The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1906-09-13
NO-CANTEEN LAW IN NAVY.
The Tar of To-Day Man of Intelli-

gence and Temperate Habits.
The general impression that Uncle
Sans sailors make business Of get
ting drunk and staying drunk when
on shore leave is fatty contradicted
by both officers and men in the SER
vice, with proofs given in substan-
tiation of the fact, says the New
York World.
The battleship Maine, Fighting
Bob" Evans flagship, of the North
Atlantic squadron, has more than
$50 men aboard, exclusive of Off
GERS, and according to the executive
officer, tenant-Commander Shoe
maker, more than 700 of these have
not one bad-conduct mark against
them in the misconduct class,
which means shore leave for them
every other day If they desire that
privilege.
The executive officer does not deny
that in a crew of this size there is
likely to be some few men who may
want to cause trouble, but they are
largely in the minority. Mr.. Shoe
maker says that Rear Admiral Evans
has put all of his men in the fleet on
their mettle and does all possible to
encourage them in their work, and
1t has gotten so that Jackie return
ing on board under the influence of
liquor Is a rarity. During a cruise
lasting three Or four months they
never see liquor of any kind and it Is
OF NJ M
where men who want to actually lose
all taste for it do SO.
Naturally, when the majority Of
them go ashore after a cruise they
want drink and get it. A case was
cited where a man who was dis
charged from the navy re-enlisted
at another station under an assumed
name, and it was not long before he
returned to his old habits, got drunk
and tried to create dissenisOn among
the crew. He was seen on the streets
in New York in no less than eight
different places around town in a
state of intoxication
The natural impression would be
that there were many drunken sail
ors in the city, whereas 1t was the
same man in every instance, and it
was all the more prominent for the
reason that he was in uniform. Had
he been an ordinary citizen possibly
no one would have noticed him.
Medical Inspector H. E. Ames,
U. S. NJ, fleet surgeon for Admiral
Evans North Atlantic fleet. whose
business it is to study the physical
welfare of the men, said There Is
not a navy in the world that feeds
the men as well as Uncle Sans. The
best of the foreign rations combined
do not begin to compare with those
issued by the Government. Their
clothes are of the very best material
the cooking is first-class in every
particular, and before each meal is
served out the officer of the deck
makes a personal inspection of the
food. Their quarters are kept scrupu-
lousy clean, they are required to
battle regularly and Jackie cannot
be found aboard who has not a tooth
brush and a box of tooth powder of
his own.
There are over 1000 men In the
North Atlantic fleet, and / would be
willing to put those men against any
10000 men in the ordinary walks of
life, who are civilians and easily
prove that the civilians would con-
sumo so per cent. more liquor than
the Jackies during the same period
of time
''The few offenders there are in
the navy to-day are invariably found
to be those who have previously
committed some offence, and the
officers are wedding out these men
from the service as rapidly as posi-.
BILE.
whatever he may have been in
years gone by, Jackie Is not a spend
thrift to-day, but on the contrary Q
am speaking now collectively is a
money-saver. 1t may surprise you to
know that in the paymaster's safe on
board the Maine there Is no less than
$33,339.96 due and uncalled for by
| the men aboard, as certified to by
Pay Inspector Simpson, U. S. NJ,
| payment Of the North Atlantic feet.
This comprises their pay and al
lowances, which the men preferred
not to draw, but leave in safe keep
ing where they may go and get it at