Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-11

One Of the objects of cruising training
ships visiting foreign ports is that the
apprentices may acquire added interest
In their calling, and at the same time
gain information that will increase their
knowledge of foreign countries and their
peoples. Therefore shore liberty is given
literally to the good conduct boys at
all the ports visited.
Grades of Promotion.
After completing their tour Of service
in training.ship the boys are examined
and such as are qualified arc advanced
to the grade Of second-class apprentices
and their pay is increased to SIS month.
They are then transferred to seagoing
men Of war, where their services are al
ways in great demand. AS soon as they
are qualified, they rare advanced to the
grade of first-class apprentices and their
pay is increased to sll a month. after
which they are required to serve. one
year on general cruising man-of-war.
After the boy has completed his practice
cruise and has been transferred to a
regular cruising man-of-war, he Is al
lowed If he so desires. to allot a por-
ton Of his pay to his parents.
F'irst-class apprentices may get appoint
ments as acting petty officers, and if they
do their duty WELL they are recomnl ended
for permanent appointment before their
discharge at the end of their term Of en-
listment. On the expiration Of the enlist
nent of an apprentice, that is, when he
reaches u years, he is if he has be-
haved himself and learned his business
in the meantime, discharged honorably.
and If he re-enlists within four months
after his discharge, ne gets four months
extra pay, at the rating he held when
discharged, continuous service certifi-
To n 0f
per month. On re-enlistment, he is al
most sure Of being appointed petty Off
GER even If he was not one before his
discharge
Settled for Life.
The pprentice-apprentice no longer,
but graduate of the training system
is now settled for life, with reasonable
expectation of becoming warrant off,
Ger, with salary Of s1,so0 year and a
comfortable provision for his old age On
the retired list. BY the new naval per-
sonnet bill, a provision is made for
warrant officers especially recommended.
taking an examination for a commission.
How this is going to work is question.
When man has worked his way up to
be warrant officer, it is hardly promo
ton for him to begin over again at the
bottom of the list as an ensign, grade
in which all the other officers will be
much his junior in years and a division of
the service in which he can hope for lft-
tie promotion before he is retired To
be warrant officer is the logical and
legitimate goal of the apprentices ambi-
ton, and the time is not far distant when
the grade Of warrant officers Except war
rant machinists and carpenters). will be
filled solely by graduates of, the training
school.
Chief warrant officers now rank with.
but after" ensigns.
Petty officers get pretty good pay, con-
sderng that they are under no expense
for board and lodgings, as glance at the
navy pay table will show. For instance,
chief master-at-arms receives s65 month:
chief yoeman. $50; and chief boatswains'
mates. chief gunners mates. chief gun
ca plain, and chief quartermasters, each
$50 monthly. No petty officer receives
less than $50 month. Apprentices who
show marked ability are sent after
time to the ordnance school at Wash
!ngton. and to the school for electrical
and torpedo work at the torpedo station
at Newport. At these schools they be-
come proficient in gunnery. electri VI en-
cheering and torpedo work, and also
qualify as divers. Apprentices who do
not have an opportunity before their
rradua ton to take advantage of the i'm
portant courses Of instruction at these
schools. feel it to be their first duty to
attend them upon their re-enlistment. and
are allowed to do so. Apprentices des-
tined for petty officers b1ilets or already