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All three ships called at many ports on the way to England, two of them ran neck
and neck. Of these two ships one had nine pronounced cases of Beri-Beri and many
slight cases, and the other one case only. On the third ship, which used the Cape route
and was four months on the voyage, as against three months for the two ships which
used the Mediterranean route, every member of the crew was more or less affected.
"War Wolf" Crew 41 - Kobe and Batavia 41 cases
via Cape
" War Hero" ,, 42 via Mediterranean 9 „
(other slight cases,)
"War Tiger" „ 42 Ditto 1 „
All three crews laid in stocks of Japanese food at Moji, in Japan, and polished
rice was the staple cereal. Sea-weed, pickled fish, dried fish, tinned fish and shellfish,
tinned vegetables, soya paste, dykoon and sliced bean were amongst the Japanese
foods found.
An important point of difference in catering was disclosed as between the
" War Hero " and " War Tiger." The notes made were as follows:—
"War Hero.''—Japanese crew would not ship under other conditions than that
of cash payment in lieu of rations. Provisioned itself at Kobi and Moji. No fresh
meat bought on voyage, and practically no fresh vegetables. Never more than one
day's rations of vegetables bought at a time in ports of call. Limejuice was procured
by the master at Port Said, and had since been served out regularly.
"War Tiger."—Japanese crew found its own provisions, bought fresh provisions
extensively at each port of call—vegetables, meat and fish. Took large quantities of
meat to form a supply between ports of call. Fresh meat for at least one meal a day
was used throughout the whole voyage. More than 21. per man was drawn at Port
Said for purposes of catering. 300 rupees in all was drawn at Colombo and expended
on meat, carrots, cabbage and turnips. The crew pooled resources and appointed a
caterer.
The difference in true economy in catering on the two ships is paralleled by the
difference in the state of health of the crews. At Port Said the Beri-Beri on the
" War Hero" was pronounced, while on the " War Tiger" one case only had occurred.
On inspection of the food stores on the "War Tiger" an ample stock of some
crushed cereal was discovered; each grain was whole, but flattened. Information
volunteered by an intelligent member of the crew showed that this was Muji (barley)
and was "Beri-Beri medicine." This crushed "whole-meal" barley was used in the
proportions of one to four of rice.
It was found that the "Beri-Beri medicine" had not been used on board the
"War Hero" since Gibraltar, the supply having given out at that point in the voyage. The
evidence left a question as to the extent of the use of barley up to Gibraltar ; too much
conflicting interest had been aroused on the ship for satisfactory elucidation.
The conditions on the "War Wolf" were such that around the Cape and up to
Dakar there was a daily meat ration which failed at the latter port. Plenty of fresh
vegetables and fish had been bought by the crew. The use or absence of Muji (barley)
was not specially noted; the samples of the food obtained included none of this
" Beri-Beri medicine."