New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-29
MORE MEN NEEDED.
NAVAL ENLIsTMENTs NOT UP TO THE
REQUIREMENTS.
HOW THE MORAL PHYSICAL AND NUMERICAL
STANDARD OF THE ENLISTED FORCE MAY
BE MAINTAINED ROAD TO

THE TOP.
The fact that two battle-ships. the Massachase''s
and the Texas. and one monitor. the puritan are
practically ready for being placed IN coii'''sSoii'
and that 1t has been proposed 70 put inoh''of az
ready IN commission out OF the line or duty III o'ue'
TO provide men for the Puritan. calls attention 10
the increasing trouble in obtaining men OF SUIT
able grade o; intelligence and physical capac! u
replace the members OF the sailor branch oi the
service who leave II through retremeh's' eApie'
terms Of enlistmen, and desert.on. AS TINS subject
is Of vital importance 20 the welfare OF the Navy
and the man behind the gun" is - large FACTOR
ir the success OF the modern warship. the forth-
coming issue Of the proceedings Of the Naval ins"-
u;e" will be Of interest. for 1t paper mas pee'
prepared by Ensign Ryland n. Tisda'e OF the tram
ing-ship Essex which sets forth the problem OF the
maintenance OF the numerical standard of the Navy
and the nrorer training OF young recruits in way
which Will attract attention.
II has been often said that the United States cannot
depend upon patriotism in times OF Ielce nor 'e love
OF the for recruiting seamen ~ the coiPi'''NV
IL small nav and the uncomfortable life OF seaInen
be compared with the higher pay and comfor'Abie
homes Of a similar class Of laborng men on shore;
4 there be no advancement beyond certain point
tc the top Of the ladder made possible ior them as
reward for industry. natural talents gool coh1u''
and efficiency. the best boys ana men VIII no' I'll
list; ana for those who do. what becomes OF am
bltion? y there is NJ ambition in a man. what can
be expected of him
THE Statement, cannot be made too emphatic.
Mr. TisIalc says that for the American Navy IN
ducenents for enlistment must equal those Tor civil
trades and professions; the b-s In the land must en-
list Some may state that the woods are fu'i OF
men willing 10 enlist in the Navy. Many men are
willing # proper inducements and comforts are
offered; Others We do want at any price. There
are a good many good men In our service now
beth American and foreign born. and IA large num-
Der who are not good men, II VIII now be SAID ina,
among the inducements for boys to enlist as APP
preniices there should be the possibility OF rising
from an apprentice to admiral and this must be the
greatest spur for their ambition We are a free and
independent people. forming Nation tn when all
alike are free born. and such people tha' the
humblest boy rise and become President COM
nander- IN chief Of the Army and Navy. Would it
then be too unreasonable for an apIrenic" poY -
rise and become admiral?'
In following out the suggestion conveyed In these
remarks it Is proposed that there shall be two as
tinc roads to Il commission in the line OF the Navy
one through the Naval Academy and the other
through the training squadron The apIfentic" must
rise through seaman. petty officer and warrant OH
Ger 10 a commissioned officer without ever going
through the Naval Academy "a formerly required
and his commission will bee the reward Of his own
tNerions an, worth The service could be guarded
by suitable examinations and reports
SOMETHING WRONG.
1t is evident that when only 10 or II per cent ~ The
naval apprentices enlisted remain IN the service
something l. wrong with the system Tn" hgireS
for 1895 that s3 men and ia apprentices were
discharged for disability services not required AZ
a., ,,,,.s, q, r,.,,,..s, Of commanding officer bad
conduct. .napttudc discharged by purchase. etc
rs men and l73 apprentices deserted. making the
waste for l.52s or IS per cent OF $40. and Tor
..,,.. co. 49, 90 &c., con, - ~ fsuu,os.np
-, , ...,, - total .,l,.,eI force, ar
-. ,..., ,, d., .,, -, TAX. tho
49, =, ,.~ can, ~, tho toial enlisted force
,- ,tr c.,,l,,,,r. ard ,en ,.., would D.. re
.t , ,.ar ,,.r,,l,,,, ,iou, a.. f,- tho ecpi-
TO-. =, ,,i1 49, ,t, a. ,,csu,,e fh,, =
-. ~, 81. ....,-.,..i..-, ,..,,id remain I'm IA. ..r
80 -. 900. ...-
W. ~ .., .r,o ., -..,.,,., ,,.,,,f5
'''' ,. .o -. ., -. ..,.,,.,.f...s
S''',' "'1Y'.' ,,.,.,,', -. a., annual .,
-. 80 49,, H., t,, T., ,h go. - ,n. off
49, , .,f...- AMI ,,,.,. .,,,.s mum
.. ,. go, 49,, 3D., ,.,,,. ill.,, ,h. annual
- ,.. q, - 49,. - t. ard ,r ,-l.r 81, 80
-. ,,. -, ..,.,.,s ,, t,... 10, train,
a'1 .Ha |'S 81 ', 'o,aI number ~ ones con-
c.rp.I sho,l such 4 PROPORTION obtain f. the en-
,',",' v,,',, ,,'.r. .,,,lt no. a,o,, Ia,
apprentices instead of i57 and the opinion - hold
thai il would be- economy IN the Ions run. only
49, -, ,, -, ,,,...s l,,. ala, 80, tho rs,.n, ~
III '"' "'"'''' w 'N'' 49, ,....
e'hclen'y' Z" i""h' sur" d" "'
The presen: regulations concerning the enlistment
Of bows ar. cool y strictly carriel ont. Briefly
they are: "ioAS ]" tween 'h' axes "I 'o"''''n ana
seventeen year. with the consent 81 their parents
- ,,.i ,.r,t,,g ara enlisted ~ cory. u,,u
u '""'" S""'''"''.' Of"
twenty-one years OF axe y" insane. intoxicated
tnrson nor des.rier from the naval military
, .,,.li J., .,,rs,.d 4 no, enlisted mus, sot,sr,
WV ~ -, -, o,.-. ~, =, a.. -, -.
an Examining i''hrd OF "'h''r' 'ha' 10 ~ OF r"ouS
frame intelligent. Of perfectly sound and healthy
.,i,,,to, er.. from any rhvsical defects or NAL
CONCENTRATIONS 49,
formations. not suh)rct 20 MS or HHHh'SS' ana -
able 70 read AID write English
~, 49,, ,,,,.,.,.d y, GRIM. IN, 10 o,its,od =,
y" ""N ''''''' ''' - ''" ~ " :"
special cases. ~h"r" boy SHOWS general lntcNh-
,ercc and is otherwise qualified he may be en-
n, ,.t,h.,..,li,,, hts re,di,y aud ,,rt,tpg ara
imperfect The minimum age and physical stand
ards are now such that NOR" children are often
c""S'' "'' =, - 80 49,, 49,,
""'"'S " W