The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-02
AMERICAN SAILORS WANTED.
vrcRUIrING STATIONS TO BE Es-
TABLISHED IN THE SOUTH.

Vbe NAVAL Department Wants south
ern Boys to Enlist In the Navy-The
percentage of Foreign Horn Sail
orss on the Big Warshsps is De-
creasing-The Navy Offers an At
traetive Field to Young Men-A
Waiter That Southern Congress-
men Might Well Consider - \
Fright Georgia Boys Success.
Washington, Oct. NAVAL recruiting
citations are to be established at Charles
ton savannah and several other cities
sloug the South Atlantic coast. Lieut..
Commander Hawley of the navy, who has
,,arge of the recruiting branch of the
.ervice has made the necessary recon-
,nandaton in his annual report to the
Secretary of the Navy and the latter will
Incorporate the recommendation in his an
nuaI report to the President and congress.
The establishment of recruiting stations
in these southern cities may or may not
be influenced by the prospect of trouble
with Spain, but at the navy department,
where l made careful inquiry, it is said
that The desire is to secure additions to
the service from southern and western
states where native-born American men
and boys are more readily obtained. Lieut.
Commander Hawley has just returned
from a trip to the west and northwest,
and he was greatly encouraged at his sue
cess in securing enlistments for the navy.
The south has never had any encour-
agement in this line before, and those
men and boys from that section of the
country, who have found their way into
the service have had to seek enlistment
al some of the northern recruiting sta
tons The navy is in need of more men
TO properly man her great ships Of war,
now constructed and in the course of con-
struction. The force is inadequate to a
marked degree, and it often happens that
one big ship has to be put out of COM
mission so that her crew may be divided
and transferred to two smaller ships need
ed for immediate service. 1t is estimated
that at least 1900 additional men will be
required to furnish all the ships read for
sea with good working crews, sufficient
to handle them in active service
American sailors for American warships
seems 10 be the intention of those in
charge of the naval branch of the govern
ment. That policy does not originate with
the present administration as 1t seems to
have had its inception about the time the
country was thrilled with the enthusiasm
attending the famous cruise Of the noble
white squadron" around the world, COM
nanded by Admiral Walker.
Prior to the advent of the white squa-
dron more than 50 per cent. of the sail
ors or board of American warships were
foreigners. many of them could not speak
our language. The patriotism aroused by
the white squadron" and the discussion
of naval topics in the great newspapers of
the United States, soon made itself appar-
ent at the various naval recruiting sta
lions in Boston, New York, League Is
land, Pennsylvania, and Mare Island, Cal
I0rnia. American men and boys visited
the ships of the white squadron whenever
an opportunity offered, and soon learned
that the navy is not the resort for outlaws
and hard cases, as was once thought to
be the case. These magnificent floating
engines of war are equipped with all the
modern appliances for convenience and
health-giving comforts, and they offer a
very desirable home for men and boys
who are ambitious to lead a seafaring life.
The result has been that the percentage
of alien sailors on American warships
has been reduced and to-day about 60 per
cent. of the enlisted men in the navy are
y
ton of the Secretary of Navy to still
further increase the attractions in the SER
vice for native born Americans.
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt Is deeply
interested in this subject, and when he
goes south to witness the movements of
Ile torpedo flotilla he will look into the
question of locating the desired recruit
lng stations. 1t must be remembered that
these stations cannot be established and
maintained unless congress authorizes the
necessary appropriations, therefore the
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia
and Florida congressman might find it to
the advantage of their constituents TO look
into this subject with some care.
# the south proves herself 10 be fruit
ful field for naval recruiting, why should
not she have big recruiting rendezvous
and receiving ship, such as they have at
New York, Boston, or Mare Island, Cali
fornia. The west has sent some very de-
s'rabe men and boys into the service dur
lng recent years. The south has also
very creditable representatives among the
enlisted men. One instance l recall is that
Of Lee BOland, a Georgia lad, who is now
boatswain on board of the Marion, having
worked his way up to the rank of a
warrant officer, from an apprenticeship
on board of one of the training ships He
Is one of the brightest young warrant Of
Heers in the service, and he has a life po-
sition, and it is possible for him to reach
salary limit of $3.50 per annum, with
allowances.
Al the department it is said that prefer
ence is always given to the boys of the
training ship classes, in promotions to
the ranks of petty officers. Much more
could be written on this subject, but I
nave already shown that there is no rea-
son why American sailors should not man
American warships,
FALL COURT MEETINGS.