The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-07-30
PROVISIONING THE
PACIFIC FLEET

WASHINGTON, July 1S.-Severa
big problems in provisioning the Nav,
are still being worked out. The
Bureau of Supplies and Accounts has
under consideration a plan for shipping
stores to Cavite for the Atlantic fleet
Articles such as canned vegetables
fruits, meats, dried fruits and certain
other staple articles will be purchased
in the United States and sent from
here.
1t is intended to use the United
States steamer Buffalo for as much OF
the PROVISIONS as that vessel can carry
on her departure from San Francisco
September 18th. A certain quantity
OF the remaining material viii be ship
ped by an army transport sailing from
the Pacific coast in October if space is
available, or, if otherwise, by merchant
vessels. 1t is estimated that the Buff.
falo will carry a cargo of about 500
tons, leaving 400 tons to be otherwise
transported from the Pacific Coast and
like amount purchased in the East
to be sent out on a merchant steamer
from New York, sailing about Septem.
Der 18th or 10th. also for Cavite.
Instructions will probably be given
to- the naval purchasing officer at
Cavite to buy fresh meats for the At
lantic fleet upon arrival at that station,
together with certain articles on the
grocery list, such as rice, flour, tea,
condensed milk, etc, obtainabe under
contract at Cavite. 1t is probable that
most of the meats thus purchased viii
be obtained from Australia. Dessica-
ted vegetables and powdered eggs have
met with favor in the cruise of the
Atlantic fleet and will be largely used
in future.
Arrangements are being made by
the Paymaster- General of the Navy for
provisioning the ships of the Pacific
feet due to leave about August Gath
for a trip to Honolulu and Samoa and
back to Magdalena bay. There are
about 5000 men to be provided for, and
the period covered by the voyage is
about four months. Owing to the linn
tied cold storage facilities and store
room capacity of the ships of the com,
mand, it has been planned that the
commander in chief of the feet obtain
certain of the fresh meats at Honolulu.
Tt is also expected that two OF the
auxiliaries attached to the command
will be used in carrying dry provis-
ions, etc.
Incidentally it may be noted that the
steadfast edible, the prune, is marked
for improvement, together with every
thing else of whatever composition or
purpose in the Navy. The succulent
preserve is likely to be purchased
hereafter in compressed form, put up
in tins containing about gallon, with
an average of fifty prunes to the
pound instead of seventy under the
present specification. This means that
the new prune will be larger than its
predecessor; besides, it viii possess fine
flavor and be accompanied by syrup
both thick ana sweet, making 1t I'M
necessary to use sugar in serving.
Several hundred pounds of the new
prunes have been purchased by the
bureau of supplies and accounts and
will be sent to two ships on the Allan.
tic coast and two on the Pacific coast
for the purpose of testing the article
by submitting it to the expert and
candid criticism of the enlisted men.
In addition to which, the tins will be
placed in the warmer storerooms on
board ship to determine the keeping
qualities under service conditions Of
the prunes IF the results are salts
factory the new prune will be added
TO the Navy ration.