The state herald., 1907-07-26
LIFE ON A MAN-oF-WAR.
The Modern Battieship a Floating
School of Applied Science.

enc OF constant application. The mod
ern battleship or cruiser is, in truth, Il
| floating school of applied science. Here
| all the latest and most improved appli-
ances may be found in electrical appa'
ratus, in the engine room, in the tur-
rets. Nearly every craft and trade Is
represented in the complement of n
man of-war. The machinist. the ele--
| trician, the plumber, the blacksmith.
| the carpenter, the shipfitter, the cop
persmith. the boilermaker, the fireman,
| TIE painter. of the artificers and the
seamen and the various trades of the
| seaman branch or deck force" all
| find duties for their particular trade,
and a rating in which they enlist. Then
| OF the special branches. there arc the
| musicians, yeomen, who do the cleri-
cal work, keep the accounts. etc. hos
| pita. stewards. hospital apprentices Tor
| nurses, printers, commissary stew
ards iwho buy the food. cooks, bakers
and mess boys. Then, too. there are
billets which are filed 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 twho is n 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 billets
are filled by men who have been
trained In the service or at one of the
various schools maintained by the
for tho anligt aI fnr.n EaW
pie la civil life realize what a compre.
hensive institution battleship of to
Gay is-a veritable rrincipality, with
about 500 wage earners, with hos.
pital or sick bay" as it is known
aboard ship. dlspensary, Libraries Of
both fiction and technical works,
torres, shops of various kinds, n band
TO furnish a daily concert. ani Il chap
lain tC minister TO the spiritual welfare
o. the ships COMPANY. deliver lectures
and travel talks. and conduct the fu.
neral rites of "a man who may die IN
the service. The navy is kept at all
times in high state of efficiency. and
| Is always ready for an emergency,
whether II be Haytien revolution, i'm.
hrogno between neighboring republics
Ia Central America, the kidnapping Jt
en- American citizen in Morocco, or tho
NarGi Gras at New Orleans. To main.
tain this state If readiness mcani
work. constant drilling and training.
The drilling begins when the recruit
first receives his outfit at the tralnin.
station, and continues till he goes on
the retired list. II he is not being
drilled. he is drilling somebody else.
ID. IL l.. E..f al
IL intcrspersed with hours on. fr"
Iuent liberty. aud recreations OF many
scrts. so that II doesn't become n dull
grind. There is keen rivalry between
the different battalions at the training
stations; and ON board ship the difici.
eht divisions each strive TO make
.ne best showing: while the compeu'
ton between the various ships OF the
fleet " always ON edge. This IL en-
ouuraged by the awarding of trophies
II cdals and cash prizes. for the best
record In target practice. and the best
racing crew In the feet. the hest base
ball team. etc. In order to meet the
demand for trained men In the dine"
cnt trades, the navy has established
iis own schools or ci. sses. These con.
list OF the electrical school. the artil
Ger school. the ycoman school the mn.
clcian school. the cooks school and ihH
hospital training school. A man can ue
tent Ia any of these schools. either
from the service or directly from the
recruiting office. providing he has some
training or aptitude FOR that particular
iade. He Will receive ut the school
a thorough course OF instruction. and "
4 1... Las Ia. la
rent To = sel'going ship In his new RAJ
lt.F usually at an advanced rate OF pay.
II he ~ not competent to receive lht
traininl given him. he is either trans
iorred To the general service or dis.
charged for iuaptliude. The courHCs
vary In length at the different schools,
'lnglng from few weeks to a year
For the men who have served one terra
Of enlistment credltahly there are open
the gunnory school OF the seaman
Lranoh. nld the machinlst school for
the engine and FIRE rooms. These
schools are "A sort of postgraduate
tours". and NJ the men for petty OH,
tcrA aud appointment nE warrant of.
licrrN, For men who enter the navy m
apprentice Rcnmcn, with no trade ~
ptuft Hhiun. there are the large naval
training stations Here preliminary IN.
ftruCtion is given the recruit Ia set
iaanHhip, signaling. boxing the cont.
pass. handling boats under oars and
sail. hcaying the lead. steering. AMI
most ot nll the knnck of .tal,ins
tRrc Of themselves on board hhlp
and keeping their persons AMI
clothes clean and tidy; In short.
"tho bon habit" The navy N not
nil pleasure and Sightseeing. but z
has ~ many bright sides. and for the
man who enters the service deter.
aimed TO make the most Of his opporin.
niii.n. there iB chance ot earning A
POSITION OF responsibility aud good
Iay. and even though he remains ~
hut one enlistment. he has received u
training both physical and mechanical
which viii be Of benefit To him IN af'
ter life Nor should the impression b.
given that lifo In the navy la nil scil'
uuHnoHn. and wholly, ~ even larRoiy,
devoted 10 work and the problems Ji
the profession. Al n matter Of fact
the man IN the navy has M much Of =