THE NAVY.

Lake County Press, Issue 978, 5 September 1901, Page 7

THE NAVY.

LONDON, August 29. The Admiralty Committee recommends various reforms in the victualling of the navy, including one making the number of recognised meals five instead of three. TMr A S. Hurd, in his admirable little book 'The British Fleet,' says: ."When the Admiralty state on their recruiting bills that the 'supply of provisions is liberal, and is given at" the Government expense,' the future Jack tar must not accept it as literal truth. He has to spend out of his own pocket a considerable sum to supplement the official dietary, which is in many respects quite unsuited to his needs, on the admission of the authorities themselves. Years ago they were compelled to recognise that the bluejacket would and could not live on the fare they provrded, so they agreed that men should be allowed to leave anything up to a third of the allowanca and should receive a monetary grant. On the face of it this sounds fair, and almost generous. But the fact is that the food has one value when the Admiralty are supplying the men and quite another and lower value when the men are being compensated for not appreciating the provision. Out of this arrangement the Admiralty make a profit of about £90,000 a year, calculating on the basis of an admission by Lord George Hamilton eight years ago. But it is. not only the food, but the meal hours that are unsatisfactory. The official scale allows only three meal-hours a day—breakfast at about six or half-past six in the morning, dinner at noon, followed bv the issue of grog (one-eighth pint of rum "with three parts of water) to each man; and finally 'supper' at four in the afternoon. Imagine supper at four o'clock, winter and summer! It is the last meal for the dav, and required to keep the men going for "fourteen hours or so, although much of the time intervening may be given up to hard labor in the appetite-inducing sea air! If these were well-prepared and varied meals possibly the regulation would not be so ludicrous, but they are not. The food is entirely lacking in variety, and, as has been said, the men have few of 'he trifling luxuries which working men have come to regard as necessaries, unless they dip into their own pockets. But in all ships the meal hours are supplemented. At about nine o'clock there is an interval when the crew 'stand easy,' and can have a snack, and again at night before they turn into their hammocks they have a real supper; but if thev wish to eat on those two occasions thev must save food from other meals, or buy, so that it will be seen that the concession of two additional meals does not cost the country a penny. So fatas the Admiralty are concerned, Jack has only one 'square' meal a day and two 'snacks,' which consist of biscuit, or bread if in harbor, and milkless cocoa. That the bluejacket is a healthy, well-developed active man is largely due to the sum that he spends out of his pay to keep flesh and bone together, and in part only to the ' savings' he gets from the authorities." Mr Hind then quotes the opinion of an officer of many years' experience, as follows: —"Not only" are the times unsuitable, but there is only one real meal a day, dinner. Breakfast is of cocoa and bread, or biscuit if at sea. Supper consists of tea and bread or biscuit, as before. The men should have a cup of coffee on first turning out, and breakfast at 9 or 9.30, consisting of cocoa, bread or biscuit, and bacon. Dinner might remain as at present, but should be accompanied by better vegetables and increased variety of meat. Supper should include at least tea, with milk, and something extra—bacon, cheese, butter, or jam. There seems no reason, however, why the men should not have an extra meal provided last thing at night. This meal should be provided by the Admiralty, and the variety of food increased."]