The evening times., 1895-08-12
JACK IlRs HARD TO FIND.
Navy Department Unable to Fill
Vacancies Among Seamen.
NO CREWS FOB TWO SHIPS
Battleship TEXAS and Cruiser Maine
VIII Not Re Able to Participate Ia
the Drill Off NewpOrt-Apprentic
System Is the Hope OF the Future.
Training the Youngsters.

The Navy Department is finding Con-
siderable difficulty in enlisting men TO
| fill existing vacancies, and to man the
| new ships that will soon be ready to go
| into commission.
II is authoritatiyely stated at the depar-
nlent that neither the second-class battle
ship Texas or the armored cruiser Maine
will be able to participate in the drill off
Newport. Aside from the delay in pro-
curing crews for the two ships, there are
other enibarrassments which will render
it impossible for even the Texas. which 10
In the more advanced condition to be in
commission for several weeks.
The Navy officials say that 1t is with
difficulty that enlistment of seamen ma
chinists and others, are made during tho
summer seat son. AT this period men who
combine q knowledge OF such matters can
always find more remuneratiye employ
nient on private yachts and along shore,
where greater measure OF Individual free
dom Is enjoyed, and where the duty is not
co SAoSehA6 oS ~ 10 IA eAiV
The business conditions which are more
satisfactory now than they have been for
several years rake 1t also possible to pro-
cure work that IL more satisfactory to them
than serving the government, and for these
reasons enlistaients proceed slowly. Late
in the autumn however, when the scores
of private yachts whose sails are now
whitening the boys on the sea shore and
isalu
ordinary, the men engaged upon them will
seek other employment, and then the va
cancies in the ranks OF the enlisted men
will be rapidly filled
JEALOUS OF ITS CHARACTER.
Never before, in its long and honorable
history, has the Navy Department been SO
JEALOUS OF the high character, the iutelb-
gence, and the physical condition of the
men whom 1t is taking into its SERVICE
as at present
1t is asserted by those having these
matters in charge that 80 per cent OF the
applicants are rejected, for one reason
or another. While more or less latitude
is given to the recruiting officers, the
rules OF the department require that no
seaman machinist, or fireman., shall he
enlisted who has passed the age Of thirty
five years, except he he a man who has
previously served in the Navy. In that
case the age limitation is not go strictly
enforced II the applicant meets the other
requirements.
The United States Government pays its
enlisted men better than any other nation
on earth. Seamen OF the first rank receive
S24 a month, while landsmen, without
previous experience, draw IS less. The
pay OF the machiuist is $40 a month, aud
that Of fireman $35. A blacksmith
receives $50, plumber SIS, and painter
$50.
Men who enlist as scamen. when qualified
aud advanced to the rating OF petty officers,
have their wages increased TO an amount
varying from S25 to S65 month. The
rate Of pay, generally, is far in advance
OF that which is given to privates and
uon-commissioued officers in the Army
but the service is more exactjug, and from
many points OF view IT is not so desirable.
1t is said, for example, that the depart
ment finds great difficulty in inducing the
younger men to re-enlist after one or two
services. Afteranexperience ofthischarac-
ter, the men, as q rule, desire to marry and
seek employment on shore rather than to be
separated from their families for a period I
of three years, with only ninety days
vacation at the expiration of that time.
THE APPRENTICE SYSTEM.
The hope of the navy, the sheet anchor
upon which its hopes OF successful future
very largely depends, is the apprentice sys- |
TEN, which W as established many years ago. |
Its usefulness at first was neutralized to |
some extent by sentimental methods, which |
were adopted despite the protests of ex-
perienced men, but which, Of late years, have !,
been eliminated.
An average Of 400 boys are enlisted |
each year. The term of service Is four |
years, and sixteen years is the average
age at which they are accepted. To each
an excellent education, which will compare
favorably with that Of the grammar schools
In the large cities, is given, in addition to
a thorough knowledge of gunnery, wide
with torpedo work, and cleo
trical engineering.
The results Of the physical training, to-
gether with hablts OF cleanliness and discip-
inc acquired at the school, are shown in the
nigh average of health and strength which
g observable among them.
Efforts are made to add to the technical
fondness of q naval life, and q
,espect for the service. Its Aiftory, its in
,idents of peril and dash and its life on for
.ign stations are taught by lectures.
OF these twenty-five are delivered each
1ear, illustrated by GA ttereoptcan slidee.
They represent nearly three years of work
" Chaplain Hallway and have been printed
It the Newport station, where the school
) established under bis supervision.
TRAINING THE YOUN GSTERS.
It is a curious anomaly, however, that
he excellent mental and practical training
vhici these youngsters enjoy, reeults to
be disadvantage of the government, mas
luch as four-fifths of the boys withdraw
.om the service upon graduation, and
efore the department has had an oppor- 6
unity of utilizing them in the work for | G
'hich they have been trained.
The reason of this is obvious. They are I