The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-06-24
TO STUDY ABROAD.
Naval Graduates Going to
England.
WILL LEARN TO BUILD SHIPS.
Advantages Offered by Technical
Schools in Foreign
Lands.

WASHINGTON, June 22.-Two of the
graduates of the Naval Academy are to go
to Green W ich. England, to take course in
naval architecture.
There is no adequate course in naval
architecture at the Naval Academy. Annap-
oils, or a any college in the United States.
The Polytechnic at Boston has course in
architecture which includes ship-bulding,
and Cornell within the last three years has
established similar course. But both OF
these are incomplete. 1t is necessary,
therefore, to send our cadets abroad to OBJ
tain the education required to make them
competent naval constructors. Two of
them 90 abroad each year. either to the
Royal Naval College at Greenwich, to the
Technical Institute at Glasgow or to the
French Maritime School in Paris. This
year it is the Royal Naval College which
is to receive two of our bright young men.
They Will DO we'll IT they approximate the
records Of those who have preceded them.
Naval Constructor Taylor, who went to
Greenwich in 1885, carried off the highest
honors of the Royal Naval College three
years later, and moreover eXcelled the
highest record made by a student of
that institution up to that time.
OF the three institutes named the best is
the Royal Naval College. 1t was estab-
lished in 1873 in the building which had
been used as hospital and home for re-
iired seamen for many years. In 1865 the
5000 Sc amen who were living at the hos
pital were offered the option of an allow
ance for food aud lodging. In 1869, they
were compelled to accept the allowance
and the hospital building was cleared of
them to make way for the Royal Naval
College.
There is reciprocity in naval matters be-
tween great nations, Notwithstanding the
TACT that naVleS are maintained for the
protection of one nation against another.
England invited all the nations of the
world to send students to the Royal Naval
College. The number was limited TO two
from each nation. The United States did
not take advantage of the invitation until
1879, when two cadets who had led the
graduating class at the academy were
selected TO go abroad. At that time naval
constructors were appointed from private
life by competitive examination, because
there was no course of naval architecture
at the Naval Academy.
The object In sending the cadets to
Greenwich was to qualify them for ap-
pOintment as naval constructors. The
advantages they would receive at Green
wien, it was thought, would make them
much more competent than any applicants
for appointment from civil life whose OPP
pOrtunities for instruction must have been
confined to private institutions here or
abroad. The pioneers of the experiment
were Cadets Bowles and GatewoOd. Gate
wood is dead, but Mr.. Bowles has been
stationed for many years at the Norfolk
Navy-yard.
BCwles and Gatewood returned at the
end Of three years and were made assist
ant naval constructors with the rank of
| leutenants. Then Nixon and Shock were
sent to Greenwich. and two other Cadets
! Woodward and Linnard-were sent 10 the
French Maritime School IN Paris. In 1885
Taylor aud Armistead were sent 10 the
Royal Naval College. and three other
cadets-Baxter, CapDs and Hewes-were
sent TO the University of Glasgow. From
that time on cadets have been sent regu-
larry TO these three Institutions. AS re-
suit One-half of the naval constructors ana
all OF the assistant naval constructors on
the naval list are graduates of the Naval
Academy, while few years ago all of
them were civilians. The Chief OF the
Bureau of Construction aud Repair Mr.
HichbOrn, was app0in ted from civil life
He Is not a graduate Of Annapolis and he
has never seen day OF sea duty. The
same is true of Naval Constructors Fer
Eald. Steele and Varney, who hold the
relative rank of commander.
OF the graduates of foreign colleges who
have returned to the United States and
received appointments in the navy not all
have remained in the service. Only three
years ago Lieutenant Nixon obtained per-
mission from the Secretary of the Navy to
resign to enter the employ of the Cramps
1t was said at the time that he would re-
ceive a salary of $500. The Secretary of
The Navy hesitaied some time before let
ting him 60. The Government had paid
for his education at Greenwich, and Mr.
Tracy had an itea that il he was worth
$3.50 TO the Cramps he was worth $500 to
Co oil h.o tee
go. There was perhaps a little more
justice in giving him permission than
there would be ip the case OF the later
graduates of the Royal Naval College
The first students sent abroad by the Gov
eminent were compelled TO pay a good
sum for the privilege. 1t cost them not
less than $1,000 year to live at Greenwich,
and all that they received from the Navy
Department was the salary of their rank
$500 in the case of naval cadet or $1,000
In the case of an ensign. In 1886, how
ever, the Government not only paid the
bills for education, but made an extra al
lowance of $40 month for expenses. This
has been done ever since.
The advantages of taking the course of
instruction abroad are many. In the first
place there is an assurance of permanence
In employment which no lieutenant or
captain 10 the navy has. A naval con-
stIuctor is seldom ordered away from the
steady. and he has an opportunity to
establish a. home for himself and his TAM
lily instead OF spending alternately three
years on shore and three years cruising
about the world. Then the pay of naval
constructor is much better than the paw of
an ensign OF a LIEUTENANT. An assistant
naval constructor receives at first $500
year when on leave or waiting orders,
and $1,000 when on shore duty. After
four years OF service in the grade
he receives S1700 or 5000, according to
his assignment. Four years later he
begins to draw $500 or $500. As "a naval
constructor, when he has been advanced
to that grade, he draws $1,000 when on
leave or waiting orders, and $500 when
on shore duty. After five years this COM
penSation is Increased by $500; in five
years more $500 is ajded 10 this: after the
next five years, $500 more is added; and
when the naval constructor has served
twenty years in that grade be draws $500
when on leave, or $4,000 when on shore
duty. There is only one officer i'm the
navy who draws more when on shore
duty. He is the rear-admlral, whose shore
duty pay is $1,000.
Here is the difference between the ex-
perlence of Naval Constructor Linnard,
for example, and a graduate of the Naval
Academy of his class. Mr.. Linnard be.
came cadet midshpman in June, 1877.
He was made a naval cadet in August,
1882. He was appointed assistant naval
constructor in July, 1888. He was made
naval constructor in 1891. Take any one
OF many who graduated with Mr.. Lnnard
This other graduate was made a cadet
midshipman in June. 1877. naval cadet