Evening star., 1905-11-11
JACK TAR'S CHANCES
Enlisted Man May Become a
Lieutenant at Thirty.
PROMOTIONS IN NAVY
HOW THE SAILOR MAY EARN HIS
COMMISSION
While Drawing Salary Uncle Sans
Jackies Get Clothes and Educa-
ton Free.
1905, by John Elfreth watklns.)

Copyright 1906 By John Elfreth watkins1
That the navy should now be embar-
rassed by a paucity Of enlisted men is sur
prising when we consider the opportunities
for promotion, even to the highest commits
stoned ranks, now open to the ambitious
bluejacket. Far fewer of our hail and
hearty sons of toll would turn their backs
upon Jack Tar's life had they more than
a superficial understanding of the speed
of advancement and generous perquisites
open to him.
In the first place. it IS the common notion
that the sailors pay is SIG per month
While it is true that the raw recruit may
have to begin as low as this, the bare state
ment of such a rate is as misleading as it
is discouragng. The navy pay table is a
complicated puzzle for the landlubber to
solve and he is apt to succumb to brain
fog before figuring out a sailors increased
pay and allowances due at the end OF one
year. But even this labyrinthine riddle
fails to cover the ground fully, and If we
wish to pry our inquisitfve noses into all
of the perquisites and allowances of Jack
Tar we want to talk with one of his own
feather who knows the ropes.
The man who starts in at S16 per month
is the raw landlubber from the inland coun-
ties who ten to one has never seen a naval
craft or any other ocean-going vessel. His
only necessary QudllflcdtlOnS are sound
body, eighteen years Of age American cit
iZenShip and ability to both read and write
the English language.
lie must run the gauntlet of a strict
physical examination, in which he must
expect to vie with his brethren from every
county of every state as well as from the
Philippine Islands. This rigid goiug-over
of his exterior architecture and interior
mechanism Is repeated every four years, If
he continue to re-enist. Having passed the
first ordeal, this raw landlubber signs his
articles of enlistment at one OF the naval
recruiting stations. which are maintained
at all OF the principal points of the
board and great lakes, and supplement-
ed by dozen or so of travelling recruiting
parties which penetrate to the inland re-
gions
Clothes and Education Free.
The first thing which our raw recruit re-
ceives is an outfit of clothing worth S45
Before having time to thoroughly admire
himself III his new togs he has been Sent
to receiving or training ship to begin tie
elementary course of a gratuitous educa-
tion in seamanship. Even while thus fit
ting himself to become the first lot useful
to his employer he draws his S1f, and "a
tions, in addition to his clothes He now
Is Landsman" Smith, and just as soon as
he adapts himself to discipline and learns
the hrst duties of sailor he becomes
Ordinary Seaman Smith" with nav of
SID per month. Having developed more in
telngerce and proficiency he promptly
finds himself Seaman Smith, at sci a
month.
We have been speaking only of land
lubbers thus far. A merchant sailor enlist
ing in the navy is at once rated an ordinary
seaman at 80. and as soon as he can adapt
himself to the change in his surroundings
is pushed up to the grade of seaman and
handed $24 per month. Indeed, he may
even be enlisted at the s24 grade ut the
start If having been very good sailor on
one of the big ocean liners. But even to