The Ordway new era., 1907-07-26
LIFE ON A MAN-oF.wAR.
The Modern Battleship Floating
School Of Applied Science.

1 UthIu u Iuhu-o WI ~ NhN Aasas - -
navy II is a matter of livelihood. and
although fascinating. II is none the les'
| ,pe OF constant application. The mod
ern battieship or cruiser Is. in truth.
| floating school of applied science. Her,
all the latest and most improved nppli
anoes may be found in electrical appa
rains. in the engine room, In the tur
| rets. Nearly every craft and trade is
represented In the complement OF
man of.war. The machinist, the eler
trician. the plumber. the blacksmith
the carpenter, the shiphtter. the cop
persmith. the boilermaker. the freman'
| Tie painter, OF the artifcers and the
| seam.n 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 are the
| musicians. yeomen. who do the cleTl-
cal work. keep the accounts, etc; nos
pita. stewards. hospital apprentices Tor
uurses1, printers. commissary stew
ards ,who buy the food, cooks, bakc.s
and mess boys. Then. too, there are
L;llets which are filled by detail. al
though the men are not enlisted Tor
that specific duty. such rs ships bar
ber, tailor, tailor's helper, jackorth"'
dust (who is IA striker for the paymas.
teri, lnundrymen. and the like. or IN"
ratings peculiar to the navy there are
the Eunncr's mates. gun captains. tur-
ret captains. quartermasters. signal
men. boatswains mates. coNswains.
and mastcr-at,arms. all OF which billets
are hllCd by men who have been
trained in the service, or at one OF tho
various schools maintained by tho
alvy for the enlisted force Few p'ns
llc in CiviI life realize what compT"-
henF,ye institution "A battleshIp OF 20
uay is-a voTitahlc principally, win
ahnu; SOC wage CaTncTs, with hos
p'tal or sick bay" as 1t is known
aboard ship. dIsponsary, Libraries oi
both fiction and technical works.
stores. shops Of various kinds, bhnh
to furnish a daily concert. Hni "a chh3.
LATIN 10 minister 10 the spiritual welfare
o. TIE ships cOmpany. deliver lectures
and travel talks. and conduct the III
neral rites Of man who may die m
the service. The navy is kept at uil
times In n high state OF efficiency, and
Is always ready for an emergency.
whether Il be n Haytien revolution, in.
hroguu between noiEhbOring republics
in Central America, the kidnapping 1t
en- American citizen I'm Morocco, or Tho
NarGi GTas at New Orleans. To main
tain this state Il readiness mcant
work. constant drilling and training.
The drilling begins when the recruit
first receives his outfit at the trlinin:
station. and continues til he goes on
the retired list II he is not beinS |
drilled. he is drilling somebody else.
But Wiihal II Is interesting work. and
t. intcrspcrscd with hours on. frT.
gueut liberty, aud rcCrpations Of many
SCrts, so that II doesn't become a dull !
Grind. There is a keen rivalry between |
The different battaIious at the training |
stations; and on board ship the diffcr- !
ent divisions each strive to make |
ire best showing. while the Compcti-
ton between the various ships OF tn
fleet II always on edge This Is on
Cuuraged by the awarding Of trophies
II dals and cash prizes. for the best
record in target practice. and the best
racing crew In the feet. the hest base
bal! team. etc. In order 10 meet tn
demand for trained men in the dine"
Cuf trades, the navy has established
its own schools or q. ssCs. These con
-ist OF the electrical school, the artTi
Ger school. the yeuman school. the mU-
EiCian school. the cooks school and thr
hospital training school. 4 man can De
sent To any OF these schools. either
from the service or directly from the
recruiting Office, providing he has Sums
training or aptitude for that particular
trade He will receive at the school
a thorough course Of instruction. and e
he qualities at the examinations he is
sent 10 2 sel-going ship in his new RAJ.
iLE usually at an advanced rate OF pay.
II he Is not competent TO receive thH
traininS given him, he is either tran =
ierred 10 the general service or dis
charged for inaptitude. The courses
vary in length at the different schools.
'lnEinE from a few weeks 10 a year
For the men who have served one term
II enlistment creditably there are open
The gunuery school OF the seaman
branch. and the maChinist school for
the engine and fire rooms These
schools are a sort Of postgraduate
course, and fit the men for petty olfi-
GERS and appointment as warrant Of
licers. For men who enter the navy as
apprentice seamen. with no trade or
profession, there are the large naval
training stations. Here preliminary in.
EtruCtiOn is given the recruit In sell
Ilanship, signaling. boxing the COM
pass, handling boats under oars and
sail, heaving the lead, steering, and
most OF all the kuack OF taking
tare of themselves on board ship
and keeping their persons and
clothes clean and tidy; in short.
tho sea habit" The navy is not
all pleasure and sightseeing: but .;
has It's many bright sides. and for the
man who enters the service deter
mined to make the most of his opportu.
| mites, there is chance of earning y
POSITION of responsibility and good
ray; and even though he remains in
Lut one enlistment. he has received a
training both physical and mechanical