New-York tribune., 1912-08-26
BRITISH SCHO0LSH|P
HERE FROM LISBON
rs Cadets on Board May Conn.,
mand Great Liners or Mer-
Chantmen Some Day.
SKIPPER'S FIRST VISIT HERE
He Tells of the Instruction in
Seamanship That the
Cadets Go Through
on the Cruise.

AS pretty a specimen OF British ship
ping az ever answered helm sailed up
the bay yesterday afternoon and dropped
her mudhoOks off Stapleton Staten ISL
and She was the four-masted steel bark
Midway, Of London, forty-fve days out
from Lisbon. Aboard her were twenty
five stout English lads who will some day
walk the bridges Of Engands merchant
marine i'm the capacity Ct officers.
The Midway Is owned by the Dewitt
Moores Ocean Training Ships, Limited, a
firm organized for the purpose of train
Ing officers for number of the leading
British merchant lines. The scheme was
started in 1890 by Lord Brassey, and for
twenty years the youths who would be
officers were taught their duties aboard
the Earbinger. the Hesperus, the Mae
Quarle and other vessels
In 1910 the Dewitt Moores company was
founded to take over the Medway and the
Port Jackson. two of the finest sailing
ships anoat. with the same idea in view.
The lines interested In the new venture
were the Cunard, the Booth, the Union
Castle. the Shaw. the Savill and Albion
and the r. & g. Harrison lines OF steam
ers. 4. L. Dewitt, senior member Of the
firm, Is one of the best known and most
widely respected men in English ship
ping. He is a director of the Orient
Company and a former chairman Of
Lloyds.
The regular route Of the two new barks
is between London and Sydney, n. s. w,
but on this voyage the dock strike in the
English capital forced the Midway to drop
down TO Lisbon for a cargo. There she
was ioined by the twenty-five cadets OF
the merchant marine, and her sails were
set with New York as her destination. IT
Is the first time that one Of the big
training vessels has been in these waters.
The Medway lay in the stream off
Sta pleton yesterday. huge white hulk,
with black ports painted along her sides
to resemble a warship OF former times.
Captain Jackson. who made his first ocean
voyage out of Glasgow twenty-five years
ago. sat in the chartroom with none of
his native hospitality blown from him by
the winds which he has faced since then.
The voyage from Lisbon, he said had
been rather monotonous. -
I'VE left Lisbon on July 10" said the
captain, "and on the 18th were passing
Madeira.
"On the voyage across we put the lads
through boat drills at least once a week,
until they became so proficient that they
could swing the boats out in two and a
half TO three minutes and get them away
in three minutes and a half The boys
have an orchestra among themselves. and
give us concerts every Saturday night I'm
good weather. They also have boxing
matches TO pass the time away when they
are not on watch. and when the sea is
smooth they enjoy roller skating around
tho decks. But We make them stand
watch. four hours on and four off, just
like the rest of the crew"
The cadets are between sixteen and
twenty years OF age and all come of good
English families. Ten of them on the
Medway are on their fourth and last voy-
age. eight on their third five on their sec
ond and two on their first. When they
have finished their course they are eX-
amincd for second mates certificate.
and nre then attached TO one OF the vcs
sells OF whichever of the lines they may
choose. Many or the OI1CerS WHO come
into this port on the Cunard's crack
liners have served their apprenticeship on
the Midway or the Port Jackson.
The average round trip TO Australia
lasts about nine months, and the rates
for tho voyage range from go sterling
for the first down TO f60 for the fourth,
with a reduction OF flo for each voyage
II the boys have served on the stationary
training ships, the Worcester and the
Conway The boys bunk In the deck
house aft, and there also are their mess
and class rooms. Each vessel carries
nautical instructor and a competent sur
geon.
In spite OF his long service, Captain
Jackson has never been 10 New York be-
fore. He has spent most Of his time at
sea on the vessels OF the Loch Line
principally the Loch Shiel and the Loeb
EtiVe