Times-promoter. (Hernando, DeSoto County, Miss.) 1898-1970, 1908-06-12
BELIEVES IN BIC NAVY
Love Dockery an Advocate Of the big
Sick" Policy in Naval Affairs.

San Francisco, May IS, 1908.
My Dear Father
/ reached San Francisco last night
from Los Angeles. The distance is
4sO miles which they make in Is hours
over heavy road-for part of the
distance they hook on three locomo-
tives. We were delayed by freight
wreck and came in 12 hours late.
Today I went out to see the feet.
The harbor is full of them, both At
lantic and Pacific squadrons are here,
battleships, transports etc., about go
vessels in all. Our party went out in
tug two miles to the cruiser Tennes-
see, the heaviest cruiser that we have.
They were getting ready to leave to-
morrow and were not pleased to have
so many of us aboard. We were not
allowed in the engine rooms and saw
all that interested me in half an hour
but the tug did not come for us until
o'clock and missed an important
interview with the consulting engi-
neer of the Dolares Mining Company.
I was surprised at the number of men
on the ships, and to see how little
they have to do.
When off duty they are slouchy,
lounging about everywhere playing
cards, smoking and sleeping. Many
were barefooted and had dirty uni
forms-all young fellows and in gen.
eral not up to my expectations. A
liberty party going ashore was in
spected carefully by a midshipman
and all seen ashore are spick and span.
The discipline was interesting but
the American lack of respect for
authority was noticeable. Several Of
the men that talked with resented
the sharp line drawn between COM
missioned and petty officers, line
that an enlisted man can never cross
in the navy. But the officers are
forceful strong men. The face of a
young midshipman bears the stamp
of authority, andetfe. scanned grizzly
Face of the admiral ( seebee n think
would become aepira& Capt. Sigs-
bee is a pleasant lookhag rnan-any
Of them would attract your attention
in crowd. Our Naval Academy 10
turning out good men sober, accur-
ate parts of q machine. When on
duty their uniform is becoming and il
designed along the lines of simple
utility, but the dress rig is most lu-
dicrous. The frock coat, heavy shoul-
der ornaments, sword and narrow
cooked hat Chat must be held on in
the wind), white gloves etc, remind
one of the minstrels.
But discipline requires red tape.
They are great sticklefs for etiquette.
I heard the captain say TO the lieu
tenant on duty that he must return
the Maryland's call, have LAUGH
ready in Is minutes etc. He went
below in his natty, close-fitting uni!
form and fatigue cap, and came out
dresoed like an ambassador, the cap
tains pennant was gotten out for the
steam launch, the guard assembled,
everybody saluted and away he went
the same thing happened when he
returned. The admiral came aboard
in his ludicrous togS and got out Of
them as soon as he could. The OBJ
servance Of any general rule, how
ever trivial, gives the idea that a sin
gle intelligence is governing every
body and removes the Objectionable
personal equation. A seaman obeys
an abrupt order from the combined
man and uniform. Knowing that it
| is hacked by the president of the
United States in general orders. He
salutes the midshipman who in turn
salutes the lieutenant, who touches
his cap to the captain etc. until it
stretches beyond the ordinary sea-
mans horizon-he learns that every
body has to take orders from some
one else above him-but for this he
would rebel. There is nothing for
six or seven hundred men to do in SO
limited space as a ship, necessarily.
They take turns on duty, which means
they are ready if anything should be
required after an hour cleaning ship
in the morning there. is little really
necessary work. They clean the al
ready clean guns, peel potatoes, do a
little painting, play games and sleep.
The officers stand their watches, and
get out of sight. The amazing thing
10 ,.a,,, c<Nl,nx Ard