Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-11-28
Naval Receiving Ship
To Be Holiday Host
Christmas Event Here Has Its
Duplicates for Children
At Foreign Ports.

Day. Very often the officers give a
prize to the division with the most
attractively decorated compartment,
and these decorations remain all dur
ing Christmas Week
Another tradition common to both
the American and the British navies
concerns the Christmas dinner. The
Jack tars enjoy the traditional plum
pudding and roast beef of old Eng
land. while the blue jackets eat turkey
and pie. but to the men of both navies
it is the one feast of the year. In the
American Navy this dinner for the
men and their guests comes out of the
pert planning an excellent meal is pre-
pared.
This dinner was SO important to the
crew of gunboat on duty in China
that they appointed chief boatswains
mate to ask the skipper" an accom-
plished linguist, if he would translate
their menu into French. The petition
er explained that isasmuch as no
choice was involved. and since they
would eat everything served anyway,
it was not at all necessary that they
be able to read the bill of fare. He
further explained that the menus in
very fine restaurants were usually In
some foreign language. and, although
lndecipherable, unquestionably elegant.
The request was granted and the
menu at each mans place on Christ
mas Day was in French-even to the
final item, near beer. which appeared
thereon as eau de chin chin" Fur
thermore, the menu carried each mans
name and its equivalent in Chinese
characters.
In the British Navy it is customary
to give the sailors double portions of
grog for two or three days preceding
Christmas. SO that by conserving it
they will be able to offer their Christ
mas visitors cheering drink. It is
also customary for the men to pick
up their captain and carry him about
the ship on their shoulders. And in
deed, unless he be hearty drinker,
he may need to be carried, for accord
ing to tradition he and the officers
must visit all the sailors messes and
drink toast in each.
THIS spirit of camaraderie between
officers and men at Christmas
time is evident in both navies. Each
year the Secretary of the Navy, the
Assistant Secretary of the Navy, the
Chief of Naval Operations and all
high-ranking officers of the American
Fleet send greetings to those under
their command. And certain ratings,
such as radio gangs" or cooks, are en-
couraged to send greetings collectively
to like ratings on other ships.
to bind the men of the Navy together,
whichever of the worlds waters they
may be sailing at the time. However,
from point Of view Of morale, every
effort is made to keep ships in Amer
lean ports during peace time. This
permits the men to have guests aboard
and usually they are given special
liberties. Compatible with Navy regu-
lations that one-half Of all officers and
men remain on board ship at all times.
If practicable a part of the crew is
permitted to go inland to visit their
families. Many men look forward to
this Homecoming for a whole year and
conserve their leave accordingly. Also
it is arranged for those who have duty
aboard ship on Christmas to be free of
duty on New Year.
And these Christmas customs, the
relaxation of drills and heavy work.
the excellent food provided the men
all are conducive to the high morale
for which the United States Navy is
famous. They all contribute to the
diminution of inconsistencies. But the
loneliness is mostly alleviated by the
parties given to children in the port
Of anchor. Within the short space Of
time since the first of these parties
was given by the New York, they have
become a part Of the Nays Christ
mas tradition
Each year more than 1000 children
are entertained by the Navy afioat
They are selected by some charitable
organization ashore, and sometimes the
childrens mothers are invited. The
modern Santa descends upon the fleet
by plane, is picked up by shore boat
and brought to the ship. where he is
greeted with great difference by a
senior officer. Thereafter the dinner,
the distribution of gifts. the carol sing
ing or Christmas movie Is very similar
to all Navy Christmas parties.
Very similar, in fact, to that. first
one which was given on the Christ
mas ship" In 1915.