The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-23
Enrolment for Cruise on Warships Shows Interest
 Being Taken
VACATION ON OCEAN
 TO COST ONLY $50
Assistant Secretary of Navy Roose. welt Will Take Part as Sailor Before the Mast-Amateurs Will Have
 to Work Hard

ians for the forthcoming cruce on United States warships is proceeding with indica- tions that the experiment is popular, and there is no doubt that the full quota of two thousand citizen sailors, ranging all the way from 19 to 45 years of age, will be ready 10 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|the months duration of the cruise will be given experience in almost every form of naval life from swabbing decks to firing big guns. The trades and professions, many prominent ana wealthy, who are enthusiastic over this new plan of naval preparedness Assistant Secretary Roosevelt, of the navy department expects to spend at least some of the month as one of the citizen blue jackets.
 Rear Admiral J. M. Helm, who is at present in charge of the naval militia cruise, will be commander-in-chief of the civilian cruise also, and will use the same warships. The vessels, and the ports from which they will sail, are: the Virginia, from Portland Me-; the Kearsage, from Boston, Mass; the Illinois, from New port, R. T.; the Kentucky and Maine, from New York City; the Rhode Island and
  jana, from Norfolk, Va, and the New Jersey, from Charleston, s. c.
 The cruise will end September F and during it's last week will be held a mo- bilization and training cruise of yachts and motorboats. From August 15 until August 20, the citizen sailors will be pro- ceeding to the training rendezvous at Tangier sound, in Chesapeake bay, the gunnery practice ground for the Atlantic fleet The target practice will be held by the training fleet from August 27 to Sep tember 5.
 The object of the cruise is officially de- scribed by Secretary Daniels as follows;
 For training volunteers, to afford to civilians an opportunity to gain, by close contact with naval life and naval duties, some experience and understanding which will help them to perceive the way they may best fit themseves for service in the navy in time of need.'
 At the end of the cruise each volunteer will be given a certificate by Rear Ad- miral Helm specifying the duties he per formed, efficiency displayed and the naval rating he is best qualified to fill Volun- teers also will announce the intention whether they will volunteer for naval service in case of war within the next four years.
 Each volunteer is depositing but $30 for the privilege of the months cruise the navy supplying uniforms and other naval clothing. The volunteers will be given substantially the same training as mid shipmen from the naval academy during their training periods. They will sleep in hammocks: canvas -bags will be their sub- stitutes for the chiffoniers at home; they will help clean ship, polish brasswork, assist in the engine room and generally go through the rigorous duties of any Jack Tar.
 Mixed with the work, however, will be much recreation and instruction. When conditions permit, the men will be allowed to go swimming twice daily, and hold rowing and sailing races, and inter-ship baseball games. Lectures and private in- struction will be given daily by navy offi- cers, in addition to the practical exper- fence afforded.
 The volunteers are to be organized, massed and berthed separate from the regulars aboard ship and will not be re- quired to pass coal, work in the mess room, stoke boilers or do extremely labor ious work which might too severely strain men of sendentary life, although all will be required to pass physical examination be- fore embarking.
 From daybreak until p. m. regular programme of duties awaits the civilians, with almost every minute filled Before breakfast two and half hours work will
  During the cruise they will be drilled and instructed in the and inch guns of the ships, in signalling, boating of all kinds, fire control, torpedo defense quarter masters duties, marine and electrical ma chinery, including radio work. Emerg- ency drills, such as fire quarters, collision, man overheard" and general quarters are also scheduled. The volunteers as- signed to engineering duty will work in two hours shifts from a.. m. to p. m. All volunteers will be relieved from as- signments to attend all drills and lec- lures.
 Three divisions of the civilians will be formed, with subdivisions under navy and volunteer officers. During the last week of the cruise all volunteers will have deck duties exclusively. Every volunteer will drill as a member of a guns crew and all will participate in some capacity in the target practice.
 The mobility of the practice fleet may