Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1917-12-07
Rx JAMES II. Collins.

Washington.--A British naval officer
who has been doing teamwork with
the American destroyers in the subma-
zine zone said the other day: ~There
are just three points upon which ]
would want to criticize Uncle Sans
sailors: First, they are too well fed
second, they are too well clothed
khird, they are too well paid"
"The best fed body of men in the
world" our navy has been pronounced,
and the figures just compiled for the
navy ration this year show that the
high standard has been maintained.
despite the rise in the cost of food ar
ticles, with very little extra expense to
Uncle Sam.
War has added some complications
TO the task Of feeding the navy, for
the number of men has suddenly in
creased from about $4,000 to more than
100000, and hundreds Of small patrol
boats and submarine chasers have been
manned by our sailors on duty in coast
defense districts and elsewhere. Uncle
Sam has been able to maintain his
havy diet economically by large pur-
Ehases for the increased forces.
Uncle Sam feeds his sailors. not ex-
Actly regardless Of cost, but with cost
always the secondary consideration.
AS Admiral MCGOWAN, paymaster gen.
eral of the navy puts It: 'Cost is a
by-product." What the sailor eats Is
governed by the revised statutes,
which specify the quantities Of the
various food staples which may be is
sued to each man in the naval service,
and good nourishnent and palatabil-
lily come first, with cost figured out at
the end of the year after the men
have been fed.
Increase In Cost,
The navy ration for 1917 cost
$O.4405 as against $03764S for 1916.
These mystic decimaIs indicate an in
crease in the average cost of the ration
of about 20 per, cent over the proceed
ing year. Statistics complied by the
department of labor show that there
was an increase of 40 per cent in the
wholesale prices Of the principal items
of food. Had the navy ration In
creased in cost to the same extent, the
outlay would have been Slightly over
$4,000 a day more, or $1,500,000 more
on the year, which may be regarded as
money saved.
The navy's high standard Of diet
was maintained with economy by the
rigid enforcement of the regulations
prohibiting the purchase of patent and
proprietary foods; by closely scrutiniz-
ing all reports Of the survey Of provi
sions rendered unfit for use, so that all
causes for loss could be eliminated; by
in every case where ships
operating under the same conditions
showed a marked difference In the cost
of the ration; by making cakes. pies,
ice cream, and so forth, on board ship,
Instead Of buying them ashore; and by
care In buying provisions at seasons
when they were most plentiful, and the
best prices could be obtained.
The navy ration is as much matter
Of pride to the officials who have It In
charge as are the craftsmanship rec
ords of officers Of the feet.
Schedule Of Weeks Meals.
Believing that the ''proof Of the
pudding is In the eating" the navy
submits a complete weekly schedule Of
meals served to the enrolled men on
board battleship at sea. the provi-
sions being furnished By supply ship, |
20 that this schedule may be taken as
ga Illustration Of what Is accomplish