The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1913-10-30

NILE SAM = Dlue =
sailor men, t the number Of
about eight thousand, are go
" ing on a pleasure tour. The
contemplated outing throws
down the gauntlet to well-laid plans
of millionaire yacht owners who seek
TO amuse themselves in regions where
the world is most prone to smile.
These light-hearted, frolicsome Ameri-
a boys are to be turned loose in
the ports of the Mediterranean with
their pockets full Of money, and ad-
monished to have the time of their
lives.
They are to be conducted to the pleas
ure and on craft each unit of which
represents a value OF s12, 900 900. The
ships are to be tied up in the vari-
GUS harbors, with sleeping quarters
and food always ready when purses
are empty. No man need have a are
in the world, for his own ship lies
ready to bear him back to America
In time for a Christmas at home when
his money is spent.
This cruise of the great ~men-of-war
Is made to redeem campaign pledges,
as 1t were. Agents of the navy de-
partment have been going forth
throughout the land and asking young
men to enlist for service at sea. They
have told these young men of the
opportunities to learn trades in the
navy, of the sport that is TO be had
Ia ~ arynN nnI H,,o
tanimo, Of the opportunities that the
service offers to see the world. The
recruiting officers have not merely
told them that they would see the
ports of this nation and the Caribbean,
but the charm of foreign lands also
for enlistments.
To Redeem Pledges.
And now the department proposes
60 make good on these claims. Every
effort Is being made to increase the
facilities for learning trades in the
navy. Life aboard ship is being
made healthful, stimulating and at
tractive. But navy programs of late
have included little cruising abroad.
The sailor man has known little ex-
cept Newport, Norfolk and Guantani-
mo and a touch of Vera Cruz or
Panama.
So it was determined that a trip to
the Mediterranean should be made
this fall. Pledges Of recruiting cam
paigns should be redeemed. Secre-
tary Daniels holds that men of the
navy are better sailors and better
citizens when they go back into pri-
waite life because Of these trips abroad.
Likewise is the popularity of the
navy increased, and this makes It
possible to fiji the service with bet
ter and better men all the time.
When the tifp to the Mediterranean
was first planned 1t was proposed that
the entire Atlantic fleet should go.
Then conditions became so unsettled
in Mexico that four battleships were
assigned to those waters. The navy
department contemplates the relief
of those four ships by four others by
November 1. This eliminates eight
Dattleships. Then there is the regular
WIN III NV navy ydiCs WuiCu Cdllo
for the ov~erhauling of ships with a
certain degree of regularity that the
working force may be maintained.
This fall there will be four battleships
In those navy yards. So are twelve
ships of the Atlantic fleet eliminated
from the Mediterranean cruise. There
remain nine great vessels that are at
liberty to go.
1t was at first thought that some
twenty destroyers would cross the At
1antic. These little, h~igh-speed ships,
the ~da-edevils Of the service, do not
take the waves of the mighty main
with the same degree Of ease as do
the d~readnoughts. They are entirely
seaworthy. but in stormy weather
they roll and plunge and inflict great
hardship upon men and officers. AS
the Atlantic Is to be crossed at the
season when gales are frequent, 1t
was thought advisable to leave the de-
stroyers at home.
But all those ships that are not al
lowed TO make the present cruise are
TO be given later opportunity for cruis-
Ing In foreign waters, and some of
them are to have the privilege Of first
passing through the Panama canal, an
event that will transpire before the
new year. They will go abroad at
other times. A trip to Scandinavian
waters is being talked Of for next
summer. The torpedo flotilla will like
wise be given its chance for a pleas
ure jaunt that will be as good as the
best.
So It m t5 pass mat the ships
which will sail from Hampton roads
about November 1 will be the Wyo.
ming. flagship; the Vermont, the Ohio,
the Arkansas, the Florida. the Utah,
the Delaware and two as yet moi
named.
Carry All Supplies.
With these battleships will go three
aew colliers. the Orioa. the Jason and