The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-11-19
(By James H. Collins.) }

brought the navy even greater activ-
Iity. This winter for the first time in
many years Uncle Sans Jack Tars
require heavy winter clothing. For in
the peaceful winters since the Span
fish war most of our warships have
lspcnt the cold months in the West
indies, where chiefly the lightest
summer clothing was adequate and
the amount of heavy winter clothing
re- .uired very small.
Take the old navy of $4,000 men,
increase it in a few months to more
than 100000, and send it into the
chill, damp climate of the submarine
zone off the British isles, from lati-
tlde 20straight up to latitude 60,
and anyone can see that a whole
new scheme of clothing is required.
Just the other day the navy was
compelled to issue statement on
this point to discredit rumors that
its men in northern waters were in
adequately Glad and that thousands
of patriotic women would have to
knit sweaters, socks, mittens, and
other heavy wooden garments for
them. Nothing to it! Admiral Nc
Gowan started knitting sweaters
early last spring, when the first di
vision of destroyers was sent to Eu
rcpean waters, and as clothier and
lfurnisher for the navy he has been
able to set pace which left volun-
teer knitters far behind months ago.
The navy's new scheme of winter
clothing is on scale of magnitude,
TarIety, and fitness far beyond any,
thing that could be attained through
volunteer effort, commendable as
the latter may be.
Each sailor serving in European
waters will have an outfit of specia ,
clothing designed not only to keen
out the cold, but also windproof and
waterproof. Careful studies wera
maze OF the heavier winter clothina
woII by sailors in every allied fleet
ana also the special warm adiusta b,s
garments used by aviators flying a,
attitudes of $4,000 of $4,000 to 20
'oo feet on the western front, So that
'he American sailor will not only
pe as dry, warm, and comfortable as
sa'lor ever was, but will have the
ireecom OF movement and absenca of
me sense of weight enjoyed by the
oirdmen. The winter outfit consist,
ol a windproof suit with hood tho
outside of which is made of imit..
non leather and the inside linea
win sheepskin with the WOO, LEFT
on his feet will be protected with
heavy' arctics to be worn over over
ordinary shoes. and if he serves IN
a destroyer these will be replaced
with heavy leather seaboots HI.
hands Will be kept warm with heavy
"ooien mittens, and underneath ho
VIII have heavy wooden undersb;r,,
drawers, socks, and finally a tb,cs
"Goien blanket oyershirt with an "a
ui'iohai hood. This is the standard
N'er utht for general use, and ev
'siy condition of sevrice and weather
wal Dc met by every type and weight
- Haiment designed to protect every
man In the service from Tho ..,,.
working on deck in ordinarily cola
"n'a'es TO the special outfits for
,,ravv aviators. o'
Warm Winter Clothing
uncle Sam has not only ADAPTED
every good idea in winter clo.b,no
ioand In other navies, but has aadod
improvements of his own, and On ton
l't tnat is issuing these winter
eiotnes to the men free of cbargo
ior their use as long as they are ex-
pesed TO weather where the repnIa-
tioh navy uniforms are not adeouarc
oe'ting this winter clothing ready
IN time, upon short notice. and tbs
disturbed conditions of wool sapnlv
anu factory facilities brought by tn,
war was mans sized job.
Inc navy has a clothing factory
In New York city where it is ah,a %
supply the fleet in ordinary time,