The Kaiser's Tars.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 12021, 21 March 1903, Page 1 (Supplement)

The Kaiser's Tars.

Among the thing 3 which are better done in the German than in the British fleeti* the feeding of the crews. When I visited the German squadron under Prince Henry of Prussia, while it lay off tha Irish coast, one incident impressed, ma. 1 was going round the decks of the Kaiser "Vy'illielm 11.—one of the fi>e sinter flratclsss battleships of the eight composing this force—when I came upon some of the messes busy at their tea, which thev were bnring with what Uncle Todman, in '■ Liberty Hall," would call " a little re'.ish." .'ome nicely-cooked fish., So one in au-' thority was within hearing at the moment, and 1 inquired of one man if they had good and ample food supplied, such as they liked. Without, s, moment's hesitation he sjsured me that the diet* was excellent, that each day's dinner throughout, the week differed, "and that they thoroughly enjoyed their meals.

The German sailors have food in good rsriety and quantity, and thev bear evidence of their treatment in tli;ir appearonce. If they are open to any criticisms mere than another, it is that they lo&kf too woll fed, and they lack that hard, strenuous firmness of expreosion and build of the British bluejacket which is the outwr.rd mark of his ability to stand great mental and physical strains. The German 3nilor does not live on o, weary round o; hard " tack,' such as' the -British sailor has to worry his teeth with for a considerable portion oE the year. In the German fleet the ships are" fitted to enable bread to be prepared. Every ship has an oven, and a trained baker is borne, so that the men may have fresh bread three or four days a "week. In the German fleet—and this is an interesting point—there are two methods of feeding the men. First, the Government lay down a routine of the diet—one for sea "and one for harbour—and the men are fed according to thi* scale without regard to expense; or, secondly, the men may choose to take a ceitain sum per day, "ia accordance with the local prices, and on this they have to live. A committee, consisting o'. an executive officer, the paymaster, chief surgeon, a couple of petty officers, and two men. is formed, and this body see that the men are well and" properly fed. At any time they like the committee can revert to the Government diet, if thev think it more profitable to the men.

On the other hand, if funds permit, coffee with sugar i 3 sometimes given during the afternoon. The result of the introduction of this carefully considered scheme of rations is that the German Minors, who are catholic in their taste, liking equally mutton, boiled beef, corned beef, io?.st pork, salted pork, and sausages—especially sausages, which are preserved in tins—spend little or nothing on food, but love the light beer of their country. Petty officers and. others who receivs better pay—capitulation grants, allowances for efficiency in gunnery, etc.— improve their diet by* buying such* luxuries a« sardines, and last, but not least, more sausages of various types.-—(Berlin correspondent of London "Telegraph.")