Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-09

on the two oceans. the vessels of the
service are expected to go TO the aid of
vessels in distress on the lakes. the gulf
and far up in the Arctic ocean. Only few
weeks ago the cutter Rush saved the Brit
fsh steamship Buckley from destruction on
an island in Boring sea. and the report OF
Lieut.. DeOtt. the officer in command Of
the Rush. to Capt. Ross. the commanding
officer Of the service, read as If the work
of his crew was ordinary event in the
service.
In Alaskan waters the officers and men
of the service are expected to uphold and
enforce the laws and to see that the seal
and other fisheries are protected from
raiders.
The destruction of derelicts. floating
menaces to the safety of those who navi-
gate the seas. is another important duty
devolving upon the revenue cutter service.
Hardly week passes that the cutters are
not called upon to destroy wrecks that
menace the safety of vessels. and there is
now being completed at Newport News
| revenue cutter. the Seneca, designed
especially for this service. The Seneca is
the only regular derelict destroyer in the
world.
Summary Of Results.
The following summary of the work
done by the vessels of the revenue cutter
service during the fiscal years 1907. taken
from the report Of the Secretary of the
Treasury. shows OF what value the
service is to the country:
Lives saved actually rescueD from
drowning, Al; persons on board vessels
assisted. 1887; persons in distress taken
on board and cared for IS: vessels assist
ed. 1913: vessels boarded and papers ex-
| amined. 14.122; vessels seized or report
ed for violation of law, 319: fines and
penalties incurred by vessels reported.
-oI. =
their cargoes. $9.196. O0I: derelicts and OBJ
structions to navigation removed or de-
Stroyed, II.
The service now comprises a fleet Of
about fifty vessels and new ships are be-
ing added each year. To officer and man
these ships about 1.4O persons are
required. and in selecting crews for the
cutters the recruiting officers are careful
to take only the best that offers, and in
consequence the personnel of the service
is unequaled even by the navy. Of1cers
are obtained through competitive eXami-
nations and cadets are required to spend
three years at the school of instruction
at Arundel Cove, near Baltimore. be-
fore receiving their commissions as third
lieutenants During this time they are
international law and other matters that
come up almost daily in the service.
Within the past year Congress placed
the revenue cutter service on equal foot
iTS Will lEc navy, anu the
ceive the same pay as corresponding
grades in the navy. This has had the
effect of bringing desirable young men
into the service, and permission to take
| the examination for appointment to cadet
ships is eagerly sought.
Those at It's Head.
The revenue cutter service is under the
supervision of Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury Beekman Winthrop. to whom
come the reports of the officers OF the
service aboard ships on three oceans. the
| lakes and the gulf
! Capt. Worth C. Ross is the captain
| commandant OF the service with head
quarters in this city. First Lieut.. Fred
erick G. Billiard Is his aid. and Henry 8.
| Merrill is assistant. Chief, Engineer
| Charles A. McAllister is engineer-in-
chief of the service. and Capt. Daniel P.
| Foley. who has his headquarters at Bal
| timore, Is chief of construction and re-
| port work Capt. Ross is now on a tour of
| inspection among the ships Of the service.
gathering information that will enable
| him to formulate plans to increase the
efficiency of the work Of the cutters. He
will return to his office here in a few
days. During his absence Lieut.. Billiard
| is acting commandant