Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1916-07-23
2OOO CIVILIANS WILL CRUISE ON
 |. 5. WARSHIPS
Purpose Is to Train Citizens for Naval Service in
 Time of Need.

Time of Need.
 Washington, July 22.-Enrollment 1 of civilians for the forthcoming cruise 1 on United States warships is proceed | ing with indications that the experi- ment is popular and there is no doubt that Inc full quota of two | thousand citizen sailors, ranging all | the way from 19 to 45 years of age, | will be ready to carry their dunnage bags aboard the practice fleet on | August 15 The men will board the ships at the ports nearest their home, and in .he months dura ion of the cruise will be given experience in al | most every form of naval life from swabbing decks to firing big guns. | The enrolment thus far shows men of all trades and professions, many prominent and wealthy, who are en- l thusiastic over this new plan Of naval preparedness. Assistant Secretary | Roosevelt, of the navy department, expects to spend at least some Of the month as ono of the citizenblue jack | ets.
 Rear Adimral J. NJ. Helm, who is at present in charge of the naval 'nlll- tia cruise, will be commander-ln- chief of the civilian cruise also, and will use the same warshirs. The ves- sells. and the ports from which they will sail. are: The Virginia, from Portland, Me-: the Kearsarge, from
 Boston, Mass; the Illinois, from Newport, R. l.; the Kentucky and Maine. from New York City; the Rhode Island and Alabama, froIl Philadelphia; the Louisiana, from Norfolk, Va; and the New Jersey, from Charleston, s. c.
 The cruise will end September l2 and during it's last week will be held a mobilization and training cruise Of yachts and motor-hoats. From Aug ust 15 until August 20. the citizen sailors will be, proceeding to the training rendezvous at Tangler 1 sound, in Chesapeake bay, the gun nery practice ground of the Atlanuc 1 fleet. Target practice will be held 1 by the training fleet from August ~ l to September ,.
 Object of Cruise.
 | The object of the cruise IS officially
 described by Secretary Daniels as fol-
 lows:
 "For raining volunteers. to afford l to civilians an opportunity to gam,
 by close contact with naval life ana
 naval duties, some experience ana
 understanding which will help them
 to perceive the way they may best Tit themselves for service in the navy l in time of need" 1 Aftthe end of the cruise each vol Lpn.eer will be given a certificate by Rear Admiral Helm specifying the l duties he performed, efficiency dis pl9yed and the naval rating he is best | ouaiitied to fill Volunteers also will announce their intention whether | they will volunteer for naval service ! in case of war within the next four
 years. l Each volunteer is depcsitlng b't
 s2O for the privilege of the mon'h s
 cruise. the navy supplying uniforms and other naval equipment. The vol-
 untcers will be given substantially the same training as mldshlpmen
 from the naval academy during their training periods They will sleep in hammocks; canvas bags will be theif | substitutes for the chitfonlers at
 home; they will he'p clean ship. pol |ish brasswork, assist in the engine I room and generally go through the I rigorous duties of any Jack Tar.
 Mixed with the work. however, vii l be much recreation and instruction 1 When conditions permit, the men VII l he allowed to go swimming twice daily. and held rowing and saillns
 races, and inter-ship baseball! games T Lectures and private instruction wll
 be given daily by navy officers, II addition to he practical experience
 afforded.
 The volunteers are to he organized
 messed and berthed separate iron / the regulars aboard ship and will no
 be required to pass coal, work Tn LII
 messroom, stoke boilers or do eN
 tremely labor.ous work which migh too severely strain men of sedentar . life, although all will be required t
 pass physical examination before em
 barking.
 Days Routine.
 From daybreak until 9 D. m. reg ular program of duTieS awaits the c l vi|ians. with almost every mlnut filled. Before breakfast two and half hours work will be the daily pro gram of the citizen sailors. Durln the cruise they will be drilled and II structed in the and inch guns the ships, in signalling. boating of kinds. fire control, torpedo defens auartermasters duties, marine an I electrical machinery, including radl work. Emergency drills. such as fiji |.