The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-07-28
Thursday Morning, July %, 1864.
Apprentice Boys for the Navy.

The following from the Army aud Navy
Journal we deem OF interest in our locality,
and call attention to the subject therein, and
also to the Regulations of the Navy Depart
ment issued-27th May last:
"The Navy Department is authorized, by
act OF Congress, approved May I'd, 1887, to
enlist boys for the Navy to serve luniess soon-
er dischargedl until twenty-one years OF age.
This law did not prove successful and tbs
naval apprentice system proved failure from
the imperfect manner il which the experiment
was tried. The Department now, so modifles
and improves the plan, that its success ought
not to be doubtful. The New Regulations
from the Navy Department, under date of
May u, 1864, may be thus briefly summed up:
Boys between the ages of fifteen and eight
teen are to he enlisted with the written con
sent of their parents, or guardians, certified
before magistrate. They are to be submit
ted TO physical examination, and their moral
character, so far as it is likely TO affect their
efficiency as seamen, is also enquired into.
The boys as soon as they are enlisted, will be
rated as of the second or third class, accord
ing to their are ana ability, and afterwards
they will be again rated, upon examination.
Two vessels, properly equipped and fitted
up as scholarships, will be assigded to suitable
stations, and thther the boys will be sent,
These vessels to be fully differed aud sufficient
y manned, will be kept ready for service, so
as TO be able TO run out OF harbor TO sea, and
If necessary from port to port.
Their officers will mess and live on board:
will keep watch in the same manner as If the
vessels were sea cruisers, and give attention
10 carrying out the ideas of the department
in regard to boys. Each vessel will have its
school-masters TO teach the rudiments of edu-
cation, including navigation. The boys will
be carefully instructed in the various duties
OF seaman on man-oi-war-rigging and
unrigging masts and yards, bending and un-
bending sails, knotting, splicing, making sig
psis, using muskets, pistols aud cutlasses, ex-
ercsilg great guns, and the thousand other
detail Of seaman's profession. Every quar-
ter return will be made to the Navy Depart-
ment, and competent board of officers will
be ordered at proper intervals TO inspect and
determine the condition OF each school-ship.
and report thereon.
Boys, on presenting themselves, will be at
once vaceinated, and told the necessity of
tidy habits. and admonished of the strictness
of military discipline.
They will be clothed according To Navy
pattern, aud their equipments charged to their
pay, except that they will have the same al
lowance of outfit, such as hammocks, bags,
DC. that enlisted men In the Navy receive
dollars per month, nine dollars for second and
ten dollars for first class; of this tenth part
Is retained until the expiration of his enlist
ment; the remainder will be expended in
clothing and other neceSsaries for his use
with occasional payments made him under
direction of the commanding officer.
From the scholarships apprentices viii be
transferred to active service, selection being
made, as general rule, from those longest
under instruction.
Whilst on board such vessels their time will
be devoted TO learning their duties as seamen.
and they will not be permitted 20 act as serF-
ants or walters TO officers. Regulations are
given In relation to leaves of absence, to be-
Ing allowed liberty In foreign ports, &c. At
the age of twenty-one, their term being
over, they will be paid the money due them
and if they deserve it, will receive a certif-
cate OF good character from the Department,
and will have prior claim in all applications
for appointments.
These school ships offer to the sons of
respectable parents an opportunity for in
struction in an honorable profession, and
open 10 them the avenues of advancement to
the highest grades in the naval service. Care
will be taken to surround the boy with the
safeguards of virtue, to educate his sense of
honor and TO teach him a love Of his proles-
aion.
We see no reason why these school ships
may not become popular; aud ambitious
boys, with a natural taste for the sea, be ca
ger to improve the advantages they offer.
The instructors will have the advantage of
the experience OF England and France in
the same direction, and ought to make these
school ships and scholars equally worthy OF
national pride.