The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-17
YOUNG MEN IN THE NAVY.
Chance for Those Who Enlist With
out Previous Training.
Leslie's Weekly

Leslie ) eehly.
Suppose a young man, without any previ-
Gus training-from the farm. for instance
presented himself for enlistment in the
naval service, he would first be examined
by the physician at the naval station. He
must be free from disease. possess good
eyesight and good teeth. He must be at
least five feet four inches in height, strip
ped. and well developed, considering his
height and age. Should he enlist as a
landsman for training he would receive at
once pay at the rate of SIG per month. and
he Is given a complete outfit OF clothing
worth S45. This includes three suits Of white
ducking, the picturesque working clothes.
which are worn by all the tackles" at
work on a man-O'-war: one white dress uni
form, one blue dress suit, one blue undreSS
suit, three suits Of wooden underwear, two
pairs Of shoes, two pair of socks, one blue
cap, three white ducking hats to wear while
at work, one neckerchief and one OVercOat.
All this the recruit receives on enlistment.
1t is clothing enough to last q year. After
that he must pay for his own wearing APP
parel.
Then he may choose the department of
the navy's work in which he believes him
self best fitted. II he writes a good hand
and is ready at figures, he may enter at
once the school for yeomen, which is in the
New York navy yard. The yeomen are
the clerical force of the navy. They are
the men who keep all the records in the
aboard ship. In the Brooklyn navy yard
the yeomen class is under the instruction
OF John r. Tremere, chief yeomen, and a
0pCIAdl CldSSg III WHICH INSTRUCTIONS are
given, particularly, In the work of the office
of the paymaster of the ship. is under Chief
Yeoman John +. Flynn. A man who passes
the examination in the yeoman school at
once becomes yeoman Of the third class
and is assigned to duty on one OF the ships
or the navy. His pay is $50 per month, and
all the time that he was receiving his in
structions he was paid S6 a month. The
next step in the yeoman class, entailing
clerical work a little more difficult, brings a
salary Of $35 per month; and the next. a
woman of the first class rQaofxyac Ef0 a
month. These are bookkeepers, stenog-
rapners and typewrlters. The next position
in the yeoman service As that of chief yeo-
man, and the salary is $50 a month.
suppose that the recruit shows mechanical
Skill Again he is I'm demand. In the New
York navy yard is an electrical school and
a machine shop for landsmen who enlist
for training. In these schools a thorough
practical education is given. Men who pass
through these schools may become cleo
tricians at $50 a month. or machinists of the
second class at $40 a month. The instruc-
ton given In these preparatory schools is
particularly in the line Of mechanical
knowledge that will be necessary I'm any
part Of the work Of the ship. but men who
have become good electricians and machin-
lists in the navy have, after leaving il. Sc
cured hrst-clRss positions on shore. where
they have an opportunity to use TO advan-
tase the knowledge acquired in the service
OF the government and while receiving gov
eminent pay.
The navy is certain. however, Of four
years Of the service OF each man, because
no enlistment is for less than that time.
But there is opportunity in the mechanical
line In the navy, because the machines of
war are intricate mechanisns and il re-
quires skilled hands to repair them and keep
them In order. A machlnist OF the first
class, involving a higher degree OF skill than
that of the second class, receives $B a
month, and a chief machinist so a month.
Then when a machinist becomes an officer
and he is in charge of parts OF the ship
machinery he receives a salary OF 81. 800 a
year. Any mechanical skill which a man
may possess will at once be Of use TO him,
because plumbers and filters, painters, car
penters, blacksmiths, coppersmiths are all
wanted.
There is a chance for the boys, too. They
may enlist, If they are healthy, strong, and
of good morals, and receive at once 50 a
month and an Outnt OF clothing. as the men
do. They are taken for practice on a train
ing ship, as are also the landsmen for
training, and on that cruise they are made
sailors. They are taught all there is to
know about the navigation Of a vessel,
Then they receive $l5 q month. and the next
advancement is to $21. They are ready
then, to enlist as seamen in the navy.