New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-12
NAVY RECRUITS SCARCE.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS a HARD TIME ~
GET CREWS.
TOO MANY HARDsHIPs. THOUGH THE uNiiI
STATES PAYS BETTER WAGES THAN
OTHER NATION - THE APPREN-

TIcE SYSTEM
washington Aug 1.-THE Navy Department u
enang considerable difficulty in enlisting men 10 IN
existing vacancies and TO man the new SHIPS 1 =,
will soon be ready to go into coHiHisS'o" -.
authoritativey stated at the Department
neither the sccond-class battesnip ieAas , -
armored cruiser Maine vii be able TO participate III
N. d-,,l off Newport Aside from tho delay IN pro-
curing crews for the two ships. there are oiher EN-"
barrassments which will render 1t imposs'oie 'o'
even the Texas. which ls in the more aoV'n'e- WI
dition to be in commission for several "echs.
The Navy officials say that II is win u'"Vu.'
that enlistments of seamen machinists ana o'neis
are made during the summer season ~ ''''H
period men who have knowledge OF such i'"'
always fnd more remunerative ehhP'o' '''' ~
private yachts and along shore where sie"
Of individual freedom Is enjoyed i'ate III
the autumn. however. when the scores OF p'l'"'e
yachts whose sails are now whitening the bays anu
inland seas shall have been laid up. the men en-
gagged upon them will seek other employment anu
then the vacancies in the ranks OF the ehls'eu HIGH
will be rapidly filled.
Never before in its long and honorable history
has the Navy Department been so jealous OF '"e
high character the intelligence and the physica
condition OF the whom IL is taxing INTO us
service as at present 1t is asserted by those nav
ing these matters In charge that 30 per ceh' o' TIC
applicants rejected for one reason or aho'ne''
The United States Government pays It's enlisted
mep OF the first rank receive $2i a month"; WINE
landsmen without previous experience ara" "'e
dollars less The pay OF d macEin.st Is $40 month";
and that OF a fireman s,5 blacksmith receives
$50 plumber 50 and painter go Men VINO en-
list seamen. when qualified and advanced 10 III.
rating OF petty officers. have their wages hcreaseH
to an amount varying from SIS to SIS q month. Inc
rate OF pay generally il far In advance ol '"d,
which is given to private and non-commissloht.I
officers in the Army. but the service Is more enH ~
desirable
The hope of the Navy is the apprentice system st
ness at first neutrallzei to some extent ny
sentimental methods. which were adopted despit te
years have been eliminated. An average OF i TUT
hundred and Atty boys is enlisted esGh yeH Wears is
the average age at which they are accepted
favorably with that OF the grammar schools IN me
large cities. is given and IN addition 10 thoroush
torpedo works and electrical engineering.
Efforts are made to add 10 the technical tfalni ,b
service. It's history its incidents OF peril and dash
and Its life on foreign stations, are taught py lec
year Illustrated by stereopicon slides: They repre-
sent nearly three years OF work py nnr, sta
ton. where the school Is established uhder MS
Il is curious anomaly. however. that the excel
lent mental and practical training which thosee
the Government. inasmuch az four-hfths OF me
boys withdraw from the service upon graduation
Of utilizing 9fions 'Hf them the work hs
have been trained The reason Of this Is obvious
ike they chafe sorely under its restraints The
knowledge OF seamanship and particularly OF cleo
trlcity. which they acquire. enables them 10 ma
ready employment as quartermasters, engineers
mates and captains in the merchant service, OF III
companies as electricians at a much better coInpen-
sation than is offered to them by the Government
them TO remain in the service, and those who do
remain are advanced as rapidly as circumstances