The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1917-12-07
BY JAMES II. COLLINS.

WASnlngtOn.-A bflIlSn nuVHl OlllceT
who has been doing teamwork with
the American d%estroyers in the suhma-
rine zone said the other day: There
are just three points upon which l
would want to criticize Uncle Sans
sailors: First, they are too well fed;
second, they arc too we'll clothed /:
third, they are too well paid"
1.-THE best fed body Of men in the
world" our navy has beer 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 $1,000 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
navy diet economically by large pur-
chases for the increased forces.
Uncle Sam feeds his sailors, not ey-
actly regardless Of cost, but with cost
always the secondary consideration.
AS Admiral MCGOWAN, p%aylnaster gen.
eral Of the navy puts it: "CostQs 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 nourishment and palatabil-
ity 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.44O5 ms against $O.3764S for 1910.
These mystic decimals indicate an In.
crease in the average cost of the ration
Of about 20 per cent over the proceed
ing year. Statistics compiled 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 81, 100000 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 scrutinix-
Ing NIL reports of the survey Of provl-
slons rendered unfit for use, so that nll
causes for loss could be eliminated; by
investigation In every case where ships
operating under the same conditions
showed d 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 rs mucl. Il matter
Of pride to the officials who have ii In
charge as are tile craftsmanship rec
,rds Of officers OF the fleet.
Schedule Of Weeks Meals. :.
Believing that the proof. Of the
pudding Is in the eating" the navy
submits q complete weekly schedule Of
meals served to the enrolled men on
board a ~hattleship ut sea, the provl-
sions being furnished by a supply ship.
10 that this schedule may be taken as
IN illustration Of what 5 accomplish