The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-08-13
THE PORTSMOUTH.
One Of Secretary Thompson's Training
Ships.

The United States ship Portsmouth arrived
at this port from Portsmouth, N. H., yester-
day. She is sailing vessel of SAG tons and
carries IA guns. She has 125 boys on board
and will take % more.
The Portsmouth is training ship for boys
of American parentage and the intent OF
Secretary Thompson is to get together navy
of which the sailors shall be Americans and
not foreigners, almost altogether, as they are
now. So far his efforts have proved very
successful. One of the worst effects OF the pre-
sence of so many unnaturalized foreigners IN
the Navy is that American seamen Will not
now enlist, and the result is tat omcefs oi
foreign stations are in constant lear that they
will not have, owing to assertions, suincleh'
number of men to bring home their SHIPS
This foreign element dominates the forecastle
to such an extent, and is SO thoroughly uncon-
genial and 50 utterly depraved and vicious that
Americans will not serve in their own Navy,
and the few who do serve are made to feel tha'
they are in the service of foreign flag. Inc
policy adopted by Secretary Thompson Will
revolutionize this by gradually driving out the
foreigners and filling their places with Amerl-
can seamen, educated and trained for tle
naval service by American naval officers.
The regulations under which boys are en-
listed arc rigidly adhered to. Previous to be-
ing enlisted, every boy must satisfy the ex-
amining officers that he can read and write,
that he is of a robust frame, OF sound anu
healthy constitution, free from any physical
defects or malformation, and not subject to fits.
When enlisted, boys must be between 10 and
Is years, and the term of service continues un-
til they are 81 The following standard of
measurement is prescribed: A boy of Is must
be feet Ii inches high, weight So pounds,
and measure 27a inches around the chest; To
years, 8 feet 1 inch, weight 90 pounds, chest
measurement 90 inches; II years, 8 feet 2
inches, weight 100 pounds, chest measurement
% inches; IS years, 5 feet 3 inches, weight 40
pounds chest measurement 80 inches. 81
Bows will be enlisted as third class boys at
$3.50 month, and by good conduct and sea-
manship be promoted to second and first class
with 5000 and S11.50 per month; will have
clothing provided and 81 month for pocket.
money. They must make application for en-
listment to the commanding officer OF the
vessel accompanied by their fathers, mothers
or guardians.
The following is a list of the officers of the
Portsmouth
Lieut.. Commander-A. S. Crowninshield:
Lieutenants-A. S. Snow, Albert Ross, +. s.
Bassett, G. A. Clarke.
Master-A. H. Cobb.
Ensgns-Lucien Young, E. r. I. Nicholson.
Passed Assistant SurgeOn-Howard Smith.
Assistant Surgeon-H. G. Boyer.
Passed Assistant Paymaster-John w. Jor-
dan.
Midshipman-L. w. Piepmayer.
Boatswain-Joseph Mcdonald.
Carpenter-Thomas McGlone.
Sailmaker-C. HI. Jones.
Gunner-R. II. Cross
Paymaster's Clerk-H. Awkward.
The delay in the arrival of the vessel was
caused by her striking on Moore's Rock, near
York hubble, yesterday forenoon, when
about two miles from the sh ore, in seven
fathoms of water, and remained hard and fast.
The officers Immediately sent to Kittery navy
yard for aid, and the tug Leyden was sent to
the spot, but soon after her arrival the Ports
mouth came off without aid and proceeded.
She was not injured After cruising along
the eastern coast and across the Bay OF Fundy,
she will visit Halifax.