The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-10


- for the purpose of securing re-
ES2&ikI cruits for the United States navy,
- was asked by a Journal reporter
10 give some idea of the duties of a naval
recruit and responded very cheerfully.
II have been asked many times, said the
lieutenant what constitutes the training
OF the recruit where he goes and what he
does. have answered the individual inquir-
ers at length and will attempt to give the
Journal readers a general idea of the life
and environments that await the newly-en-
listed man in the navy.
1.-The men enlisted by a recruiting party
may be divided into three classes; the APP
prentices, from sixteen TO seventeen years
old; the landsmen for training. from eight
cen TO twenty-five years, and the men with
trades, from twenty-one TO thirty-five years
o. age Apprentices and landsmen for train
ing must have practically the same require
ments, with the age difference. They must
pass a thorough physical examination,
prove their American citizenship. be able to
read and write English and produce recon-
mendat tons as 10 previous character from
two citizens of standing
What is the character of the physical
examination. Ieutenant?"
1T embraces the following points" was
the reply. Proper weight FOR height, nor
NAL chest measurement and expansion, good
vision and hearing, sound teeth, good heart
and lungs, sound limbs. freedom from de-
formities of any kind. normal throat and
nose, absence of any form of venereal
trouble. and, generally. normal physical
development
Under men with trades he continued.
CT have placed coal passers, whose re-
quirements the same those for lands
ana apprentices, except that coal
passers must be twenty-one years old. 1t
is not necessary to enumerate the different
trades in which I enlist men, since what
you wish to-day is to tell the unin-
structed what becomes of the ordinary re-
cruit (the landsman for training and the
apprentice).
Upon enlistment" the lieutenant con-
tinued. 'the apprentice is put aboard a
train for Newport, r. l.; his transportation
and subsistence furnished by the gov
eminent. Upon arrival at Newport the boy
is sent to the detention quarters, where he
is cleaned UP, vaccinated, long hair cut,
dons sailor uniform and undergoes another
physical examination to insure the school
against contagious disease. From here he
goes to barracks. where his real schooling
begins He is first given his bag and ham
mock and clothing outfit. The government
furnishes every newly enlisted man with
SIS worth of clothing to start with. He is
taught to observe the usual routine of shin
life. well it be done in barracks
rs there anything corresponding to the
military drill?'
Yes. At first the boy is put in an awk-
ward squad and eventually graduates to
mentary branches, such as reading. writ
ing. spelling. arithmetic, geography and
history. He is given practical instruction
in seamanship-the handling of sails aIoft,
the handling of boats under oars and sail,
swimming, setting up exercises physical
drilD, infantry and artillery drill, instruc-
ton in the knowledge of the parts of the
ship. and more than anything else. how
to shoot all kinds of guns. from the little
22-short to the six-inch gun. More atten-
tion is paid to gunnery practice than to
anything else. This instruction increases
after the boy goes aboard ship The daily
routine is given in detail in Our Naval APP
prentice publication. devoted to the inter-
ests of naval apprentices"
1.-THE young men are allowed opportunity
Tor recreation, of cOurse?
Certainly. Besides the daily drills. the
boys have their sports. Every training
station has football and baseball team
and every effort is made by the officers and
instructors to encourage athletic contests
among the recruits.
AFTER THE FIRST LESSON
after about six months at the training
station" the speaker went on, during
which time the apprentice has been taught
the religion of cleanliness and obedience
he is put aboard the training ship These
ships make cruises of about six months
duration. at times during which they may
be at sea for fifteen or twenty days at a
time Attractive ports are visited and
shore leave is given as frequently as is
compatible with the maintenance of eff
hciency aboard Nowadays 1t is the aim of
the Navy Department to give generous
allowance of leave to the men in order to
make he life as pleasant and as little irk-
possible. The results of this at
titude of the department have been marvel
Gus in the reduction of the number of de-
sertions.
Aboard the training ship the apprentice
comes in direct contact with ship routine
at sea. and is made TO grow accustomed
to this new mode of life. 1t is wonderful
TO see how quickly the intelligent young
men we get nowadays in the service pick
up the ways and habits of the life
They are taught to steer by the compass
TO send and receive signals, 10 handle sail
under way. to heave the lead and read the
log and master their duties in the different
evoiutions. such clearing ship for
action collision DRILL fire drill general
quarters and abandon ship More i'm
portant than anything else. they are given
their first instruction in the firing OF guns
under way To accustom them to the habit
OF keeping the sights on the target at all
Seriods Of the ships roll This is in my