Munsey's Magazine, Feb. 1918, p. 71:

"One of the most interesting innovations in the American army and navy camps is the teaching of mass singing to the soldiers and sailors. This is being done not merely as a pastime, but with the distinct object of making better fighting men as a result of such training."

The official repertoire appeared in a USGPO publication called "Songs of the Soldiers and Sailors." The closest it came to shanties were "Sailing, Sailing" and "A Life on the Ocean Wave."