FEEDING AND CLOTHING HER "SAMMIES"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 101, 22 January 1918, Page 8

FEEDING AND CLOTHING HER "SAMMIES"

AMERICA'S WAR PROBLEM. Some idea, of how largo a problem it is, to feed and clothe the. lighting forces of the United States in these war times .can be gained from the fig. urps relating to the needs of the America.n Navy, which lioiv enrols approximately 200,000 men. This branch of the service propose to lose its reputation of being "the best fed and the best clad navy in the world" (says the "Tribune"). For example, each month, '5,500,0001b. of meat must be provided for our sea forces, 4,854,000 lbs. of flour, 8.700,000 lbs. of vegetables, 620,000 lbs. of butter, 1.678,000 lbs. of sugar, 100,000 lbs. of white na.vy beans, 624,000 lbs. of evaporated milk, and so on. These supplies are purchased in various parts' of the country where market conditions are favourable, and then are assembled at the ports where they are heeded to provision the ships and provide for the men training ashore.

Items relating to clothing for the Navy are on an equally largo scale, the totals being such that it is difficult for the average person to comprehend them. More than 100,000 men have enlisted in the.'Navy and Na.val Reserve since war was declared, and to outfit them has required 200,000 overshirts, 200,000 pairs of blue trousers, 100,000 blue caps, 200,000 shoos, etc.' The 'Nav.v manufactures most' of its uniforms in its own factories. The one at Charleston is being enlarged so that it will soon be able to tupi out 200,000 suits of white clothing per month, and the factory at the New York Navy Yard will soon be able to produce 70,000 blue uniforms per month.