The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-05

daily cases OF delinquency demonstrate.
The time devoted To school each after
noon is taken out of working hours. and
while one may possibly dismiss as preju-
diced the criticism of the officers that
the school interferes with the ships
work. one cannot so easily dismiss the
statement of the men themselves that
they had rather be at work. Indeed the
attitude of the majority seen in the class
rooms Is sufficient proof of this.
Critics Of the order declare that two
, mistakes were made in the order; first.
in making attendance compulsory, and
second. in forcing the men to study gram
mar school subjects. Before the school
order. the ambitious found abundant
opportunity to study technical subjects.
proficiency in which is required for adj
vancement in the numerous departments
of navy organization They also found
plenty OF officers willing to furnish them
with books and instruction. The new
order, however, has herded into the
classrooms the majority who have no
desire to study along with the ambitious
minority. and the common level OF course
is that of the uninterested.
II the Government considers that
| every bluejacket should have knowl-
edge OF the elementary subjects taught
in the public schools. it is declared. either
no candidates for enlistment should be
accepted unless they qualify in this re-
spect or else the recruits should be kept
at training stations until they acquire
tho standard proficiency. From the
navy point OF view, as set forth above.
the diversion of the feet from its prime
purpose to that Of the grammar school
is unsound policy and hamper on ef-
ficiency.
The navy has always educated its
young men to take higher positions IN the
service Just AS rapidly rs the men them
selves would make it possible. This
has obviously been necessary. for it IL
not the ships which constitute an ef-
ficient navy, but the ships in combination
with the men who have mastered the
intricacies OF ship and gun operation
and maintenance.
The great nsset OF the navy Ia itf
trained men. and with the constant flow
Of experienced men out of the service
into civil life the navy has always beer
obliged to train other men TO take theiI
, places. Consequently instruction In the
technical subjects has always gone for
ward. the officers carrying the men
, along Just AZ rapidly as the intelligence
and industry OF the latter would permit
The school order would have been wei
coined had It provided for the better
organization OF this process OF constant
, training of young men to take the higher
, places, but naval officers do not conside
, it the real function of the service to supply
the deficiencies of the public school sys
= tenn.
al Mr.. Daniels holds to the belief that b,
/ promising an education he will attrac
, more recruits to the service. and this i
4 perhaps true. but out of 5000 apprentice
recently examined at a training station
, only nine out of every 300 said they cam
a into the navy for an education, while
was found that much larger number ha'
3 deliberately left school to enlist in tn
o service. The navy does not consider tina
4 its function is TO fit men for civil life, bu
) rather to maintain the ships in an eficien
r condition and keep always a force O
10 highly trained men competent to ma
q them for the defence OF the nation.
a service in tho navy helps tho individual
n on his return to civil life, so much tn
q better for the individual and the nation
4 according TO the service point of Wow, bu
v this result officers regard as hiGhl
d desirable by-product rather than as III
o chief objective of the navy.
d Mr.. Danielss wine mess order now i
= effect caused deep resentment among tn
/ officers. as an insult to their sense G
II right and duty and an infringement
Is upon their personal rights, Certainly t
o any ono who has lived among nava
j. officers at sea the Secretary contention
i that the safety OF the ships and men |
y endangered by permitting the prcseno
o of liquors on board seems unjustifled