Ward Room Topics

For, many weeks now we have dealt exclusively with the petty features of life as lived in the Supply School, and so, on this cold and drizzly afternoon, we propose to discuss some of the more fundamental basic aspects of our existence.

One of the first items on our list has to do with the fictitious names which the clever author of our specimens attaches to the sundry filled in forms, prepared for our guidance in the field. Just supposing an admiral has to sign a requisition for some clothing, so instead of giving him a real, down-to-barth American same like Swartz or any other name that might casually come to the mind of an author, the individual under discussion goes out of his way to think up cuties such as "Admiral Wat A. Man," or "T. W. O. Starz." Many other graphic illustrations could be given of this situation, but they would only disgust any intelligent reader of this column. The seriousness of the problem is easily apparent and since most of us consider this course pretty dull anyway we feel that the least the author of our specimens could do would be to refrain from the use of his lousy humor. Please. . .

Now for the really important and very necessary change which should be made in the writing of the S&A Manual, S&A Memo, and the Naval Travel instructions. The whole discussion revolves around the elliptical style in which these publications are written. To be specific, here is a quotation plucked almost at random from the NTI,". . . the place of acceptance for enlistment is the place at which the enlisted men were accepted for enlistment in the Naval Reserve." Now we ask you, couldn't that partial sentence be constructed in a less insulting manner and a little less sequiter?