The Washington critic., 1888-01-07
BOYS NAVAL SCHOOL.
How AdmiralS, Captains and Dead
eyes Are Made.
BOYS ON THE TRAINING SHIPS.
Interview With Lieutenant Com
mander Rockwell OF the
Minnesota.

cllilst Oh tilc buiteu SUITES lIululllg
ships.
A New York Press reporter boarded
the United States training ship Min
nesota, which lies at the foot of West
Twenty-seventh street, for the pur-
pose of interviewing its commander
on the subject.
Lieutenant-C Commander G. II. Rock
well, large, broad-shouldered and
stern-looking sea-warrior, was found
in his cabin just reading copy of
Jules Nerne's "Ten Thousand Leagues
Under the Sea-" when the reporter
introduced himself and put the follow
ing questions to him:
"You are constantly advertising for
boys. Have you any difficulty in
getting thcm?"
"Wcll, yes. Any amount Of boys
answer these advertisements, but nine
out OF ten are rejected because of their
physical disability"
"In order to enter our service boy
must be Of robust frame, intelligent,
of perfectly sound and healthy con-
stitution, free from any physical de-
fects or malformation, and not subject
to fits. lie must also be able to read
and write. In special cases where the
boy shows general intelligence and
is otherwise qualified, he may be en-
listed Notwithstanding that his read
ing and writing is imperfect. Strict
attention is also paid to the stature of
boys, and no boy manifestly under
a,. r., ,a I,n
board the ship. In case of doubt
about the physical condition of the
boy, any marked deviation from the
usual standard of height will add ma
terially to the consideration for reiec-
ton. So you see that we cannot ac-
cept every Tom, Dick and Harry that
comes along. We need large lot of
boys to make our choice from. For
that reason we are constantly advertis-
ing for boys, and will continue to do
SO until we are amply supplied"
What per cent. of boys stay in the
service"
81 should Judge about fifteen per
cent. But we cannot get an accurate
record Of them.'
"How many boys have you on
board at present ?'
"About seventy-fve. We sent
fifty away yesterday. When the
training squadron returns we will
have about 200 on board. We enlist
them, train and distribute them to
other ships"
"How do the boys turn out after
! their course Of serviceP"
GAS a rule, they turn out TO be very
good men, Some of them become
warrant officers and petty officers"
Through what grades must boy
go, in order to finish the course ?"
'"There are five grades for appren-
tices. When boy first enters he is
enlisted as third-class apprentice.
He can then be promoted to second
and first class and to two grades of sea-
man apprentices But 1t is not neces-
sary for boy to go through all these
grades, although it is creditable for
him to do so. 1t is just the same as in
every other walk of life. If COM
| positor has the qualifications he can
| jump into the editorial chair. So it is
with the boys in our service. If u
boy is qualified he may skip some of
the grades. So you see some stand q
better chance for promotion than
Others"
"What pay do they receiver"
"When boy first enters he is q
third class apprentice, and receives so
per month. A second class apprentice
receives $40, and q first class appren-
tice S11 per month. The next grade
is a second class seaman appeentice,
who receives $40, and first class sea-
man apprentice receives S24 per
month. A boy left us the other day
who had saved $500 during his course
of service"
"Do the boys receive their salary
while in the service Y
mo, they do not. Boys enlisted to
serve until 21 years of age are not per-
mitted to receive or TO allot any part
of their salary to parents or guardians
until they shall have been transferred
to general cruising vessels, and have
$50 due them on the books of the ship.
OF course, on cruising vessels they get
their salary regularly, and are at lib
erty to use ii when and how they see
fit; and, at the discretion of their COM
manding officers, they are entitled to
higher ratings as a reward of prof.
ciency."
"Are apprentices allowed to leave
before their time is expired?'
mo, they are not allowed to leave
from the service until they have
reached 81 years of age, except upon
a medical survey, inaptitude for the
service, or for misconduct. If recon-
mended, upon the expiration of their
enlistments, they will receive an hon
orable discharge which, upon re-
enlistment within three months from
the date thereof, will entitle them to
three months extra pay of their
rating when discharged, and also to
an addition of 81 per month to their
pay during such re-enlistment. Those
injured in the service or having con-
tracted disease in the line of duty
will be entitled to the benefits of a
pension"
"How are the boys to make applica-
ton for enlistment"
Each boy, upon presenting him
self for enlistment, must be accom-
panied by his father, or by his mother
in case the father be deceased, or by
his legally appointed guardian in case
he has no father nor mother living.
The parent or guardian, however,
who, by reason of distance, intirmity
or other causes, cannot accompany the
son or ward to the vessel, they will be
furnished, on written application to
the commanding officer of the vessel,
with duplicates of a printed form OF
declaration, oath, ETC., by which the
enlistment will be perfected should
the boy be accepted by the Board Of
Examining Officers, which consists OF
the captain, line officer and the Sc
nior medical officer of the vessel. II
they are of the opinion that the boy i:
in every respect fit for the service
the engagement TO serve continuously
in the service until 2l years of age is