The Holly chieftain., 1898-03-04
Naval on,cers Peers o, the World.
.oelsy Mountain News. Yebrazry 2. lzs..

Brown hotel last evening. Il have
spent months on board men-of-xar q,
the guest Of officers. and am proud o.
the navy Of our country and the men
who on those great shi Pc are prepared u
defend the honor Of our flag. A man-of
war comes as near the ideal in the sen
timent Of those aboari toward eacf
other and in absolute harmony of feel
ing as can. be found any where in the
world speak especially of naval OIL
tieers. as have known many of them
intimately and have seen them under
conditions that tested their true mettie
Naval officers are 70 cl0sely associated
together that an officer must be good
fellow or he is not tolerated. An OF
fcer who does not deport himself as a
real gentleman is sent to coventry. and
coventry on ship beard when vessel is
on a three years' cruise, Is fair sample
Of hades"
Mr., Wiley is now manager Of the
Great Plains Water and storage com
pany of the Arkansas valley, but in
years past lie lived on the sea coast and
was attracted to the navy. He was
aboard the battle ship Wabash for four
months in Boston navy yard.
Zone OF the profoundes, regrets Of na-
val officers" said Mr.. Wiley. lis in the
thought that the people Of their native
country do not understand them. Tn.
life OF the officers deprive them Of the
opportunity OF meeting their country
men except at some ocean port, and
their acquaintance Is therefore limited
to comparative small circle. 1t would
require some time to explain the pecu-
liar conditions Surrounding the life oi
the naval officer. bnt those conditions
are such that they develop a man Of ths
highest type, II there is anything good
in man it develops in the navy as in
no other phase OF life. The patriotism
of the navy is OF the very highest type.
might speak Of the many beautiful
customs aboard ship. The moment an
officer reaches the spar deck. he turns 10
tine flag and raises his cap. At colors
every afternoon every man Turns to-
ward the flag and uncoyers. On the
flagship concerts are given three times
week. At the close of the concert. the
officers. the guests and the men arise.
all turn toward the Gag. the band plays
a national air and every cap il removed.
No naval officer was ever discourteous
to a senior. 1.-THE captain of the ship
desires to call upon an officer in the
ship. he sends his card and he never
enters the officers ward room unless he
is invited or is upon the weekly tour OF
inspection. An officer never enters the
captains cabin unless he is sent for"
although the pay Of An officer Of the
navy is not as liberal - the paw of an
officer of the army OF similar rank, the
expenses of the naval officer are much
greater. He receives NO communications,
as does the officer Of the army. He
boards and clothes himself and he payf
for the entertainments extended officers
of other nationalities Who are met with
in the various ports Of the world. The
The captain messes alone and bears his
own expenses OF himseIf and guests
when guests are invited 10 the ward
room all the officers bear their share pre-
rata for the food aud wines. This is es-
pecially hard on the captain. as he has
large number Of guests in the course
of year. but he never grumbles. 1t il
looked npon as duty which the officer
owes to his country, and the American
officer never allows any other nationali-
ty to Guido him in this particular.
while American naval officers are
no. understood on shore by their coun'
tryfnen. they represent their country
abroad in way, ifit were understood
would call forth the highest commenda'
ton at homer Think ofa man leaving
bis family for three years at time and
not svumbling. Such is the high stand.
ing Of our navy abroad that the officers
are welcomed everywherc. At the time
of the great naval review at New York,
the Southern club, OF which / was a
member. gave a reception to all of the
naval officers In the harhor. The house
was crowded from garrett TO cellar, and
it was the verdict that our officers com.
pared fuvotably with those Of any other
nstion of the world. We were all proud
of them. The naval officer has four
times as many uniforms TO provide him
self with as the officer Of the regular
army. These uniforms he Is Obliged to
pay for ont Of his own pocket. Amdag
the uniforms are:
"Ihe special dress Of cooked hat. gold
epaulettes, white silkslined spike-lail
coat. double breasted. gold belt and gold
stripe down the trousers two inches
wide.
"A dress uniform, cooked hat, double
breasted frock coat, blue trousers and
black belt. Then he is obliged to have
regular service blouse like that Of the
army, and large humber of white duck
uniforms with the insignia of the rank
shown in white braid and white cap,
He must attend inspection at least once
y month in special full dress. ! have
said nothing of overcosts and other par
aphernalia which every officer 10 obliR'
ed to keep on hand.
sssrA.. s~Datvn.c, 49, >ht.~ r shu