The Monte Vista journal., 1907-08-03
LIFE ON A MAh-oF.wAR.

LIFE ON A MAh.oF.WAR.
rhs Modern Dattisship q Floating
School Of Applied Science.
To tho landsman there 10 much Of
the element OF mystery in the life on
heard man-o'.war. To the men Of the
navy 1t IL . matter Of livelihood, and.
although fascinating. It 10 none the less
Cne OF constant application. Tho mod
ern battleship or cruiser il, in truth, u
floating school Of applied science. Here
all the latest and most improved applt-
ances may be found In electrical appa-
ratus. In the engine room, In the tur.
lets. Nearly every craft and trade Is
represented In the complement Of \
man 0f-war. The machinist, the elec-
triciai.. the plumber. the blacksmith.
the carpenter. the shiphtter. the cop
persmith. the boilermaker. the fireman.
tie painter, Of the artidcers and the
seamen and the various trades Of the
seaman branch or deck force" all
ind duties for their particular trade.
and rating In which they enlist Then
of the special branches, there are the
musicians. yeomen, who do the cleri-
cal work. keep the accounts, ETC.: hos
pitai stewarts. hospital apprentices Tor
nurses), printers. commissary stew.
ards (who buy the food), cooks. bakers
and mess boys. Then. too, there are
b;llets which are filled by detail. al
though the men are not enlisted for
that specific duty, such as ships bar
Der. tailor, tailor's helper. jack-O-the-
dust (who is a striker for the paymas-
teri, laundrymen. and the like. OF the
ratings peculiar to the navy. there are
the gunner's mates, gun captains. tur.
ret captains, Quartermasters, signal
men. boatswain's mates. coxswains.
and master-at-arms, all Of which Bullets
are filled by men who have been
trained in the service. or at one Of the
various schools maintained by the
navy for the enlisted force. Few peo-
rle In civil life realize what compre-
hensive institution q battleship OF to-
oay is-a veritable principality, with
about 800 wage earners, with hos
pital or sick bay" ~ 1t IL known
aboard ship. dispensary. libraries Of
both fiction and technical works,
stores. shops OF various kinds. band
to furnish . daily concert. and = chap,
lain to minister to the spiritual welfare
o. the ships company. deliver lectures
and travel talks. and conduct the fu-
neral rites OF man who may die IN
the service. The navy Is kept At all
times In high state Of efficiency. and
II always ready for an emergency.
whether 1t be . Haytien revolution. i'm
brogiio between neighboring republics
In Central America, the KIDNAPPING VI
en- American citizen in Morocco. o. the
Marci Gras at New Orleans. To main
tain this state Of readiness means
work. constant drilling and training.
The drilling begins when the recruit
Arst receives his outfit at the training
station. and coatinues TIL he goes ON
the retired list. II he 10 not being
drilled. he 10 drilling somebody else.
But withal It 10 Interesting work. and
h iHtosspeTosA with houfs o3. fre-
Quent liberty. aud recreations oe many
aorts. % that It doesn't become . dull
grind. There II Q keea rivalry between
the di9erent battAlIons at The training
ststioas: and o. board ship the differ.
ent divisions each strive to make
the best sAoWing: while ~ eompsti-
ton betwooa ths various ships q the
ieet 10 always on edge. THIS b en-
,cOuraeod By the awarding Of trophies
Es1als and cash prisss. for the bsst
record II target practice. and the bsst
racing crew In the aeet. the best base
bal: team. etc. In order to meet ths
demand for trainsd mpa IN the dt1e..
eat trades. the navy has established
it, own schools a. cbssss. These con.
sist OF the electrical school. the artiA.
Ger school. the yeoasan school. the mu-
eician school. the cooks school and the
hospital training school. A man can pe
cent u any oe these schools. either
from the service or directly from tho
recruiting Once. providing he has some
training OF aptitude for that parttculaf
trade. He will receive at the school
. thorough course OF Instruction. and II
he qualities At the examinatious he IL
rent TO . sea-going ship IN bic new rat.
'iLg. usually At IN advanced rate Of pay.
II be - not competent to receive tho
training given him. he 10 either tran =
icrred to the general service or dis
charged for inaptitude. Tho courses
vary In length at the different schools.
ranging from . few weeks to . year.
For the men who have served one term
Of enlistmeat creditably there are open
the gunnery school Of the seaman
branch, and the machinist school for
the engine and are rooms. These
achooas are sort of Postgraduate
49, A~A. A>A> A.N