The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-29

still largely composed of the dregs of all
nations. The necessities of the service
prevent any but physical standard for
enlistment, and nationality. intelligence,
age and moral character are not consid-
cred. Congress should realize that new
vessels and new guns are incompetent to
defend the national honor unless they are
efficiently manned. The ability of our
officers cannot bring success in the next
naval war unless there is more trained in
telligence among their subordinates.
These are startling words that cannot be
denied and should not be neglected. 1t is
not an unusual occurrence to find whole
division In an. American naval vessel in
which there is not man who can speak
the English language, and yet it is to such
men, reinforced by recruits from the Grim
inal classes, refugees from justice, the
scum of large cities-it is to these men
that are entrusted the costly equipments
of our modern war ships, and upon the CO.
operation and assistance of such men, our
of the flag at sea. The new ships have
guns that cost thousands of dollars and
can be fred but comparatively few times,
when handled most wisely. How short
is the life of such guns when en-
trusted to men who have neither knowl-
edge of their mechanism nor the capacity
to learn. The new ships are furnished
with electrical appliances of delicate
adjustment, with scores of engines that
can be easily deranged, with costly
machinery not easily replaced, with
powerful explosives that through single
blunder may work as deadly execution
upon friend as upon foe-and yet all this
splendid equipment is, to large extent,
given into the keeping of men who, upon
shore, would not be entrusted with the
slightest responsibility, If life or property
were at stake. 1t is only through over
sight and neglect that congress has per-
mitted such startling condition of things
to continue.
There ID q remedy, and Lieutenant
Wyckoff has very emphatically pointed it
out when he says: eve must take intel
ligencs in the formative period and
train it to meet our necessities. We must
have an efficient apprentice system" He
suggests that congress should authorize
the enlistment annually of fifteen hundred
apprentices, and make the necessary APP
preparations for the recruiting and train
ing service. He would send the recruiting
officers to the interior cities and villages
and gather from the farms and country
%ha 81, laI rr,f
and honest hearts, who would be glad to
enter the navy if they knew of the adj
vantages and inducements which the ap-
prentice system, properly managed, would
offer. Then instead of the worthless,
ignorant wretches who turn to the navy
from the slums of great cities, ready to
desert at the first opportunity, the govern
ment would recruit its ships each
year with sturdy seamen, trained
to their work, and fitted by
birth and education to uphold the national
honor at any cost. Lieutenant Wyckoff
further suggests that the apprentices
should be enlisted for eight years; that
they should have. as at present, six
months preliminary instruction and one
year on training ship. He would furnish
both training schools and ships with the
most modern war material and have
plenty Of instructors. Then he would send
the apprentice to cruiser for three years
and finally to battle snip for three years,
continuing progressive system of in
struction through the entire period. The
result would be that even if the apprentices
did not re-enlist, the government would
have had several years of efficient service
from them Oh board war vessels, where
they fully earned their pay as members of
the crew. Those who did re-enlist could
continue in the navy as intelligent petty
officers, and those who did not re-enlist
would doubtless enroll themselves in the
Naval Reserve and be the first to volun-
teer in case of war.
Lieutenant Wyckoff has performed q
public service in writing the article re-
ferred to, and the suggestions he makes
most forcibly commend themselves to the
attention OF congress. The government
cannot afford the great expenditures it is
making for the navy unless it is backed by
the assurance that competent and worthy
men are being trained TO man these splen-
did ships. After all, the moral of the SER
vice, its esprit du corps, Is not the least
important reliance of army or navy. 1t
was "the men of Devon" and their gallant
comrades, who followed Drake and Haw-
kins around the world and proved that one
Englishman fighting for his home and re-
ligion could whip dozen Spaniards.
And it will be American lads, with the
blood of patriots in their veins, and with
the skill and understanding which train
ing and experience alone can give, who
will make the American navy the pride of
the country, and will maintain at home
and abroad the honor and integrity of the
Union.
The official confirmation of the report
that Russia and France have cordial I'M
Outstanding, sufficient to make them
friends in peace and allies in war, does not
increase the probability of general CONT
mental conflict, but makes the prospect of