Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-09-08
THE MODERN AMERICAN NAVY.
Men Have Made as Much Progress as
the Ships.

Men Have Made as Much Progress as
the Ships.
From the Outlook-The Spectator
has been visiting lately in one Of our
largest navv-yards and has found it
wonderfully interesting place. As an
expression of Uncle Sans character
and development it was profoundly
encouraging to mere civilian, while
also entirely different from what he
expected. Where the carrier-pigeon
loft once stood the wireless telegraph
now rears its tall pole and stretches
its mysterious. exquisitely sensitive
antennae to catch the vibrations of
the equally mysterious and sensitive
ether. The war vessels lying at the
wharves were all of the new, massive,
specialized type, floating machine
shops, electric plants and gun-bat-
terles all in the highest scientific eff
ficiency. A tremendous granite dry
dock yawned on the side; a pair of
submarines" tilted their painted
noses to the sky, waiting for a thor
ough overhauling by the skilled work
ers of the yard. After seeing the mar
inc railway, the marvellous locomo-
tive cranes. the floating derricks, the
systems of light, water. heat; electric
and pneumatic power and telephone,
the Spectator felt that America was
Enthusiastically expressed in her
naval plant, for which nothing appears
too new or too good.
A like development, the Spectator
found in addition, is being made in
"the man behind the gun" On a mod
ern man-of-war crew of coo of the
old sailor men" would be of no prac-
teal use The blue-jacket of today
must be of the highest type of efficien-
cy-and he is. The Spectator heard
the captain of celebrated training
ship tell of his experience in the port
of Tangier not long ago. The captain
(who has, as he expresses it, bought
Tp 5000 boys besides two of his own
had promised his young crew to give
them two days liberty" when Tan
gier was reached. THE British con-
sui" he said. who also looked after
American interests, was Mortified at
the idea of such thing. 1t can't be
done, he insisted. No English ship
ever gives its men liberty here, to
say nothing of the Germans or the
rest. The town is too turbulent and
too bad. If you let your men come
ashore there is bound to be trouble,
and | can't stand by them when COM
plications occur, as they must. 1t is
madness to allow their landing But
! was not afraid 4 have promised
the crew liberty and | always keep
my promises to them told him, and
in spite of his protests ! sent them
ashore promptly. Every one of them
reported when time was up and every
one was sober. | met the English
consul at dinner the night before we
left and he said L take it all back,
Captain. Those men of yours are a
wonder, They have been all over
Tangier riding everything in the
place, from camels to donkeys, seeing
all the sights and behaving themselves
as well as any party of tourists ! ever
saw-better than most, for that mat
ter To get such a class of blUe-
jackets no pains are spared In Bos-
ton a year or so ago out Of 300 lads
DESTROYS of entering the navy only
thirty passed the scrutiny of the re-
cruiting officer Physically, mentally
and morally, Uncle Sam wants the
best.
The Spectator was fortunate enough
to be visiting the yard at the same
time that Miss Helen Gould spent a
dav there and when special drills
were held for her to see. The Naval
Young Mems Christian Association is
indebted to her for the splendid build
ing in Brooklyn, which every blue
Jacket is proud Of and where sailors
will crowd in to sleep on the fioor
after the hundreds of comfortable
beds are filled rather than lodge else
where. One of the prettiest sights
Imaginable was the presentation by
very shy, stalwart. sun,tanned young
blue-jacket Of a great bunch of roses
tied with the navy blue-and-white to
Miss Gould, while three cheers were
given with all the lung power Of h a.
reds of sailor throats and all the quick
and hearty admiration Of sailor hearts
for a good and lovely woman.