Evening star., 1916-08-13

in certain strategic positions for protect
ing the coast. The reasons for each move
will be carefully explained to the men
by the officers, who will be on board to
conduct classes in maritime warfare.
Each recruit will be given practice in
manning the guns and real shots-at $500
a shot-will be fired from the three and
four inch guns, except when they are
aimed at their own ships in the role OF
enemy, and then the final electric firing
button will not be pressed.
1t is planned by the Navy Department
to have recruits devote portion Of each
day to the study CT special subjects, which
will be largely optional, so that those who
have a natural aptitude for such subjects
as navigation, signaling. radio work.
steam or electrical engineering, etc. may
have an opportunity to specialize. Boat
drills will be given and landings made
and the men instructed in the manual OF
arms and military formations. At the
end Of the training course each recruit
will be given a certificate signed by the
commanding officer of his ship specify
ing the nature of the duties he has per-
and the rating he is best qualified to fill.
SO that in case OF war he may be fitted
into his proper place without q prelimi-
nary period of experiment to determine
his natural abilities.
During the final week OF the cruise the
ships will return to the naval districts
whence they
Final Course in sailed and the re-
Defense Strategy. GIVEN a course Of
instruction as to the strategic qualiica-
tions of their own naval districts as well
as its defensive problems. At this time
all the owners of motor boats in the dis
trict, which have been examined and
qualified by the bureau OF navigation Of
the Navy Department, will be given an
opportunity to operate in conjunction
with the ships.
The small. fast-moving motor boat has
proved an important factor in the naval
warfare of Europe. in which it has be-
come a formidable apponent OF the sub
marine. 1t is the motor boat, in fact,
which largely put end to the early
epidemic of submarine warfare. Hence
the Navy Department in this country has
arranged for the mobilization OF all the
private motor boats of the coast cities. to
be at the prompt disposal of the navy in
time of war. In this last week of the
cruise they will be equipped with flags
and small guns. where guns are available,
and put through series of attacks on
submarines. The naval authorities hope
to have real submarines as targets, but
if not, the American imagination will
again be called into service and the
vicious assaults be directed at an imag-
mary enemy 1t is estimated that thou
sands of motor boats will take part in
this demonstration.
On September IL, the ships will be back
in various harbors, and the naval cruise
for civilians will
Cruise to End have ended The
men will return I'm
September IL. their regular occs.
pations and routine the same as before,
only filed with large sense Of RESPONSE
bility for their country and knowledge of
naval matters which will constitute a val
liable reserve asset to the American Navy
in time of war. 1t is now the plan of the
Navy Department to organize a civilian
naval cruise every year, so that in time
the whole American male population will
be divided into contingents OF