New-York tribune., 1922-11-19
By Arthur Chapman,

KY AFeSsUT @nQpf51Qr
T = ALWAYS takes a poet to express mass
sentiment in the most approved way, and
\ in these verses, which were written for
The Tennessee Tar daily and monthly
Publication issued in the interests of the
mA@ the u S. S. Tennessee, the feeling of
tR enlisted men for the morale division of the
aa1shas been we'll put.
The references TO Guantanamo Bay. the
oaa held and the movies all mean more to the
average sailor than to the mere outsider, for it
sasGuantanamo Bay that the navy has estab-
isted great recreation grounds, where base
Oal and all other sorts of healthful, inspiring
sports are encouraged and where the sailors
ind pleasures which no other port can quite
equal
Inc American sailor, wherever you meet
nm, gives the impression of mental alertness
as well as superb physical capabilities. He is
no mere autornaton, drilled to point OF ex-
haustlon day after day. If you question him
no doubt you will find that he makes good use
OF the ships library (if he doesn't he is likely
70 nave awkward questions asked, that he is
taxing vocational education of some sort, that
ne knows something of dramatics and music,
mat ne is capable at almost any sort of -out-
aoor sport, that he is steady reader of ship
anu scatlon newspapers and that he never
fiSitS oig port that he does not make thor
ough study of it from guide books which are
P4osiuea ana which he is supposed to master.
ihis is tie work of the morale division of
uis navy Morale" is formidable word, but
. 1ne only word available. To quote from the
bureau OF Navigation Manual, "Corrtentment
q mind and body are the foundation on which
good morale is built. This, plus determination
70 succeed, is the purpose for WHICH the or
ganization exists
Through mental stimulation coming from
good environment, information and education.
not to speak of good amusement, the navy has
found that the effectiveness of ersch individual
Is greatly enhanced and unnecessary sources
Of discomfort are removed.
All this sounds simple enough, but provid-
ihs education and good amusement for rest
less young men on constantly shifting ships
anything but easy. To be sa1re, the motion
picture smplified matters considerably To
aay the navy runs one of the largest film ex-
enanges in the world. This exchange is locat-
60 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and it keeps
u continuous circulation more than 1000
SHOWS OF eight reels each among the ship and
saofe stations of the Atlantic and Pacific
aats, the Mediterranean, South and Central
american waters, the West Indies, the Philip
piaes, Hawaii, Samoa and the different loca-
s'as Of the Asiatic station. The exchange has
..s1snes in various parts of the country and in
Vanai Zone. Through these various
assales constant supply of film is kept
sSag 10 the ships end stations, no matter how
!, ~ away. The sailor who is on duty in
',aalyostok knows he is going to see as good
Sai :. as the man who Is stationed nearer home.
Inc movie" exhibitions aboard ship are
s4''e informal cffairs. Bulletin boards an
Ounee that films win be shown in the evening.
~S'u after supper the sailors begin to con-
s.ssate here and there about the quarterback
: asold the rush that is to come LATER A.
frame and canvas screen have been
.sssu and the mess benches are arranged for
,S ~ with chains in front for the officers.
49,, : woes OF the screen are utilized and many
:, e,e sailors pa sfer the reverse side, where
;,e. captions are transposed. Not bad
ior those bored patrons of the films in
ss.4i IN VINO find the general run of "rnovie''
p1psi0ns =, not 10 their taste.
,,.., sie is no ban on comment so lone as the
aa.. Aesp within certain bounds. In fact. the
1 sas 49, e1acEs' from the wits of the n,essroom
.s : sa'e enjoyment Of the performance and