New Britain herald., 1916-08-08
MAKING A JACK TAR FROM RAW MATERIAL
Interesting Process Used by U. s.
 Naval Authorities

] established naval training stations at Norfolk, Va., San Francisco, Cal, Great Lakes, Ill.,, and Newport R. l., on Narragansett bay, about one mile from the city of Report, R. I. where the naval apprentices are in- structed in the various duties of a
 man-o'-wars-m during a training period of about six months before they are regularly assigned to duty on
 board battleship, cruiser, torpedo boat destroyer, submarine or other vessel of the navy. Tn addition to the regular naval training stations, how ever, the navy department maintains a school for seaman gunners at New port, where mines, torpedoes, deep sea diving and the repair and up- keep of the great guns are taught. These men who desire may specialize in mines, torpedoes, air compressors and submerged torpedo tubes. A school for clerks is also maintained at the training station. The school for wireless operators Is maintained at San Francisco and New York. Schools for plumbers, shipwrights, shipfitters and carpenters are maintained at NOTIOIk, Va. InS SCHOOL TOT naCn1n- ists Is located at Charleston, s. c.
 East Has Best School.
 However, the best equipped school for apprentice seamen is the one To- cated at Newport, R. l., where so many of the best gun-pointers in the United States navy-and that means in the world-hail from. The naval training station is under the com mand of Commander Johnson, U S. N., and is now in a high state of ef- f1ciency, with close to 2,000 intelli- gent, cleancut and highly ambitious young Americans enjoying military training, each striving to outdo the other in becoming the efficient man o'-warsman it takes to man the rapid ly growing and important necessary arm of national defense.
 Station We'll Situated.
 The station at Newport has a large frontage on rragansett bay and af- lords a fine opportunity to train the young men in the handling and sail ing of boats in which eacE is made proficient. A corps of instructors consisting of commissioned warrant and chief petty officers, supervise the training of the future defenders of the nation.
 A recruit upon arrival at the train ing station from New Britain, Hart ford, New Haven, Bridgeport, Water bury, New London and other cities in this section, is at once directed to the detention barracks, where he is given 8 thorough physical examination. If accepted, the recruit is issued gratui- tously, the $60 uniform outfit allowed by law.
 Preliminary Courses Given.
 The first three weeks at the train ing station are spent at the detention barracks where the recruit IS 1solated from others under instruction. Ihls is a precaution taken to safeguard against the introduction of contagious diseases.
 A recruits instruction begins inn mediately upon assignment to the ue- tention barracks He is first put through the school of the recruit, pas sing to the school of the guard, and later to the school of the company. With the completion of the three weeks at the detention barracks, the recruit, in a. completely formed com many. is transferred to the maln group. He now enters upon the reg ular course of instructions
 Training and Study Combined.
 Each day, with the exception of Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, is divided into six periods of approXl- mate1v one hour each. The work is varied and interesting, and consists o1utions, rifle and revolver practice, of drill in artil1er wand infantry ev- signalling, physical drill in the gym nasium with the Swedish system of axercise swimming, elementary sea- manshin. including knotting and sn1icing. and the manning of boats under oars and sails. A part Of the time the recruits camp out ana are given practical experience in military work of a field detachment. nr1eI course of study is devoted to the sup iects common to most graded schoolS' such as reading, writing, spell1ng, arithmetic, geography, and history or the United States.
 Recruits who show a special ftness for work in signaling are assigned 10 a class in wireless telegraphy. The new wireless school in the Brooklyn navy ward provides splendid facilities for practical instruction in that SUD- feet and those who qualify as opera tors have no difficulty in securing lucrative positions.
 Athletics Encouraged.
 The training station affords ample opportunity for wholesome recreation. Athletics receive every encourage
 nent, and the athletic outfits are furnished every ship and station free of charge by the navy department. Each company has it's own track team, baseball team, football team and basketball team as well as boxers, wrestlers and swimmers. Thursday afternoon is set aside for athletics. The training station has excellent ath- 1ettc teams which engage in con- tests with the organizations of sur rounding towns and cities, Including fa-