El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-11-14

with the police, the navy will have
: nothing to do with him.
Requirements Exacting.
The nhvsical and other requirements
are SO exacting that a great majority
of the applicants are rejected. What
the navy wants is the elite of Amerl-
can youth, and that is what II gets. IL
however, the youngster is so fortunate
as to be accepted, ne is sent TO the
nearest training station 10 receive niS
education (his travel fare belng palu
bv the government, and from this time
on his career is provided for All ne
has to do is to behave himself prop
erly and do his work well in order 10
be safe in a good job for Ire he does
not need to remain a mere sal oIIllaII >
all sorts of opportunities Tor ADVANCE
ment are open to HIM
On arriving at the training station
he takes the oath of allegiance ana ms
pay starts from that minute at the
rate of $3.50 a month, with board ana
lodging furnished. At the same time ne
gets a free outfit Of clothing Tor WIN
ter and summer, including UNI oInl'
shoes. underwear, cap, sweater over
coat. oiIskins and rubber boots. This
outfit costs Uncle Sam $50, but It couId
not be purchased at retail stores lOr
less than twice that amount
The recruit is now an appIehICe
seaman" A stencil is given him, win
which he stamps his name on ms
clothes. He is taught by petty Off
GER how to fold neatly each arucIe Oh
his wearing apparel In fact, the prop
er care of his garments is part OF the
training he must undergo. he iearl y
that neatness Of person and clolhlnS Is
essential to self respect, and that II is
a requirement exacted by the service
of every officer and man. An item OF
instruction relates to the slowing OF
his bag so that every article snail pc
handy when wanted.
Is Fully Equipped.
A hammock is given him, and he is
taught how to sling it, and how to
lash it neatly and handily. This is his
that supplied with mattress ana
warm blankets in winter, it Is
quite as comfortable as the one
OF which he has been accus-
toned In fact everything possible
is done for his comfort, the barracks in
which he is housed being well heated
and well ventilated. The sleeping
quarters are on the upper floors, and
are fitted with hammock hooks just
rs on board ship.
One thing the recruit learns is to
keep himself clean. Bathing is en-
and in the basement of the
barracks there is a fine swimming
pool, with heated water for the cold !
months. Petty officers are detailed to |
each each apprentice seaman how to I
with an apparatus Of |
'Ope and tackle designed for the pur- |
pose 1t does not take long to make /
a good swimmer out of the average /
Healthy boy.
In the rigging loft he learns how to /
make knots. to splice ropes, to make /
bitches" and "bowlines," to coil I
Town gear" and to become a handy /
nan about decks. In warm weather he 4
s taught how to handle bOats-nOt
,nly rowboats, but sailboats also.
The recruit is taught the semaphore
signaling with arms), the "wig-wag''
with a flag, and the use of lights, or
Ockets, and other night signals. A
ifle is given him, and he is taught
low to handle it and how to fire it. He
earns the manual of arms, and en-
yages in target practice. There are
arget ranges both indoors and out
ioors, and the apprentice seaman ac-
luires accuracy with both navy rifle
md revolver by shooting at a mark.
Is Well Cared For.
Meanwhile he gets plenty Of good, !
,lain food, well cooked and appetizing, /
which is served three times a day in
he mess hall There is always unlim-
ted coffee and hot soups Short