New-York tribune., 1898-12-11

life on board ship Comfortable quarters for the
officers on duty at the station will be provided
In detached villas
CAPTAIN Francis W. Dickins. Assistant Chief
OF the Bureau of Navigation. who is in charge
OF the naval training system, and who has been
instrumental in bringing II TO its present state
Of high efficiency has written the following sue
cinct memorandum on the subject for The
Tribune
The system Of training apprentices for the
Navy was first established about 1861. and the
frgate Sabine assigned as their school
ship. At that time the law permitted certain
number Of these apprentices TO be SEM 10 the
Naval academy. and the consequence was tnat
a large number OF boys from the higher walks OF
life enlisted board the Sabine 10 obtain that
privilege IL was found that this pollcy caused
/ so much disappointment to those VINO dio not
succeed in getting appointed to the Naval Acad-
ony that they would desert or use their inhu-
cree to obtain their discharge, much so that 1t
finally broke up the system. In 1919 the sys-
tom was reorganized, and vessels were assigned
for training purposes with the privilege ol 60
ing 70 the Naval Academy eliminated.
Up to 1881 there were several training-sh
engaged in this service. That year the ToNern-
men, took possession of Coasters Iarbor Island.
at Newport r. L. which had be N ceded 20 the
Government 10y the State OF Rhode Island FOR
the Of training naval apprentices Ihe ces-
sion Of that island to the Government was
/
crtions and advocacy of Captain F. f. Chad
wick At that time the training squadron was
ir command of Captain NOW Rear-AdmraD
t. Luce ard the line-of-batue snip New -HainI,-
shire was assigned 70 the duty and mVored OFT
tho station Unfortunately in the winter Of
1SS9-'JO owing 10 a fever breaking out on
board the ship. the New Hampshire was removed
and The boys were encaInped on the 'siahu
Since that time they have had their preliminary
training in barracks on the island for the hrst
six months OF their career and the vessels OF
the Navy have been assigned for practical
/ training at sea
Al his time there are now engaged on the
/ Atlartjo Coast in training apprentices. besides
/ the Constellation. stationed at Newport: me
vessels Essex. Alliance Annapolis ana \lcks-
! burg. The Essex and the Alliance accommodate
! ON hoard about one hundred and sixty-two ap-
! Ircnticcs each. The Annapolis and the Nlcks-
| burg accommodate on board about seventN-hve
bovs each The training of apprentices for the
! Navy is under the fostering care Of the Bureau
Of Nayi.a;on. The general policy OF the sys-
'cm now is to give boys. when they enlist. the
frs, six months of their training at the train
ing station where they are taught TO Keep them
selves clean to take care OF their clothing. to
/ l,c disciplined. and are taught the rudmenis of
! eoannanehip on board tho COnst tellaton. includ-
! ing lead log and compass. infantry tactics gym
nas,ics and the usual routine on board man
of-war They given illustrated lectures.
naval history Of the United States. are made IA
/ miliar with geography and such OF them as are
no, already proficient in arithmetic arc taught
that branch to include dccimals. The whole
tendency Of this course there is practical train
ing and 10 put the boys in such condition as 10
mako them fitted to go on board ship without
! heinr rudelv disturbed by their new surround
ings The boys enlist as thmd-class apprentices,
| he,weer the ages Of fifteen and seventeen years.
and serve until they are twenty-onc years old.
After the course OF six months al The training
station they are transferred 20 ecagoing train
inc-shins where they remain at sea for SIX
,ronths visiting either Europe or the West In
/ di,e ascending 10 the season Of the year At
/ ,be ond Of fhis practice cruise such apprentices
1 as n-e- recommended for apprentices. second
| lace are transferred to the general service.
! :, here their training is supposed 10 continue
,,ntU thcv are tWentY-onc years OLD. one year
after having been rated apprentices. second
rIess rrnper'y qualified mon are rated appren.
docs fret class and during the last wear of
th.fr enlistment they may be rated petty ON
c.rs third class seaman branch.
! Recently law has passed Congress estao-
l;eh;rr = training station on the Pacific Coast, AT
car Frarciero ard the Pcnsacc IA is fitted out
for q Stationary iraining-ship. The Navy Depart
m,nt has secured Ycrla Rucna Island. in San
Francisco Eay Tor the purpose q a training
~,otion TO he decd on The same lines az the one
- Nevrort The Adams and the Mohican are