Evening journal., 1921-03-12
GREEN SAILORS
STOOD ALL TESTS
Cruise of Combined Fleets
Showed How Quickly
Americans Grow Fit
ADJUSTMENTS
ABOARDT THE SHIPS

cALLAO. Peru, March 12-Amer-
lca's new navy entered upon its first |
period OF postwar "shakedown" |
when the Atlantic and Pacific fleets |
undertook their cruise to Panama !
this winter and united for combined |
maneuvers of the west coast of
South America.
with an almost entirely green |
personnel. the high commander was
faced with something like a crisis. |
on other occasions. experienced men
have outnumbered the green
hands" but since the armistice. old
timers have been in a very small
minority.
The difficult problem, however. ac-
cording TO stan officers. was met in
n highly satisfactory manner. The
men fulfilled the American tradition
OF an efficient young navy and,
after a few days Of uncertainty, the
reunited fleet maneuvered with
much Of its old-time precision.
Virtually every ship in the feet Of
sixty staged a Neptune party" when
the war vessel crossed the equator.
= Davy Jones and his assistant, Peg
Leg. boarded them the evening be-
fore latitude o was reached and
. warned all those who were crossing
the line for the first time to appear
at o'clock the following morning
before old King Neptune.
While the fleet wallowed at a
standstil. exactly on the line"
Neptune and his encourage appeared
all in costume. There was the old
sea king himself with hemp whisk-
kers and a gilded trident, Uncle
Sam. Miss Columbia, Davy Jones,
DIR. Pills. Aphrodite and court jest
ers. BARRIERS. police and sea dogs.
There were speeches and then the
acts OF homage were rendered. A
dose OF salts from a squirt gun,
-mouthful OF soft soap, slash from
the shears or hair clippers an cleo
trio shock. a back flip from a hing
ed chair into the waiting pool was
the course Of action. Then the ini-
tiates were given a diploma decor
-ated with mermaids. fish and sea
horses and full OF strange nautical
phrases.
American athletic contests are one
Of the means employed to instill the
navy spirit into the thousands Of
naval recruits who are having their
first taste OF sea life. Tugs Of war
between different groups on each
ship and elimination contests for the
inter-heet athletic carnival at Pan
anna have been daily features OF ship
routine since the cruise began.
To eliminate customary hooting
and cat calls. which might cause IN
feeling without increasing the mo-
. rale Of the fleet, the athletic direc-
tors have been teaching organized
cheering something on the order OF
collegiate football roofing"
The feet kept in touch with
Washington by wireless as far south
as the equator. The dreadnoughts
nightly picked up the radio news re-
port sent broadcast from the Ar.
4 iington station. The wireless mer
we're able to check up this report be
cause It was repeated by the nava
I station at Cayey. Porto Rico, fol
vessels in the caribbean Sea, who's,
wireless plants were too limited t'
4 receive the Arlington message. An
other relay was employed in th'
Canal Zone. where the Balboa sta
4 tion received the Washington mes
4 sage and the Darien Station re
peated it.
Ten minutes only are required q
serve a meal TO the 400 odd mem
n bers Of a dreadnouEht's crew. Hand,
cooks. capacious steam chests an'
hungry. eager sailors turn the trick
y Benches and tables which can b.
folded and slowed away above thei
heads give each man his regula
scat for meals although each mus
serve himself. Scalding machine
eliminate dish washing drudgery
/ The healthy appearance OF the crew
and the low sick-bay give evidenc
that the food was good.
A $50, 900 stock was required 70
+ the ships store OF the Pennsylvani
N for her four-months' cruise. Sale
average generally about $4,000
l month while on a cruise. Fiftee
per cent. is the maximum profit a
u lowed. but the average is 10 pc
cent. The profits go back TO III
crew in the form OF moving picture
4 a nightly feature OF the ships rot
tine, reading matter and athleti
a equipment.
The sale Of 10.5OO fve-cent choc'
late cocoanut bars In one day to n
crew Of the flagship was the recor
set for canteen sales on the presei
maneuvers. The storekeeper mel
toned II TO back up his assertic
that the American sailor has
sweet tooth"
An average Of $4,000 in post
& money orders was sent home fro
the Pennsylvania every day on Il
cruise Twice a month the payma
n ter hands out nearly s150,00O, ar
the ships paymaster always &c
part Of II for the folks back home.
This $1,000 is apart from the re
ular allowance sailors and Office
make to their relatives from the
pay.