The Savannah morning news., 1901-08-08

| submitted the name of a very bright
young gentleman from Mississippi,
and he was promptly designated for
appointment. My business here to-day
is to ascertain what progress my can
didate has made in his preliminary ex-
animation"
Naval Recruiting Is Slow.
The official returns from the naval of
GERS sent South some time ago to en-
list recruits for the naval service do
not show very encouraging results. The
training ship Alvarado was sent South
about a month ago, with instructions
to cruise in the waters of North Caro-
lima, South Carolina and Georgia and
also send recruiting parties into Ala
bama, Word was received at the Navy
Department ye~' erday that. with the
exception of the work accomplished at
the recruiting rendezvous at Port Roy
al, S. c., the results were far below
expectation. In consequence, the AL
varado went back to Norfolk, Va,
where she is now temporarily located.
The commanding officer states that
during the past two weeks enlistments
aboard the Alvarado averaged about
one recruit per day. While she has
been out cruising only forty-six enlist
ments have been recorded on her books.
The Port Royal station, however,
d
Using showing. 1t was estimated that
at least 200 men should be enlisted in
North and South Carolina during the
months of July and August. Up 20 date
12S enlstments have been recorded at
Port Royal the majority of which were
secured from North Carolina. The Sc
recruits are now undergoing prelimin-
airy training on board the Topeka, the
training ship at Port Royal.
A Naval Police Court.
Captain Cottman in charge of the re-
cruiting division of the Navy Depart
ment says he fears there is a DISPOSE
ton on the part of some of the South
ern newspapers to discourage enlist
ments in the navy. He mentioned the
fact that several influential newspa-
pers had printed statements exaggerat-
ing the trials and tribulations of en-
listed men in the navy and also mag
nifying the punishments inflicted upon
sailors for violation of the naval regu-
lations. He gave an interesting de-
scription of the way justice is dealt
out on board of an American warship,
Each morning at 10 o'clock after gen.
eral muster to quarters the captain
holds what on shore might be termed
police court. Offenders against naval
regulations are brought to the mast
The charges made against them having
been recorded in what is known as the
conduct book" are duly read to the
prisoner He is then asked If he has
any statements to make. He is given
a fair hearing of his side of the case
Then the officer making the charge
states his side of the case. The priso-
ner then has an opportunity to close
the argument. This ceremony over the
captain of the vessel passes judgment
as to the disposition of the case. II
the charges are sustained the captain
says in substances: This appears tc
be a clear case of violation of the reg
ulations. You cannot plead ignorance
for q list of offenses and the penalties
attached are hung up in various parts
of the ship where they may be read
and understood by the entire ships
company. You knew very we'll when
you were violating the regulations you
would be punished for the offense ac-
cording to the regular schedule set
| forth in the conduct book Under
| the circumstances you know what &c
expect" so the prisoner is turned over
| to the master alarms, who is the
ships jailor. When the charges are
not sustained, the accused is released
In the navy an enlisted man is per-
mitted to go to the mast any day and
appeal to the captain on any subject In
which he may be interested. Some
! times he wishes to complain of short
rations, or duties not within his physi-
cal ability, or about sending money
home to his family. In fact any sub
| ject which may arise which can only
| be decided by the commanding officer
! The hour of 10 o'clock each day is SET
apart for these hearings of the ships
company, with view of equal justice
shall be dealt out to all hands. The
punishment which the average enlisted
man most fears is the stopping of their
| liberty on shore and the withholding OF
their monthly money. Serious Of
fences against the regulations are dis
posed of by court martial. But petty
offences are decided by the captain.