The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-29
Entering The Nnvv.

For the first time in more than half
century the navy stands on a footing Of
popularity equal TO that occupied by the
army. 1t has regalned the prestige which
it enjoyed after the war of 1912. From
that war until the recent one with Spain,
the country's fighting had been done al
most exclusively by the army, with the
result of drawing attention away from the
sea power to the land power The war
with Mexico was altogether a land war;
our Indian wars have all been land wars,
and IN the civil war the navy played an
inconsiderable part as compared with the
land operations.
The victories at Manila and Santiago,
and the splendid work of the ships at other
places, however. has turned the attention
of the nation once more to the sea power.
The navy has become especially we'll
thought of by youths and young men of
more or less adventurous bent of mind.
The rakish toys of the sailor are being
considerably affected in the dress of chill
dren and young people generally. Almost
any group of persons can, and will upon
the slightest provocation, launch into a
discussion Of "freeboards.'' "draughts,"
bridges" quarter decks" "bilge keels,"
and other things nautical
This revived interest is probably a very
good thing for the navy, as well as for
the country. 1t seems assured that the
naval establishment is TO be largely in
creased, which will necessitate the enlist
ment Of a great many more men; and it
a i
from among young Americans, who would
feel patriotic pride in their vessels and
their flag. The best fighters are those who
fight for home and native land, and not
merely for the monthly wage.
Heretofore the American naval service
has not appealed strongly to the average
American youth. AS oddly as it may seem,
this democratic country has one of the
most aristocratic navies in the world. 1t
is an innpossibility for a young man TO
work himself to the top by merit alone.
A rail splitter may become President of
the United States and commander-in-chief
of both army and navy but the laboring
man on shipboard can never become so
much as lieutenant. In the
ildNIeS OF England ana Germany II Is
practicable for the naval apprentice to
raise himself to the top of the ladder by
native ability, no matter if he has never
attended a naval academy and Is a
stranger. to trigonometry. Indeed, in those
navies enlisted young men are encouraged
to their best endeavors by the prospects
of winning commissions. In the American
navy no enlisted man can win a
commission. He may by exceptional brav-
cry or ability gain promotion to the posi-
ton of a warrant or petty officer, but
he can never reach the ward room and
the quarterback. The paths to those de-
sirable positions all lie through the naval
academy, and are hedged about by the rule
of seniority.
naval apprentice enters the service
between the ages of fourteen and seven
teen. He is bound by articles of agree
ment to serve until he becomes of age. He
receives from the government fairly or
binary education, and is taught the duties
of a sailor. His pay is SO a month the first
year, or so long as he remains in the third
class Promotion to the second class
brings an increase of pay to SIS month,
and when he goes up to the first class and
is assigned to a warship the pay is 81 a
month. The next step is to the grade of
able seaman, for which the pay is $24
month. There are few warrant positions,
carrying salaries of from $500 to 81, 500 a
year, to which the enlisted man is eligible;
but beyond these he cannot go. The navy
as career, therefore, is not very enticing
to the intelligent and ambitious young
man who lacks the means or the pull
necessary to a course in the naval acad-
envy. Tt has been strongly recommended
that such changes be made in the law as
will permit of the triumph of merit,
whether it be found in the forecastle or In
the wardroom