The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-05
BY wALDON FAwcETT.


AS is BETTING the greatest naval ma
ton on the globe Great Britain spends
an immense amount of money in train
ing young men for service In her navy.
Whether she really gives her naval
sailors anything like as perfect an -.l-
tellcctuai and physical equipment for
their sea duties as Uncle Sam bestows
upon the American "jaclSies" is a ques-
ton which is. to say the least. open to
argument. But, at any rate, John Bull
does devote no end of attention to the
subject and his methods are interesting
and instructive, particularly In view of
the fact that a considerable portion of
the foreign seamen under the Stars and
Stripes received the training of British
tars.
To appreciate how much depends upon
tn, British bluejackets 1t Is only neces-
sary to recall that her navy In reality
constitutes Great Britain's FIRST line
of defense" For our English cousins
the sea is not mere waterway from
one country to another, but dominion
to be policed. patrolled and guarded.
The integrity of Britannia's widely
scattered colonies. the prosperity of the
commerce. which is the backbone of
her prosperity. and. finally, the safety
of the three exposed islands comprising
the United Kingdom all depend upon
tho mastery of the sea.
Furthermore. what brings the matter
home to every Britisher is the fact
that the country depends SO absolutely
on the navy for its food supply. The
densely populated islands never have
more than six weeks food supply ahead.
and 1t Is. after all. primarily as safe
guard against famine that John Bull
maintains his great fleet of about half
n thousand warsnips. manned by more
than 10000 officers and men. going
down into his pocket to the tune of
fully 100000 a year to keep up and
increase this Gordon Of floating for
tresses.
For all that 30 large a force is re-
CURED there has never been a lack of
seafaring men to man the British navy.
The young British tar has almost as
much chance of promotion as a lad In
the American navy. On board one of
the training ships stationed at Ports
mouth. Portland. Davenport, Falmouth
or Queensferry j e qualities as n first
class boy" and is subsequently, drafted,
after six weeks cruise on a training
brig and six months course on a de-
pot ship. to a coveted place on a sea-
going training ship. Here begins his
real career in the navy. and II he
progresses advantageously the young
man goes through ir succession the diff
ferent grades OF Ordinary seaman"
trained seaman" and leading sea-
man." II he works hard he will win
promotion to the rank of petty Of
fcer. second class" Harder work is re-
uuired to merit recognition as petty
officer, first class" but 1t is quite within
his reach, as are the positions of war
rant officer" ''chief boatswain." "chief
gunner" and even higher places.
In the British navy It is required that
new recruits start in earlier In life
than is necessary in the American navy.
No boy. no matter how promising physi-
cally or intellectually. is received after
he has passed his sixteenth year and
each lad binds himself to continue in
the service for II years. a much longer
term Of enlistment than prevails in
Uncle Sans seafighting force. The
Juvenile British tar is likewise more
poorly paid than his American cousin.