Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1912-10-17
HARD WORK TO GET
SAILORS FOR NAVY
5lOO Must be Added to the Ranks
Before Close Of Fiscal Year.
MANY ADVANTAGES OFFERED.
Training Schools in Many Branches
and Chance to See the
World.

With a maximum complement of
approximately $4,000 men, it is no
longer an easy matter to keep the
navy recruited up to its full strength.
Congress, at its last session au-
thOrized an increase of 1000 to the
enlisted force, which increase the
NAVY Department is expected to OBJ
tain by the end of the current fiscal
year. There is at present a shortage
of about 5,100 men. including the
increase recently allowed
But that does not by any means
represent the entire needs of the
recruiting service. The term of en-
listment is four years, and if every
man served out his full term there
would be more than $4,000 men
going out each year. Not all re-
main their entire four years
many being discharged for various
causes, some promoted and others
desert. Ii thus happens that in or
der to fill the complement by the
end of next June there must be en-
listed and re-enlisted in the mean
time approximately 10000 men.
The requirements for enlistment
are rigid, and the standards fixed for
the naval service, which have been
steadily raised in recent years, are
strictly adhered to. An average of
less than 20 per cent. of Ghe men who
apply for enlistment at the recruiting
stations are accepted. 1t will, there
fore, be necessary during this fiscal
year to interest about 10000 able
bodied young Americans in the naval
service.
1t has been found that among many
reasons which men give for joining
the navy the desire to see the world
and travel is always uppermost. That
is but natural when it is remembered
that most of the applicants are under
2l years old. However, more serious
motives prevail, and only to a slight
ly less extent. A great many give
as a reason che opportunities to learn
trade, and chance to better them
selves by the wholesome living in the
service, the discipline and regular
habits required. The desire to obtain
steady employment also influences
many.
There is no doubt that the navy
offers young man many superior ad-
vantages, particularly if he has not
the good fortune to be able to ac-
quire a mechanical or professional
education. If youngster has any
mechanical ability the naval service
will bring it out and develop it.
Training schools are open to him for
instruction in the trades of machin-
ist electrician (both general and wire
less), and in the various artificer
trades, such as carpenter, shipwright,
shipfitter, coppeIsmith, blacksmith,
boilermaker, plumber and the like.
If he has a knack for clerical
work he may be sent to the yeoman
school which fits him for the clerical
duties required both ahoat and
ashore. On the other hand, if he
has no special aptitude for trade
he is sent to one of the big training
stations. where he is taught the
knowledge of seamanship and fitted
for advancement in the various ra-
tings comprising the seaman branch
of the navy. -
Each re-enlistment brings with
it increased pay, and after seven
years enlisted service an ambitious
man may be examined for the war
rant grade, life position, which
pays as high as 800 a year, with
benefits of retirement on three
fourths pay after sixty-two years of
age.