New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-14
1EAINING SYSTEM or The NAVY.
COMPLAINTS IN REGARD TO IT

HOW us SUCCESSFUL WORKING HAS BEEN INTER
FEGLD WITH.
Conlp,aints have recently been made that
the training system Of the Navy was not accomplish
Ing Shat was expected OF It and that It's successful
Workings have been iniercrcd with 10y various orders OF
the Navy Department. Parents who have boys IN the
training complain that the Government does not
adhere its agreement that every apprentice shall re
ceive good English educaon Is the boys are trans
erred TO going ships very short time after their
enlistment There has been considerable disagreement
among the officers the Navy as To the Pouer mode OF
conducting the training service and the rec W Is that no
system has been put IN successful opersiou The s}s-
tenn which is how nomualy III operation is known as
Commodore Luces system though 1t Is asserted by the
friends Of Commodore shueldt that It originated with
that we'll know n officer aud diplomat The plan which
Commodore Luce attempted To put INTO operation al
Newport was follows one vessel was 10 be used a.
permanent school OF instruction. 10 which recruits
should be sent for preliminary instruction. and which
should winter quarters for the apprentices,
where they could be taught other things than seaman
ship The apprentice, having received his preliminary
Instruction on the New Hampshire, which was the ship
devoted 10 this purpose transferred TO the sailing
vessel jamestown for summer cruise returning 20 the
New Islnpshire in the fall winterng board her
The two sloops-of-war Portsmouth and Saratoga were
70 used for summer cruises and on them were to he
sent the apprentices who were lit for transfer 10 the
general service I'm the fall All apprentices when Ians.
training school at least two years. On completing bis
cruise in the general service the apprentice TO be
discharged tue training school with continuous
service certificate, this emitting him at all tines to
berth in the Navy The Minnesota was anchored along
Side the Ncw-IamI hire, and board her t,tab-
lshed lnncTy school for the instruction Of such grad
mates Of The training as desired TO become seaman
gunucIs.
operation. hut last spuns Commodore Lucc took the
TnyoD While t6cTe he was ordered to tr,s,eT
fHn a lffT fltff
Commodore Luce was absent too TIE Nlnncsoj% vas
1rdyIed TO thiI CIV %Hy ,,c > 'n nIT r, me" ,e
port latter ship Wa, ordered 10 A~pnwau there 60
trans er boys to the South Atauu' fleet Through -oc
mistake no vessel wa, there TO take the ho and Is tie
Saratoga IS what Is known a. yellow ship size
Immediately ordered north again. iA'A Comma
dOlc Luce ordered Oh the advisory board ou Eayy
yards and since that time though nominy 30 command
OF the training squadron hc mas pc"h Almost '"lhuI4
duty with the board some officers OF the Navy say
that he attempted TO Oyer riIra'e ,H' aliicHIi's at
Newport; mat the boy c"d renee -hs ana box an" were
good scnOldI,, but were not sailors mat NJ "l'i
the intense cold there during the wntcr and the con,e
Quent difficulty IN exercising the boys u landing ana IN
eno"Sn ' wa, bo1 n N,,uort n Tc,riIu@IV am
cult to ce recruits. The ordering Of the Minnesota TO
l ts C,'{ was, ' e ' vim me fr}niu, .y.im and how,
viii more readily ship her than other vessels.
Considerable difficulty Is experienced On Operating the
training school from the fact that parents ami guardians
MAKE "a mistake both 10 to the class boys wanted and
to the objects OF the schoo! some parents a'lhS
cons whom they find difficult 10 manage ad them 10
the training school with the idea only OF getting an cdu
cation out of the Government aud having the severe
discipline the Navy cub the restless spirits mat they
could control Alters few years they expect thoIr
10 return TO them and 20 civl life When boys 81
this kind have been about SIX months IN the training
school the parents generally making frantic appeals
10 the Congressman OF their district to procure the BOYS
discharge They fail to realize that when OY enters
the training school be IS to be educated for sean an ana
not Tor clerk and that the only life lie Is lifted for or
look forward TO Is spent IN the service 81 his
country Under the impression that the training school
Is rciormatOry absolutely vicious boys sometimes
To it, but these never knowingly admitted and
great taken IL a,ccrtang the history OF any boy
applying for admission While vIciol- hos not en-
listed neither boys desired VINO have been brOugh:
mp In comfortable homes and only enter the school iIOn
the innate TestcSsneSs ana deiIs To peculiar 10 al
youths. The Minnesota cTUscd along the coast Of
Name and made recruits rapidly among the farmers
They proved. almost without exception be Of
little promise and taste OF the hurlshUs 81
sailors lie made them long for the rural
homes they had lett and ultimately most OF them re-
turned 10 the fields and pine woods which they
had never ceased TO sign
The best Iecrdlts obtained I'm large cities from
among those who have miserable homes and pros
poets In lie. but who nevertheless ambitions Of
good morals such boys are Injured to hardship or are
ready ANA willing to encounter it, The Minnesota
anchored on the foot OF West Twenty-thWds st whore
the work ~ recruiting Is going The saratoga Ports
mouth and jamestown cruising. and the lIaup-
SHIRE remains at Newport with only few apprentices