New-York tribune., 1901-04-15
THE TRAINING OF SEAMEN.
NEEDED REFORMS IN THE NAVY DE-
PARTMENT'S SYSTEM.
Try TELEGRAPH To tbs rRIBuNE.I


Washington, April 14.-The important question OF
the training of for the navy is brought to
the public attention particularly at this time on
of the antediluvian methods which officials
have adopted for training the man behind the
gun These officials apparently unaware OF
the existence of the man behind the shovel
The first monument TO the folly Of this reactonary
element In the navy has only recently been tried
in the shape of sailing vessel to teach the future
admras at Annapolis how to handle twin screw
steamers and fast torpedo boats. The cult for the
antique in this form Of education was so comical
that one writer was moved to ask why the authori-
ties did not make the form Of training pure in the
sense in which speaks Of pure Grecian archi-
lecture by having raised platforms for the archers
and stone singers.
The credit given Americans for being pro-
gressive seems to be the result of a superficial
examination. An investigation Of views OF the
authorities of the Navy Department, beginning
the head. would show that the real lovers
of antiquity not college professors. but men
who supposed to have executive ability and
whose aim to make the navy. its officers and
its thoroughly modern in every sense of the
term.
QUARTERS FOR THE MEN.
The Navy Department, after building the Ches-
apeake and making the Hartford training ship.
continues to beg Congress for two sailing training
ships and provide expensive barracks ashore for
the breaking in of the future seamen. AS far
the health of the is concerned. suitable bar
racks constructed with some regard to cleanliness
and hygiene will be decided Improvement on the
old huks in which recruits have hitherto been
quartered but it would appear that it not
necessary to provide a habitaton shore be-
cause the one on the water was unsuitable, but
rather that suitable floating habtation should
have been provided such some of the mod
ern ships. of which number laid up idle
A few years ago. when Mr. Roosevelt was add
Ing life and modern ideas the service and clear
ing Off the old 'barnacles ii seemed as though
modern ideas were to have a chance Due his
initiative the Naval Personnel act was formulated
and became a law. IL designed to put the
officers of the navy a modern footing and TO
train them TO meet modern conditions. II seemed
then that the next step would be to apply a SIM
ilarly appropriate system for the enlisted men.
but so far from that being the case the scheme
for their training which is actually In operation. 1t
is thought. would have been vastly more appropri-
ate three hundred wears ago. Young seamen under
the present course hardly be made familiar
with the vessels in which their actual work is be
done. The little practical training they have in
vessels of an absolutely archaic type. like the
Hartford. the Adams, the Lancaster and the Mo-
hican. which have nothing except the guns that
is modern. cannot 1t for the Kearsarge and
other ships of that class.
III the sentiment shown by the proposition for
this continuation of the archaic methods were
thoroughly characteristic of the navy progressive
officers might almost be prepared despair But.
fortunat tely. this is the case The younger
men in the navy do not share the ideas of those
temporarily in charge. When the proposition to
build training ship to be propelled entirely by
sails for instruction at the Naval Academy was
made many of the young line officers laughed
the idea, and said that what should have been done
was TO provide feet Of torpedo boats so as to
give to the young officer training IN the kind of
work he to do.
SLIGHT PROVISION FOR ENGINEERS.
There is another side TO this which OF
| the utmost Importance. and vet the officials
charged with naval training have ignored il as II
II did not exist This feature is the in which
the United States immensely superior to
& t and the one Which contributed greatly to
skin and training of the engineer force. When it
is remembered that the men concerned in the
amount to one-half the crew il is amazing that
be gsa 6s no pr made for their training
sound physique can make fireman, and probably
ratings in the engineer force which require de
cided skill for their proper performance While
name of trade it nevertheless is decidedly sked
manned by green hands would quickly fall prey
10 another no stronger in other respects. with a
4 Secretary of the Navy. some years ago. in
talking talking to & young officer who has since left
TO give his idea as to the composition of the crew
gineer force TO handle the machinery so as to give
the ship mobility and get the fun benefit Of all the
be manned by marines. and that a few OF the "oid
sas might 1t, be employed to act as helmsmen.
the Vulcan, which was the repair ship during the
war with Spain. went to Santiago from Boston the
complement OF ordinary seamen was small that
the mechanics on board did great deal OF the
duty ordinarily performed by seamen showing that
IL does not require training after the archaic
method to secure the efficient performance Of duty
sailor is thought 10 be wanted because the work
OF the modern enlisted man deals almost entirely
ship. arins his magazine ride. handling the great
and managing the searchlights and torpedoes deals
with machinery, and to have this we'll done obvi-
ousy requires mechanic. The sea habit is. of
| course, essential in the men whose
| work must be the sea. but this be OBJ
| tanned by training the men. both 10 the habit
| and to mechanical power. Until this is done the
system OF training is imperfect and distinctly in
mechanics are preferred above ordinary seamen-
| EFFORT FOR CHANGE TO BE MADE.
A great deal is said In the papers to-day of the
unreadiness of the British Army in its with the
| Beers, but it is believed by many that this
readiness due TO the same red tape and cult
| for the antique that obtains among officials
| charged with the training Of officers and
Congress has fortunately recognized the Importance
of not wasting the peoples money in the useless
tion. The campaign will be renewed next fall
but In the mean time the obsolete system is con-
tnued the exclusion Of all others. In discussing
the Importance of the study Of the ancient Lam
we told that the ancient languages were
the ark in which knowledge was preserved
during the food In the Dark Ages This
remained in the ark after the flood had subsidized
The antiques declare that hundred years ago
the best training for seaman that with sails
and ropes. and it is not abandoned yet