Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-08-01

TO-DAY .is larry comlOEtaDle IN the Wa!
Of board and lodging.
Forty years ago, on August ), 1873,
Joined the L, S, 5. Alaska, Cap
tain S. 2. Carter, one of the finest
ships OF her day in the navy. We had
IN our mess one ensign. thirteen mid.
shfpinen. and TWO clerks. Our guar
ters consisted of room eighteen feet
long by about ten feet wide, contain
| ing SIX berihs. There was no cleo
trio light, and. II I remember correct
! ~, Our allowance Of candles vas sew
ca a week. In those days the canning
! OF meat ana vegetables was an infant
industry. and there was no cOiI-stor-
| age Tor anything except small ice
! box capable OF containing certainly
met more than three days provisions
, There. vas no bath room for our use,
! and only q couple Of waShbowtS in
rings for toilet There was NO run
ming water We had such a limited
supply OF: fresh water that we could
barely get enough to wash our faces
I once a day Our food was Inferior to
d what the enlisted men OF today would
call rotten. bad" though its cost was
as much as officers now, pay for vast
! ~ better -, .:...:. ..
- remember one cruise in the
1 Alert when in the. ward room we
could. not procure decent food for the
officers. blit the. enlisted men, hav-
ing under the regulations the first
tcaii on the paymasters supplies. were
1living quite we'll. / happened to be
the caterer and my only reply when
my: Inessmates complained Sas, Well,
II you are not: eating you are saving
tYoGr mess bill. This case was very
Exceptional. however. In these days,
i#excspt in. vers small craft, the com.
1fofts CT enlisted men are vastly SUI
tperior. 10 those formerly enjoyed by
officers. and the officers have much
more. comfort than was formerly
possible. .>...
':,.As to- sleeping quarters, the men
have. their :hammocks,, as formerly,
but the. berthing spaces are ventilat-
ed and sanitary, and in all weathers
there are comfortable places In their
waich below. Even for the watch on
deck there Is little exposure to the
weather. 49, ..........s%
Each ship carries o refrigerating
plant and fresh meats can be carried
Flor long voyages. Proper provision
! is made for the carrying of fresh
and the canning Of fruits
| and vegetables has developed 30 that
all of the necessRries for comfortable
living are at hand Mushrooms and
paths are plentiful and q good de-
gree. OF privacy can be obtained.
Many: petty. officers have rooms Of
their own The condition of the jul
.ni0r officers is very much improved
as to quarters and food. The officers
as rule are as well housed as In an
tocean liner, but their menu is in their
own hands, and follows the ability
Of the mess treasurer to manage the
steward. The comparison between
three candles week and pitcher
OF water a day, the old allowance,
and all the electric light and all the
water they need can be made only
by one. who, has lived under both
conditions. "%
The navy today Is more efficient
than ever Jefore. Its material power,
is greater. and Its personnel is bet
ter trained. :. It Is not more loyal to-
day thar IT was in 1882, when we
touched low water as to material,
because the navy has always been
perfectly: loyal TO the country.
The navy was called into existence
by the United Colonies, not for con-
quest OF territory; not for the achiye-
ment of fame, tut To protect our
commerce and to defend the liberties
Of our people, " -
"The navy Of the United States has
never sought any other end than that
Of delivering to the people of the
United States the thing demanded of
them. II il has ever failed to fulfill
the desire of the people, as expressed
by the authorities Of the nation, its
failure was due to the fact that the
task set was beyond its utmost to
do -
"The story OF our little navy in the
war Of the Revolution is one OF the
greatest stories in history. The
achievements were not in themselves
so great when compared with the
glory of TrafalKar and other great
naval conflicts, but the devotion, the
cheerful self.sacrifice, the dautless
courage displayed are unsurpassed by
any service in this world. And it is
not to be forgotten that each and
every commander in that navy was
interested, first OF all. for the secur-
ity and the peace OF his country.
When the infant republic sent its
navy out to stop the depredations OF
the French navy on our commerce in
John Adams administration. it sent
II against the vessels committing out.
RACES and not against peaceful mer-
chantmen. Again it was seen that the
navy OF the United States has ever
for its object the perfection Of our
commerce and the liberties of our cit
izenS.' ....
In the war with Tripoli there was
20 desire for gain nor for mere glory. |
The little band of heroes whosailed
under the motto Millions for defense
but not one cent for. tribute were |
again exemplars Of the peaceful atti-
fude OF our navy. When they had
secured the peaceahle passage of our
commerce upon the seas they gladly |
returned 10 their peaceful homes. |
Small blame to them. however. II they
Folt