Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-06-13
FEEDING THE NAVY
Uncle Sans Sailors Are Best
Fed in the World.
Even Without Chicken, Which Has
Disappeared From the Menu, tho
Food Given tackles Is Fit for
an Eplcura

Chicken has disappeared from the
menu of the forecastle in the Amer
loan navy, and Uncle Sam thus saves
more than $4,000 a year. With what
Ia left, however, the American sailor
man remains by far the best fed of all
seamen afoat. Salt horse and hard
tack" have long been meaningless
terms In the navy OF the United
States. Those long gone cruises In
the old sailing ships across the Pa
circ. through the Mediterranean and
round the Horn, sometimes meant
three months between ports. In mod
ern swift steam driven craft a naval
cruise seldom means SO mueh as
three weeks between ports. Even the
eggs OF the wardroom and the cap
tain's cabin were q fearsoms thing at
eight In the morning. after a ship had
been SIX or eight weeks out, and tho
old Bowsry tale of the solicitous col
ored waiter, who said TO the guest de
manding poaohed eggs. Boss, you bet
tab hab dem aigs scrambled; dem
aigs look a heap bettah scrambled;
fac ia. boss, dem aigs amt ve'y
fresh" had its humorous appeal to
the officer Of forty years g or fifty
years age, and even In more recent
times.
A good deal OF the food that had
to be accepted in the wardroom of
the old nav would be promptly re-
1ected in the ~forecastle of the new.
According to the theory and practice
OF the navy today the sailor is quite
as much the ward OF the nation az
the Indian I'VE a Strict regula-
lions prescribe his diet, and the ex-
ecutivs officer and his subalterns live
up to such regulations with conscien-
tious cars. All holidays and Sundays
are occasions for feasts in the fore
castle. and any complaint as to the
quality or quantity Of the food re-
celves prompt and c~onsiderate atten-
ton. Scientific specialists In con1unc-
ton with practically experienced Off
GERS Of the navy have studied the
question Of the sailors diet with min
utest care. 1t Is known just what
foods may safely be taken aboard in
Theoretically sealed containers, and
how long they may be expected to re-
main In wholesome condition. The
proper proportions of meat to vegeta-
bles and of various kinds Of each has
been carefully studied, and the navy
t. -tll -yn4aLyr. fh1 nPoat oF nn~
combinations upon the health and ef-
hciency Of the sailor. Inspection OF
the sailors food Is a thing OF daily
routine. When the waiter from the
cooks gallery comes on deck at early
morning with a platter containing a
sample of the breakfast about to be
served to the men, the officer Of the
deck tastes something of each article,
and II he feels a bit peokish after his
lonely tout OF duty. he sometimes
makes a full meal of the sample,
and sends his compliments to the
is what 1t should be. II he finds any
thing to criticise be does it without
hesitation, and should the defect be
serious he would order a substitute
breakfast for the men AS a matter
of fact the breakfast thus provided Is
good enough for anybody and far bet
ter than most folk ashore are accus-
toned to snt.
Admiral Edward Vernon, popularity
known as Old Grog, because of his
grogram breechss, or possibly his roul
weather cloak of grogram, was the
patron saint not only Of the British
tar, but of the American. for he 1t was
who introduced into tho British navy
about 174b the grog ration OF spirits
and water. Lawrence Washington,
who served under Admiral Vernon in
the unsuccessful attack upon the
Spanish-American city OF Cartagens
In 1T41, returned home to call his
patrimony on the Potomac Mount
Vernon In honor of the man who In
vented gros. The United States navy,
In forswearing Great Britain and all
her works. made An exception In favor
OF grog. and 1t was regularly served
to the American sailor from q tub In
front OF the mast within the memory
Of men stin living. There were two
water gro and three water grog, &c
named for the proportion OF the dilut-
ing huid, which was sometimes Z
more dangerous liquid than that II
vas intended to mollify. an due course
the grog rstions in tho American navy
was committed for Increased pay. and
now no hard liquor IL served to the
f~oreoastle except upon the surgeons
prescription, and the man caugh,
smuggling spirits aboard ship Is sent
to the dungeon and placed upon sx
ceedinsly low diet.
Tobacco for smoking and chewing
Is provided for the sailors OF the navy
in vast quantities. The government
buys tobacco Of excellent quality a
the lowest possible rate. So excel
lent is the sailors tobacco that a good
many officers buy 1t for their own use