Evening star., 1918-09-29
THE quartermaster department Of
the Army and the supply de-
partment of the Navy during

pafIment or the navy during
the past two months have had
hard time to secure 'allotments of
satisfactory beef. The Nays stand
ard calls for beef Weighing between
515 and $50 pounds, and that of the
Army was substantially the same.
Strong influence. it is said. was
brought to bear for the apportionment
of heavier beef to Civilians In fact.
at one time the assertion was made
that a shortage Of high grade beef ex-
listed and that If the military forces
took what they wanted there would be
no good meat left for the civilians. A
survey showed that this report was
not warranted by facts.
At meeting Of the food purchase
board. composed Of representatives of
the Army and Navy. Federal Trade
Commission and food administration,
on motion Of the Army representa-
tives it was unanimously reolved to
instruct the food administration ito
pre-empt and ailot to the fighting
forces Of the Navy. Army. and allies a
Sufficient quantity Of beef Weighing
from 57b to $50 pounds to supply their
demands They also sought. if there
were not sufficient Quantities of these
weights available, that lighter beef
of suitable quality should be allotted
to them to make up any deficiency.
They determined that inspectors for
the Army and the Navy should pass
upon the quality Of all allotted beef
In n Rapt , no
issued i by their M1 respecsiye .ne spyeS depart
ments.
1t is understood that Rear Admiral
MCGOWAN and Col, Mcintosh were in
accord in insisting that their respec-
tive organizations should have meat
keeping the fighting men in proper
physical condition and satisfied in
mind that the country was behind
them.
TT was learned on high authority
that good progress is making on
the completion and launching Of the
United States destroyers authorized
shortly before the beginning of the
war. or soon after it's declaration.
Many obstacles opposed the early
completion of these craft, the chief
being that there was no yard with
space available for laying their keels.
no shops where their forgings could
be produced and no manufacturers
who, with their existing facilities.
could undertake to manufactur the
boilers and engines that give the
power and speed to these peculiar
craft.
II the shipping. board had not re-
quired space and workmen; if the
Navy had not filled all building space
with other craft much needed; if
there had been no other calls for all
Ihe output OF the steel mills of the
Union, the problem would have been
less complicated. However. in some
manner the Navy Department got the
manufacturers to produce the needed
1aclllties, and now one reads fire.
quently OF the launching and some
times the christening of new de-
stroyer..,. The department, for rea-
sons. VIII not give out the total num-
Der or these vessels that the build
ers-for nearly all of them are pro-
duced in civilian rather than in gov
ernment yards--have turned over to
the Navy, but the deliveries are be-
coming greater every month and in
the not distant future-woe to the
I'-boat-the delivery of the great
flotilla ordered under the special act
VI SOIiSFcbS LOT Il numDer supposed
to be somewhat more than hundred
will begin.
The first of our destroyers sent
abroad were manned by the pick Of
the Navy-men who could fight and
take care of their swift vessels as
well. In manning the new destroy
ers many of the men from the FIRST
f1otilla are drafted and the older
boats. we'll shaken down now. are
left in charge Of men and officers
who have become veterans under the
rigid training of the last year. But
the crews of both the older and the
newer boats must accept certain
number of less experienced men, to
fill up their crews. So we'll has the
bureau of navigation handled the sit
uation that it is not unusual for a
destroyer to begin it's cruise within
twenty-four hours from it's acceptance
from the builders.
THE lifting Of the ban on the entry
Of suitable civilians to the sew
cral training camps for infantry,
machine gun companies and field
artillery was a great relief to the
officers in charge of these institu-
tions, which have been the means OF
overcoming the great shortage OF Of