The Alaska daily empire., 1921-04-19

GREEN SAILORS
 PROVE WORTH ON
 PRACTICE CRUISE
Traditions of Navy Upheld by Men on Combined Atlantic
 And Pacific Fleets.

(Note The combined Atlantic and Pacific Fleets of the United States Navy recently engaged in maneuvers off the west coast of South America and visited a num- Der of important ports on that coast The subjoined stories of incidents were written by correspondent who accompanied the combined fieets.)
 CALLAO, Peru-Americl's new navy entered upon it's first period of postwar "shakedown" when the Atlantic and Pacific fleets undertook their cruise to Panama this winter and united for combined manoeuvers off the West Coast of South America.
 With an, almost entirely green personnel, the high command was faced with something like 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, according to staff officers, was met in a highly satisfactory manner. The men fulfilled the American tradition of an efficient young" navy and, after a few days of un certainty, the united fleet man oeuvered with much of it's old-time precision.
 Neptune Parties.
 Virtually every ship in the fleet of 60 staged Neptune Party when the fleet crossed the equator. Davy Jones and his assistant, Peg Leg boarded them the evening be- fore latitude 0 was reached and the line for the first time to appear at a. m. the following morning before old King Neptune.
 While the fleet widowed at al standstill, exactly on the line, Neptune and his encourage appeared all in costume. There was the old sea king himself with hemp whisk CTS and gilded trident, Uncle Sam, Miss Columbia, Davy Jones, Dr Pills, Aphrodite and court testers barbers, police and sea dogs
 There were speeches and then theI acts of homage were rendered. Al dose of salts from a squirt gun, al mouthful of soft soap, slash from the shears or hair clippers, an cleo tric shock, back dip from hinged chair into the waiting pool was theI course of action.
 Then the initiates were given al diploma decorated with mermaids, fish and sea horses and full of strange phrases.
 Athletic Contests.
 The American athletic contests are one of the means employed toI instill navy spirit in 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 interfieet athleticI carnival at Panama have been daily features of ship routine since theI cruise began.
 lO tuolOlIIdly hOOlIit t1 and cat calls, which might cause ill feeling without increasing the nor ale of the fleet, the athletic di-I rectors have been teaching organ zed cheering, something on theI order of collegiate football roofing. |
 Radio News Report.
 The fleet kept in touch with Washington by wireless as far south l as the equator. The dreadnoughtsI nightly picked up the radio news report sent broadcast from the Ar ington station The wireless men were able to check up this report because it was repeated by theI naval station at Cayey, Porto Rico, for vessels in the Caribbean Sea, whose wireless plants were too linn ited to receive the Arlington mes sage. Another relay was employed in the Canal Zone, where the Bal boa station received the Washington message and the Darien station repeated it.
 Quick Meal Service.
 Ten minutes only are required tOI serve a meal to the 1 l,400-odd mem bers of a dreadnought crew. Handy cooks, capacious steam chests and hungry, eager sailors turn the trick. Benches and tables which can be folded and slowed away above their heads give each man his regular seat for mtals although each must serve himself. Scalding machinesI eliminate dish washing drudgery The crews healthy appearance and the low sick-bay give evidence that the food was good.
 Big Stock Carried
 A S60, 900 stock was required for the ships store of the Pennsylvania for her four months cruise. Sales average generally about $1O,OOO al month while on a cruise Fifteen per cent is the maximum profit all lowed but the average is 10 per. cent.
 The profits go back to the crew in the form of moving pictures, a nightly feature Of the ships rOu