The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-03-19
"RECULARS" QUIT
ARMY AND NAVY
Destroyer Mason Has Crew of
but Three Officers and
One Man.
(BY FREDERIC j. HAskINA


New York, March 19.-The United
States destroyer Mason, which was
placed in commission a few days
ago, should have had a crew of eight
officers and 100 men as it's full com
plement. Because of the scarcity OF
men in the navy its crew in reality
consists of three officers and one
man.
Between 800 and 400 officers have
left the navy since the war and /, 900
more lave made applications for
discharge. These are all men in the
regular service, not just the wartime
volunteers. And thousands of sail
ors are leaving. The army personnel
is dWindling at the same alarming
rate.
Recently captain, regular in the
army, who was mentioned for dis
tinguished service in France, gave
as his reason for resigninE from the
service that ut was the only manly
thing to do"
To explain this rather surprising
statement he continued: Il have no
income aside from my army pay,
and it is impossible for me to sup
port my family in ordinary comfort
upon that at the present cost of liv-
ing. l regret having to leave the
service, but owe it to my wife and
children"
The other day noncommissioned
officer apologized to his commanding
officer for the shabbiness of his uni
form, saying that he simply could
not afford presentable clothes on his
present salary.
We'll" said his captain, with q
wry smile, you had better look at
my uniform before you apologize"
The uniform in question was lit
orally thing of shreds and patches.
1t was shiny with long wear, there
was neat but obvious patch on one
elbow, and the four strips of gold
braid on each sleeve were worn
threadbare. Yet this officer has given
thirty years of loyal service to his
country, he was recommended for
special award during the late war,
and he recently refused an offer of
a $4,000 a year job in civil life be-
cause of his devotion to the navy.
Nevertheless he finds it impossible
4 to send his two children to college
And at the same time to live with
the comfort and dignity which his
position calls for aid his ability de-
serves.
Any one who is often thrown in
contact with men in the regular serv-
Zee cannot but realize the change in
their attitude since the war. They
are rather in the mood of kipling's
Tommy Atkins, who cited the in
gratitude of the British public.
The sudden slump from the wartime
glory to the hard facts of living on
Inadequate pay, while they see the
stay at hoIaes they defended reaping
all the benefits Of their fighting, is
making most of the men feel a little
as if they had been the goats" in
this war. One sees groups of off,
GERS discussing means of further
economy, such as trying to get out
side work to supplement their SAL
aries, or even the trivial economy of
Wearing celluloid collars. with good
humor that seems a little strained.
SI The one important subject among
the enlisted men is the pay bill. This
.fB particularly true Of the new re-
scruits. 1t was given out in such an
Authoritative way from Washington
that the bill for increased pay for
officers and men would pass that
many men were induced to enlist by
the prospect. In fact, unofficially
they were promised the increase in
pay as a Christmas gift. 1t is the
Feeling of some of them that they
were practically induced to enlist I'M
{ der false pretenses.