The National tribune., 1901-03-28
NAVAL APPRENTICES.
Training Boys for Service in
Uncle Sans Great Navy.
By j. W. NJ.

creation of the modern Navy has been the
securing of an adequate and constant sup
ply of seamen. Formerly seamen for
men-of-war were drawn from our mer-
chant-marine. This source, though not
entirely exhausted, is inadequate TO the
needs of our growing naval establishment.
An attempt to solve the problem re-
suited in the establishment of the naval
apprentice system. Under this system
boys between the ages of II and II years
are enlisted to serve till they are II. They
must be of robust frame, intelligent,
sound and healthy; free from physical de
fects. They must be able to read and
write, but where n lad shows general in
telligence and is otherwise qualified, he
may be enlisted, notwithstanding that his
reading and writing may he imperfect.
No boy who has been convicted of crime
or has the reputation of being Il bad char
acter will be accepted. Boys to be en-
listed must have the consent of their pa
rents or guardians.
The Navy Department has caused to be
promulgated and exposed in the larger
cities pictorial posters, which recite that
naval apprentices are in demand by the
Government, and when enlisted will re-
ceiye 50 per month, and in addition be
furnished with rations medicine and med
ical attendance and an outfit of clothing
etc, worth $40.
These posters further state that every
opportunity will be given for advance
ment, and that the early completion of n
number of fine ships for the Navy will
make large increase in the enlisted
force necessary, and this will cause cor
| respondingly large increase in the num-
Der of petty officers who will be advanced
from the lower ratings.
| To an ambitious American boy this ap-
| prentice system is full of pleasant and
profitable possibilities. He can be q full
| fedged Jack Tar on one of Uncle Sans
! -. i
| visit all parts of the world.
WITH DEWEY AT MANILA BAY.
1t is recorded that one of the forward
guns on the Olympia, Admiral Dewey's
flagship at the battle of Manila Bay,
| which did the greatest execution to the
| Spanish fleet, was sighted and fired by
gunner who graduated from the Naval
| Training Station at Newport.
There are two Naval Training Stations,
one near Newport, X. l., and the other at
San Francisco. The scholarships employed
are the old sloOp-of-war Constellation; the
| ship Newport; the composite gunboat
| Nicksburg, of 1000 tons; the Alliance,
which now has aboard ia boys; the Es-
sex, with the same number; the MOnonga-
hela, with 24O apprentices aboard under
instructions, all on the Atlantic Coast,
and the old man-of-war Adams, on the
| Pacific Coast, with ia embryo sailor
men, learning the nautical art. In addi-
ton to these there are a tug, several
steam launches and pulling boats for in
struction in rowing and sailing.
The naval apprentice system is
| branch of the Navigation Bureau of the
Navy Department and is under the i'm
mediate direction of Commander William
$. Cowles, Assistant Chief of Bureau of
| Navigation. The maximum number of
naval apprentices allowed by law is
$500.
Upon the arrival of boy recruit at the
training station he is given preliminary
| instructions and informed that he must
remain in the building for Junior appren-
tees, or fresh fish," as the recruits are
termed. This house of detention, as it
were, is prettily situated on the water
front, and the boys are in charge of pet
ty officers. There is a nice playground
surrounding the building, and the appren-
tees are at stated intervals allowed to
romp at will and enjoy themselves on this
breathing space. The fresh fish" are not
allowed to mingle with the more advanced
apprentices during their six weeks prOba-
ton in building No. 6.
During this period the recruit receives
from the petty officers in charge many
salutory lectures on how to keep his cloth
ing and person clean. He is instructed in
the mysteries of lashing his hammock and
how to treat his superior officers with re-
spect. He is also given a small book,
known as the 'Station Billet" and is in
structed to read this book carefully. 1t
informs him that merit alone determines
the rate of a boys progress at the sta
ton" The Billet also instructs him never
to question, but obey, all legal orders
promptly, whether coming from an Off
Ger, petty officer, n marine on duty or a
boy petty officer or sentry. That when an
order is received it must be obeyed in
stantly and respectfully. After it has
hean obcved If IL is fhOupbt iDincfic
has been done, report the fact to the Off
Ger of the day. Remember the oath you
took when enlisted"
Cleanliness and tidiness are impcratives.
The Billet states that CLOTHES must be
clean and shoes polished, Jumpers pulled
down, neckerchief tied neatly in a square
knot, and caps must always be worn
square, covering the hair in front. All
boys must remember that their appear
ance, bearing and conduct at all times is
under observation and may count for or
against them. Boys with awkward
shapes, resulting from the knock-about
life of the street samin, after series of
gymnastic exercises and drills in the
school and position of the sailor, become
as straight as Georgia pines. Heels on
the same line and together; feet turned
out about 60 degrees; knees straight with
out Stiffness body erect on the hips, in
clining q little forward Zine of breasts
being directly over line of toes) shoul-
ders square, arms hanging naturally,
backs of the hands outward, little fingers
opposite the seams of the trousers, elbows
near the body; head erect and square to
the front; chin slightly drawn in; eyes
straight to the front"
The recruit receives his first lessons in
patriotism at "colors" on the evening of
his arrival and on the following morning
he is required to stand at attention
in line with the other boys. At sunset, as
the band plays Hail Columbia" and
"Old Glory is hauled down from the
stsff for the night, the boys salute the
emblem in the prescribed manner. At
sunrise, to the inspiring strains of ''The
Star Spangled Banner" the pretty cere-
mony of saluting the ,colors is repeated
He is instructed as well to salute the flag
always when going on board or leaving
the ship also on reaching the quarterback,
and how, when and where to salute his
superior officers.
He is informed that there is not in the
naval vocabulary such terms as "all
right" Every vel" or Z" very good" to
be used when told to perform some act or
service by an officer The proper reply
a phrase as ancient as old Neptune himself
is AYE, aye, sir.
The outfit furnished boy upon his ar
rival at the training station consists of
hammock, mattresses and bedding of ex-
cellent quality; a sailors lanyard knife
four uniform suits of clothes, underwear
three caps and two white hats, a jersey
two pairs of shoes, comfortable overcoat
,.uhhar bootc ruhhpr bIonEat fUn nacl-ar