiye punishment for minor Of
ferces.
Fourth-Arbitrary denial Of shore leave.
Fffth-Lack Of sympathy between of1lcess and
men.
sixth-Denial Of grog.
Seventh-Overwork
In justice TO the service, It must be here
stated that it was admitted by the sailors in
terviewed that not on al ships do these condi-
tons prevail.
To ruo1e one blueiacket: In the American
navy there are good ships and bad ships. The
former are known in the navy as homes and
the latter as 'nladhouses. The terms. 1 think.
explain themselves. / myself ! an glad to say.
an serving on a home where the officers are
I.ad, the grub good, and We get more shore
le4ye than on the other ships. 1t is only fair to
the men for me TO say. however, that homes IN
the navy are painfully few and far between.
The majority of the ships are undoubtedly
'1nadhouses' or somewhere between 'madhouses'
and homes"
Grub" is undoubtedly the particular subject
about which the sailors are most bitter. The
revolving pictures they paint to the grade
of food served aboard would at first blush seem
10 be drawn freely from the Imagination. but a
score OF sailors Of different ships. separately in
terviewed. told the same story, and among these
cooks assistant Of a first class battle
ship.
To quote one Of these sailors: The food served
on some Of the ships Of the United States Navy
Is d dissrane TO the country. Many times we are
unable 10 eat the stuff that is served "a rs and
60 about our work hungry. waiting until next
mealtime. hoping, often vain that the next
mess may mean more sppetizing rations The
rations purchased are Of the cheapest and most
Inferior quality. 7 have seen canned beef actu-
ally green with rottanness served al mess. Even
the hardtacl IS oftentimes mouldy. and liver
and bacon IS a dish we dread, for the liver is
nearly always decayed. We call It 'petrifed
liver
Who IS II blame for this? Why, the pay
master and the c0mmissa-y stewards, Of course
They are allowed a certain sum by the Navy
Department for each mans ratlons. They buy
The rati7ns from stores - the various ports we
touch at BY buyirg cheap and rotten stuff.
they can put tidy sum in their pockets It's
'sraft pure and simple, and I'm not afraid to
cal # by that name. They don't care a CONT
nen~- for the welfare OF US men so long as
they can put q little money in their own pockets.
I ask YOU, is il fair when a man has been
working al day in the heat Of the stoke hole to
ask him 20 sit down 70 a mess Of food that he
carnot possibly eat2 That is why so many de-
seriions are occurring ia the United States
Nay 10 human being could stand the food
ueg give rs. You see this paper here. That is
my honorable discharge 7 got II to-day after
eight years Of faithful service I've stood the
nav a. long as ! could It's getting worse all
lAe Tine. 10 power on earth could induce me 10
fe-en-iSt for another four years. although the
captain has asked me 70 do so. Let them treat
US Ike men and not like dogs. Some day there
VIII be general mutiry. and then Washington
VIII wake NJ. Perhaps you think ! am exag-
gerating. Take any sailor you meet, and ask
him about grub See If he don't tell you the
same tale"