Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1913-12-12

NCLE oAM DIue Jdcketeu
sailor men, to the number Of
about eight thousand, are go
~ ing on 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-
can boys are to be turned loose In
the ports of the Mediterranean with
monished to have the time Of their
lives.
They are to be conducted to the pleas
nre land on craft each unit of which
represents value of $12,000,000. 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 care
In the world, for his own ship lies
ready to bear him back to America
In time for 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
IN maneuvers at Newport and Guam
taniTno, OF the opportunities that the
service offers to see the world The
told them that they would see the
ports Of this nation and the Caribbean,
but the charm of foreign lands also
has been held out as an inducement
for enlistments
To Redeem Pledges.
And now the department proposes
TO 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.
trachve. 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 1t was determined that 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
vate life because Of these trips abroad
Likewise is the popularity OF the
navy increased, and this makes II
possible to fill the service with bet
ter and better men all the time.
When the trip 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 rehe
OF those four ships by four others b,
November 1. This eliminates eigh
battleships. Then there IL the regula
work in the navy yards which CALI
Tor the overhauling Of ships with
certain degree OF regularity that tn,
working force may be maintained
This fall there will be four battleship
In those navy yards. So are twelv
ships Of the Atlantic feet eliminate,
from the Mediterranean cruise. Their
remain nina preat veaaola thot aro a
liberty to go.
1t was at first thought that som
twenty destroyers would cross the Al
1antic. These little. high-speed shipl
the daredevils Of the service, do nc
take the waves Of the mighty mai
with the same degree of ease as d
the dreadnoughts. They are entirel
seaworthy, but In stormy weathe
they roll and plunge and inflict grea
hardship upon men and officers. A
the Atlantic is to be crossed at tn
season when gales are frequent,
was thought advisable to leave the d,
stroyers at home
But all those ships that are not q
lowed to make the present cruise ar
to be given later opportunity for crui
ing In foreign waters, and some /,
them are to have the privilege Of fri
passing through the Panama canal, q
event that will transpire before tn
new year. They will go abroad ,
.other times. A trip to Scandinavia