Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 128, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 November 1903 — Mess System on a Man-of-War. [ARTICLE]

Mess System on a Man-of-War.

The messing on board a big man-of-war is as complex and complete as the table service of a big hotel. The modem war-ship with its or six hundred persons on board, must be a floating hotel and storehouse in itself. Every vessel of the navy is required by the regulations governing the navy,; to have a general messing system. The enlisted |nen on ship are divided' into squads [ ofl about twenty each, forming a mess. Chief petty officers and officers’ wervants are not included! in this division. Every mess has one or two petty officers at its table, who fare like the men. Every mess has; its special messman who brings tbe food from the galley and selves it atl the table. It is also the messman’s' duty to see that the messtable and messgear are clean and In order. The' messes on board phip are under the direct supervision of the commissary 1 department, which is under the control of the pay officers.—Gunston’s Magazine.