The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-26
KNITTING FOR OUR SAILORS
THE TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
IMPORTATION BUREAU
by Frederic }. Haskin. Director
Washington. ID C.

n Ivy league Is WORKING u SuPPiy oNA
sailors, marines and coast guard men
with knitted articles to help keep
them warm while they pursue the elu-
sive submarine. AS there are about
200. goo men to be supplied. the help
of women thruout the country is So
licited by the Navy league.
At the headquarters of the COM
forts committee at Washington there
is a show window piled with KHAKI
coIored bundles of knitted articles
ready to be shipped to the marines
Inside are more bundles, gray TINS
time, for the sailors. Each gray pun
die contains a sleeveless jacket a muf-
fler, Wristlets and a helmet; 1t rep
resents part of some womaE's snare
toward solving II e war relief prob
lem. AS the needs of the marines
are somewhat different, marines
package contains sleeveless jacket.
/. n linen handkerchief, a waterproof
pouch and a sewing kit.
The comforts committee campaign
has the approval Ct Secretary Daniels
and of naval officers turnout the
country, many of whom have written
to the Navy league to express their
appreciation of the work. In his or
Ger authorizing the use of the COM
mittee's output for the sailors Secre-
tary Daniels said: THE men of the
navy could gladly use certain articles
of comfort which are not supplied by
the government. These are princi-
pally knitted articles to keep them
warm during severe weather and
when engaged in exposed work in
small boats. such as picket work, mine
laying, submarine service and patrol
boat service"
Our navy has often been termed
warm weather navy, because it has
spent its winters in southern waters
and its summers no farther north than
Newport or Bar Harbor. But now,
the navy faces the prospect of a win
ter in the North sea and the North At
lantic. Our heavy hulled battleships
keep their crews warmer, but the men
on the smaller craft are feeling the
chill even in June In a letter home.
an officer on destroyer writes: Il
am wearing every article of clothing
L possess and the ice is caked on me-"
Destroyer crews are most in need
of the warm clothing, and have been
Quilted first by the comforts COM
m1ttee- Now our other sailors are be-
ing supplied. The navy department
has asked for an appropriation of $4.-
500, 600 to be spent on heavier uni
forms for it's men, but naval officers
state that any amount of warm cloth
ing can always be used
Since the comforts committee cam
paign started, March Is, it has fur
value of approximately $4,000 ex-
pended IN materials. Five thousand
sets among a total of 100000 men
seems small enough at first glance;
but when it is considered that the
work is in its first stages, and that
women all over the country are busiIy
knitting, it looks as tho there might
eventually be enough jackets and he'll
NETS to go around.
Nearly every state is represented by
at least one unit. One hundred and
thirty units have been organized in
New York City alone. Even certain
newsboys have found that a man can
Knit scarf without losing his manly
dignity. and are saving pennies to
work for the cause. The sales of
wool at the New York branch head
quarters average $1,000 a day, enough
wool to outfit $50 men.
A battleship, having a complement
OF about 1000 men, is assigned to "A
state unit, usually the state for which
the battleship is named. A cruiser is
assigned to a city of the same name
If possible, and u destroyer or sub
marine to any smaller unit. For in
stance the sections of the state Of
Delaware are supplying articles for
the battleship Delaware, for the de-
stroyers Jacob Jones' Macdonough,
and du Pont (Which are named for
three of Delaware's naval heroes).
and for the Eagle which was built in
"a Delaware shipyard. The sections
commanding officers who name the
specific articles most needed by their
men.
Any group of women or girls who
wish to form a Unit have only to
write to the Navy League Headquar-
tiers, 1901 Sixteenth street, Northwest,
Washington, D. c., stating the amount
CT work they will do in three months.
The money to pay for materials is col
lected by the group, and yarn and
he
mittee at cost. Full directions are
furnished by the league. In cities
where the committee has branch head
quarters instructions in knitting may
be obtained from women who offer
their services as teachers.
In every case a record is kept,
showing the name of the purchaser,
amount of wool purchased, and the
use to which it is to be put. This IS
necessary because the committee
found itself selling materials to wom-
en- who had no intention of helping the
sailors, but merely wished to secure
materials cheaply for private use.
When the articles are turned in at
headquarters, they are given to Wom-
en- who finish and strengthen the
edges. Before n finished set can be
shipped, it must he passed by an in
spector If it is not well enough
made for the sailors it is ripped out
and made over; if it is not made ac-
cording to the standard, It may pc
sent to a man in the mosquito fleet
where there are no rigid regulations
as to equipment. The designs or the
comforts committee articles are APP
proved by the navy department; ana
! for this reason the committee can
send to the navy nothing but gar
ments made on the accepted lines. II
the work passes the test, it is folded
into a small bundle, with the jacket
as a wrapper for the smaller articles
and is ready for shipment
Lest this project of knitting for the
n w might seem to involve an un-
due amount of time ana lapor' II
should he stated that the set of arti-
cIes provided could not be manufac-
tured for s2.75, the cost of a set at
tn wholesale rate of the committee
AMI manufactured articles could not
Ia 90 Strnne lv made. Knitting ma