The evening times., 1901-08-10
BOYS IN THE AMERICAN NAVY.
Eleven Hundred Apprentices i'm
Training at Newport.


Training at Newport
Eleven hundred naval apprentices are
now being cared for at the Newport
Training Station. SO popular has this
branch become with boys that the Navy
Department finds II impracuCabIe 10
quarter more In the new barracks
There has been an increase in the num-
ber stationed at Newport the last twelve
months of from 90, t. the present
strength, which gives the service -he
largest number Of boys ever secured since
the apprentice system was established by
Admiral Stephen r. Luce many years go
I'm addition there are 20 al the new sta
tiou cu Goat Island i'm San Francisco Har-
bor- Eight training ships are operating at
sea With IdudSmeu and scameU VINO are
later 20 find berths IN the navy Two
more training ships are To be added when
they car be found.
All this has increased the percentage Of
uative-born citizens I'm the navy, the rate,
about 81 per cent. now being higher than
ever in its history. Years ago II was
scarcely ever above 80 per cent The rea-
sons that have accomplished this are the
greater care exercised in eulisting men
and in taking apprentices whose records
arc clear and good.
Necessity has now been found for still
further increasing the accommOdat!ons
for tho apprentice system. ard within
year the station AT Newport IS to be so
enlarged as 20 have quarters for 5000 boys
and give il the distinction Of being tie
largest schoo! of its kind ia the world.
and distinct in being the only one where
boys are given sCch careful instruction
tor naval duties Great Britain and
can plan. but they are yet in their infan-
cy, and neither turns out the highly edU-
Gated boys that the United States Navy
each year assigns to seaR0ng warships
from Newport and the training ships.
Wide discussion has been precipitated
recently thrOugh hout the naval service. I'm
which some Of the most distinguished Of
fiCers have participated. over "a COmmuni-
cation addressed to Secretary Long by
Capt +. Z. Chadwick. President Of the
War College, relative TO the advisability
Of instructing cadets and apprentices upon
all-sail or aIl-steam ships.
This discussion has taken a varied range
and arOUses deep interest among all
grades, but especially among the older
officers whose opinions sem 10 still
strongly incline 10 the sailing ship for
practical instruction in seamanship- 9th
ers Of equal entry into the service take
direct divergent views and insist that the
sail has passed away and viii never be
resurrected as motive power for warships.
This class insists that the modern war
vessel is a complicated nEhunE piece Of
mechanism IN which the handy man" OF
the old days can find no place: that the
sailor should be instructed for the type Of
ship ne is 10 serve on and not taught sea-
a square riGger
On the other hand. some Of the best
known officers Of the navy believe that
those powers OF command, self-reIiance,
courage, and resOUrcefulness which were
conspicuous characteristics Of the old-time
sailor should be in a modern sailor and
are best developed and stimulated by ex-
perienca with spars and sails. There is too
much luxury, one class says in the mod
eTn steam training ship, and il appren-
uces aSe sent 20 sea in them for any
length Of time they become sOft-ned. in
stead OF being hardened, and fail 70 ac-
Quire the sea habit without which no man
is a good sailor. In Captain Chadwick's
letter which has brought about the dis
Cussion, he goes on record as in favor Of
adhering 70 the sailing ship for the in
structiOn OF apprentices
capt Charles d SigSDeey who says he
has commanded training ships sailing
ships and steamers to the number Of
eight or more and was four years head Of
the department Of seamanshIp at An
naDOlis. expresses opposite views TO those
OF Captain Chadwick and believes that
the sail is dead to the naval service
dead beyond resurrection No more is
claimed by sail for training purposes" he
thinks, than that it compelled kind Of
gymnastics best suited 70 the navy
Capt G. T. Davis. who is regarded as
an expert on modern naval development.
disagrees with Captain Sigsbee and in
sists that the best traits and the best
qualities required Of seEmen are produced
after practical inst rUctlon Of sail ships
Comma Tder Dillingham; is also an advo-
cate Of sail while Admiral Gibson saws
there is no school like il for seamen He
does not believe, however in banishing
the machinery entirely from practice yes
sells.
Lieut. Commander W L Rodgers takes
Captain SIgsbees view Of il. Commander
Richard Wainwright. Superintendent OF
the Naval Academy. endorses the Ouiniou
OF captain SlgSbeo and CayS that with
ships containing modern machinery but
also square TigEed. the apprentice can
gain a valuable amount Of SasIorizing
without detracting from his mechanical
kunvyIeyI--a