Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-11-28
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS
ENJOY THANKSGIVING

refrigerated turkeys are sent to those
points. Present pure food, campaigns
limiting the length OF time In which
fowls may be held in cold storage
threatens to still further complicate
the Thanksgiving dinner In the army.
In fact. the new ration just issued pro-
vides for turkey on but two holidays
! IN the year, Thank sgiving and Christ
mas.
But wherever troop OF United
States soldiers Is stationed a commits
sary sergeant has been planning a
Thanksgiving dinner for weeks past
Out Of his monthly ration allowance
he has figured a most elaborate spread
for this occasion. On next Thursday
all the mess tables in all the companies
or the army will be spread with white
linen, which replaces the everyday
ollcloth on but few occasions in the
year The tables will be deliberately
hung with bunting. The men will
fglVe over their accustomed tasks and
general holiday spirit will pervade all
the posts.
These sergeants have been developed
through system that has done Won
GERS toward increasing the efficiency
OF the food supplied in the army There
IS cooks and bakers school MAIN
tanned at Fort Riley and another at
washington barracks. In these schools
are trained the men who are to pre-
pare the food for the men in the army.
But While the army of the United
states Is we'll provisioned 1t gives
prestige in that respect to the navy.
~ Is admitted the world around that
there is no other army or navy that
provisions Its men as liberal as does
the United States. In the navy for
instance, the United States is ranked
as furnishing ration of $40 per cent
l@I. A.
the nation ranking next to the United
states in the provisions for its navy
is Great Britain, which is given
percentage Of 7s20. The other nations
rank from per cent to per cent in
the efficiency Of the food supply.
Inc cost OF the ration in the navy
amounts to almost 81 cents per day Der
man. 1t is So per cent higher than that
IN the army, because in the first place.
1t Is more difficult and consequently
more expensive to procure provisions
on board ship than at army posts. In
me second place. 1t is recognized that
the ration provided for the Jack tars
ig more liberal than that provided for
the Soldiers.
~ IS no uncommon thing for a ship
OF the navy to find itself cruising in
foreign waters upon the advent Of
thanksgiving day. Such was the case
va e. Two ct our own ships that were
l.
One of the officers of one of these
ships was acquainted with the owner
or sugar plantation in Santo Domin-
go. This officer learned that this
planter had a large supply Of choice
pigs. In that It was impossible to Sc
a Thanksgiving dinner Of these nirs
A small boat was sent up the river and
loaded with the prize pigs Of the plan-
latlon. 1T faced a typhoon In its at
Tempt to return to the ship and was
peaten back and delayed until It was
~ ~ O'CLOCK thanksgiving morning be-
fore the supplies for the dinner were
gotten aboard, but the dinner was
nevertheless ready on time.
with the approach Of Thankspivinp
me commlssary officers Of the United
states navy lay their plans to serve
a sumptuous menu for the day. both
ashore and afloa., and with h,nerv
family Of $1,000 the task is. NO sre a.,
one. Uncle Sans ration for both army
ana navy exceeds in variety and value
that of any other nation, and in the
same manner the ration Of the navy
which is fixed by law at about 80 cents
per man per day exceeds that Of any
liner ;na paancn OF the governmental serv-
ice. Accustomed as these men are to
Wholesome, nourishing food the wear
round, a special allowance of turlrav
and fowl is provided by law for fhe
national holidays. On these davs q
pound and three-quarters OF t1irkev
and fowl per man can be substitutes
for the regular allowance Of fresh meat
There is keen rivalry among the com
missary officers in every fleet, each
striving to prepare the most elaborate
menu possible. Embossed menu cards
showing a bas relief OF the shin and
containing, in addition to the elaborate
menu, roster Of the officers, program
of the athletic sports and the musical
program. are printed. Mailing envelopes
are also furnished, SO that after the
feast Jack may send his card to sis
ter. mother, wife or sweetheart an
dainty souvenir Of the day. These are
greatly appreciated at home.
On Dreadnoueht.