The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-07-28


Ing radio work. Il
There will also be frequent emer-
gency drills, such as fire quarters and
general quarters. Besides this they
Will have field artillery and naval
drills on shore to give them rudi.
mentary knowledge Of the handling Of
arms.
Lectures will also be feature of
the end Of the cruise. Between Au-
gust 70 and September, 8 some of the
best schoolmasters in the navy-and
army and navy life Is mostly teaching
school In some manner or other-wili
talk to the volunteers on subjects
bearing on the navy's work.
Limit the Volunteers.
Secretary Roosevelt also promised
to cut down the number Of volunteers
allowed on different ships so that there
Will be no overcrowding or discomfort
In the way Of hammock room, or delay
In serving food.
AS at the army training camps, there
will be optional courses lasting a por-
ton Of each day. The subjects will
include navigation, signaling, radio
work. steam and electrical engineer
ing.
The cruise will have several impor-
tant advantages over Plattsburg. No
mosquitoes, no sleeping on the wet
ground, no trench digging!
Thomas V. Slocum, well-known
yachtsman, is head Of the civilian COM
mittee in this city which has charge
of getting recruits for the cruise. Mr..
Slocuna, whose ideal is Paul Jones,
for whose ship Ranger he has named
his yacht, is very enthusiastic when
talking about the cruise.
"Think Of the advantages" he said
recently. "A summer vacation at sea
on vessels that cost millions of dol
lars, the sea air, the wholesome food,
the healthful exercise. Besides the
gainful experience, everyone will come
back with larger knowledge of the
navy and what our sea defense means
and will come back with a rudimentary
training in that defense, an increased
pride in his country-and a better pa
triot."
No obligation to fight is incurred by
going on the cruise, except the duty
every American citizen has to defend
bis country when, called upon, How
ever, at the end of the cruise the re-
cruit will have chance to announce
his intention to volunteer for service
in the navy in case Of war occurring
within the next four years, and most
Of the men will do this. -tt.
To Be Given Certificates.
At the end of the course a recruit
will get certificate signed by the
commanding officer Of his ship specify
ing the nature of the duties he has per-
formed. the efficiency he has displayed
and the rating he is best qualified to
fill.
The expenses Of the cruise are very
small. The recruit must pay his own
transportation to and from the points
of embarkation. Once aboard the ship
he must make deposit Of $50 to covef
board and clothes, but part Of this will
be returned to him If it Is not all used
up. =.
Each man must take with him two
pairs of black shoes, underclothes,
toilet articles and other necessaries.
Washable uniforms will be handed out
aboard ship.
The recruits can't spend much
money on the cruise. However, there
is ships store, where they can pur.
chase soap, tobacco, stationery, toilet
accessories and few other things.
The motor boat mobilization is Stir
ring up much interest in this city and
more men will take part In it than in
the sea cruise. The mosquito fleet"
Of several hundred chuggers will be
inspected and classified by navy OFF,
GERS.
Harold Vanderbilt has shown his
interest by having scout cruiser
built just for the purpose of the mobil-
ization.
Many other young men Of we'll
known families are actively interested
in the cruise and the boat mobiliza.
ton. These include Vincent Astor
Hermann Oelrichs, Paul Hammond,
William Greenough, Orsun Mum,
Thomas Lamont, Harry B. Holdings,
Jr., Robert Jacob, B. 81. Borden, Stew.
art Davis and Charles H. Jackson.
Young men from the same com.
munity or the same school or college
may enlist as a sort Of club and be
assigned to the same ship. However,
enlistments are closed now, but they
will open again next spring. The civil
ian cruise is to be q permanent annual
fixture.