Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-13
CIVILIAN TRAINING CRUISE
BY FREDERIC ). HAsKIN

WASHINGTON. August Ion Au-
gust is. nine American battleships
will steam GU; OF harbors on the
Eastern coast. carrying $500 white clad
civilian sailors naval training
cruise. The ships will proceed to a
rendezvous in the vicinity OF Gardncrs
Bay, Long Island. where the men will
lac put through three weeks course
of training in the tcchnicalities OF
naval warfare. Al the end or this
time the Navy Department expects to
have a naval reserve OF several hum
dr"d trained sailors and ma rksmen who
viii constitute valuable GGhting ma
tcrlal in time OF war.
Thus the navy has at last entered
the preparedness program, usurping
the center Of the stage with all tho
grace and enthusiasm Of it's carly foot
ball days. For the last six months wc
have heard much OF Oglethrope and
plattsburE We have delighted In pho
tographs OF rockies riding horseback,
rockies shooting and frying bacon. and
rockies bathing In the latest approved
military fashion out OF primitive tin
basins until our one vision Of Amcri-
can defense has come TO be khaki.
Now the navy is going To sec TO II
that we hear thing or two from
Gardeners Ray and renew our acquain-
tance with the white maritime uniform
American defense.
When tho Navy Department first
conceived tho idea OF naval training
cruise for civilians, II did not seek
the usual newspaper publicity method.
but merely passed the word along
among few patriotic citizens In cities
all over the country who were willing
10 give their time to the organization
of recruits For there was just pos
sihility that the ships might not he
available at the prescribed time. and
the cruise would have to be called on
These citizens. however. made IL a
point To hunt up young men whom they
thought would be eligible and send
them to the nearest naval recruiting
stations, where If they passed the
necessary physical and mental cxami-
nations. they were enrolled in tho
cruise. When q sufficient number was
obtained In any one city they we're or
dcrcd TO report at tho Navy yard so
many nights week where they were
drilled by experienced naval officers.
Tho drilling has been going on for
several weeks now, and Assistant Sec
from reviewing Philadelphia contin-
gent is immensely pleased with their
work.
Sea Literature In Demand.
In all the cities where there are
prospective crews. there has been
Suhuel ana NlOlenl ueHldHH LOT sea
literature, and the technical vocabu-
larry Of Captain Kidd and others is be-
ginning 10 have a permanent place in
local conversation. Now that the sail
ing date is SO near there is great eN-
element. for the word battlcShip TO
the youthful masculine mind at least is
synonymous with adventure Owing TO
a splendid spirit Of American patrio-
tism. many boys are being allowed to
30 who would not have been able TO
had their expenses not been paid by
private citizens. Each man when re-
porting on shipboard is required to de
post $50, which goes to cover the cost
Of his board FOR the cruise. and to pro-
vide him with the necessary outfit or
clothes. Besides this. he must pay
his expenses from his home town to
the harbor where the battleship is sta
toned.
The reruts from Portland. Me-. and
Worcester and Boston, Mass. are to
embark at Boston upon the Kearsarge
and Virginia: those from Newport and
Providence are to embark at Newport
on the Virginia; those from New
Haven. Albany. New York Brooklyn.
Newark. Scranton and Buffalo are to
embark at New York upon the Maine.
New Jersey and Kentucky; those from
Philadelphia. Pittsburgh. Detroit and
Cleveland will embark at Philadelphia
upon tie u. s. s. Rhode Island: those
from Baltimore will embark at that
city upon the Louisiana; those from
Richmond, Cincinnati. indianapolis.
Milwaukee. Dcs Moincs. st. Louis,
Omaha, Kansas City, Dallas, Washing
ton and Norfolk will sail from Norfolk
upon the Illinois and the Louisiana.
and those from Charleston and New
Orleans and Houston will sail from
Charleston upon the u. S. s. Alabama.
Uniformed by the navy.
Upon boarding the ships. tho re-
cruits will don their white uniforms.
supplied by the navy, and their civilian
clothes will be placed i'm storage. The
only equipment which they must sup
ply themselves is two pairs OF black
articles, etc. There is n barber shop
on each ship. and ships store whore
SOAP, tobacco. stationery and toilet ac-
cessories may be purchased. In these
/ respects. the naval cruise has not the
quick postal advantages Of Plaitsburg.
When you are. on a ship. you are there.
and no matter how much n recruit
may desire his special brand OF face
soap Which in the excitement OF pack
ing no forgot, the ship cannot always
be running into port for parcel post
packages. Tho only time tho shin Ia
authorized to port liz to deposit q de-
linduent recruit whosc conduct is no
incorritlble that II interfcrea with the
discipline OF all aboard
The "trip is In no way to no an idle
pleasure cruise. Those recruits deyot.
ins thfir vacation periods to the train