Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1917-12-26

Providing for Com
fort Of the Men.
ey JAMES n. COLLINS.
Washington.--A British naval oficer
who has been doing teamwork with
the American destroyers In the subma-
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 are too well clothed;
third. they are too well paid"
'sThe best fed body Of men In the
world our navy has been pronounced,
and the figures just compiled for the
navy fation 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 chnsers haye 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 ex-
actiy 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 nourfshment and pnlatnbil-
ity come first. with cost figured ont at
the end Of the year after the men
have been fed.
Increase IN Cost
The navy ration for 1917 cost
$044O5 as against S03764S for 1919
These mystic decimals ind cate 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
$1,000 day more. or $1b00.000 more
on the year. which may be regarded ~
money saved.
The nnvy'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 all reports Of the survey Of provi-
sions rendered unit for use. 90 that all
causes for loss could be eliminated; by,
Investigation In every case where ships
operating under the same conditions
showed q marked difference IN the cost
Of the ration: BY making cakes. pies,
Ice cream. and 30 forth. on board ship.
instead Of buying them ashore; and by
care in buying provfsions 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 II In
charge as are the understandable rec
ords Of officers Of the fleet.
Schedule Of Weeks Meala
Believing that the proof Of the
pudding Is In the eating" the navy
submits complete weekly schedule of
meals served to the enrolled men on
board battle~hip at sea, the provi-
sions being furnished by a supply ship.
/ % that this schedule may be taken es
m illustration Of what II accomplish
ed In feeding the navy under the most
dihcult conditions:
MONDAY.
Breakfast-Fried bacon. fried eggs.
toast. rolled oats. milk and sugar. bread.
butter coffee
Dtnner--veai fricasses with dumpiings.
mashed potatoes. kidney beams. apple PIE.
supper-vegetabie soup. craekefs. roast
ribs OF beef. onion gravy, ginger cake.
I, Jam. broad. butter. tea
TUESDAY.
4 9fU8RIaHt-FIySQ DptO8u8v lElcQ pun
toss. rolled oats. milk and sugar. bread
| butter. coffee.
Dinner-vermicsif soup. crackers mash-
/, - potatoes, kidney beans. apple pie.
(, bread. butter. coffee.
| Dupper-Fried hamburger steak, fried
F. onions lyonnaise potatoes. cocoanut cake,
|, fruit Jam. bread, butter. tea.
WEDNESDAY.
| Breakfast = Cereal. milk, and sugar.
/ baked beans. tomato catsup. ginger cake.
/ rolls. bread butter. coffee
1 Dlnnar-Chicken Sup. crackers. roast
! chlcken with sage dressing. mashed pota-
/ too, cTsamed carrots With pesa. jelly lay
| - cake. ice cream. bread butter. coffee.
| Supper salmon salad. maycnnaise
( 6fenu6ng. baked macaroni and cheese. rice
(; enstaTds bread. buttsr. tea
THryR4DAY.