The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1916-01-26
TALKS ABOUT THE NAVY.
Admiral Sam McGowan Says American
Sailors are Best Fed Class ON the
Mun

'"i"i' "iS DVSt fpu NiuSS OIL TIE
Nap.
Washinston, Jan. 2l.-"If we
serve cggs aboard ship the men want
to sec the shells; if we serve potatoes
they want to SEQ the skins. and they're
entitled to-" said Rear Admiral Nc
Gowan, paymastcr of the navy, in
telling the House naval committee
today that American blucjackets arc
the best fed body OF men in the world.
When any OF our men has eaten
what's on the mess table," he added.
hes had mighty good meal and
he's satisfied" While the naval ra-
tons cost 36 cents day per man
and the army ration about 26 or 81
cents, the admiral declared he never
would under any circumstances. raise
any less quality or quantity Of food
for the soldiers.
Representative Kelley, Of Michigan,
asked whether the United States sue
cessfully could send 100000 soldiers to
the Philippines and properly care for
their provisioning.
1T would represent gigantic proper
tions, compared to the much smaller
number OF men we have to feed in the
fleet" the admiral replied, but the
feeding Of 100000 men Is no greater
problem than feeding 1000. If we have
the same sources Of supply and refrig-
Grafton. The distance is no problem"
Admiral MCGOWAN said 1t cost from
$4,000 to $25, 900 to educate each cadet
at Annapolis. and that the results
were worth it, or $13O,OOO appropri-
atcd last year for the new naval re-
serve. only $4,000 had been spent, he
explained. as only 176 men had re-
| sponded in the first six months of this
fiscal year
The admiral concurrcd in recon-
mcndation made by Secretary Daniels
| in letter read by Chairman Padgctt
that navy uniforms be made in a
government factory. The letter said
the so-callcd clothing factory at the
Brooklyn navy yard did no more than
cut materials. Mr.. Daniels asked for
appropriations Of $780, 900 from the
clothing and small stores fund to al
ter the plant at Brooklyn and to equip
it for complete manufacture Of clothes.
He said the Charleston, S. c., factory,
"a real factory" had demonstrated
! that the cost OF production could be
lowered
Paymastcr General McGowan told
the House naval committee today about
tho purpose of a 100000 appropriation
the navy wants for collection of in
| formation at home and abroad" He
said the sum included the expenses of
naval attaches at London, Berlin,
| Vienna, Rome. Petrograd, Paris,
Buenos Aires, Toxic and Peking. The
information sought "at home" he said
was as to available ships. sources OF
supply, resources Of various kinds, in
formation, he said, of great military
value
"Are naval attaches Of other gov
IcIniIicIllS seeking tnc same inside IN
formation in this country that our at
taches are seeking at foreign capt
tals?" asked Representative Hcnslcy.
"Thcy'rc trying to-" replied Admiral
MCGOWAN smilingly.
Members Of the committee piled the
witness with question about the $780,
600 fund, but he parried them.
Every government has attaches at
the other government capitals 10 find
out what the other government docs
not want them 10 know 2" asked Rep
rcseniative Hcnslcy
81 wish We knew more here about
what they are doing abroad" returned
the admiral.
'You need twice as much money for
spying than last year?'
I'VE need twice as much for acquir-
ing information."