French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1916-1919, 1916-09-14
HIGH PRAISE FOR
THE AMERICAN SAILOR.
English Naval Critic Hector Bywater,
Writes Interestingly of Men
on Our Ships.

I'VE have it on the word of an En-
glishman,' says the Philadelphia
Press, that the personnel of our navy
is better by far than that of Ger
many's sea force. Indeed, he wakes
So enthusiastic as to say that the
American bluejacket of the present
day is a revelation to any one who
knew the old timer of ten or fifteen
years ago.
The Englishman is Hector Bywater,
one of England's leading naval writ
ers, who discusses the naval problems
of the United States in a recent issue
of the London Naval and Military re-
cord. 1t is to be regretted that Mr..
Bywater did not compare the efficiency
of Dur bluejackets to that of the Royal
Navy, but perhaps modesty forbid
him, Or it may have been the censor,
who did not care to make public the
slightest whisper from an English
man that the British sailors have
equals or even-who knows ?-supe-
riors.
Lest it be thought that this latter
supposition is an expression of pa
triotic pride. Mr.. Bywater may be
summoned as a witness. According
to him the American bluejackeL is
Ped, berthed and cared for in a way
that astOnishes those who are ac-
Quainted with the best European
standards. Extraordinary pains are
taken with his general and profession
al education. The amount of head
work he is called upon to get through
may seem exaggerated and unneces-
sary to European critics, but the re-
suit certainly appears to justify the
system"
Men are not "astonished" nor do
they consider extraordinary what IS
common to their perceptions. It is
fair to assume that Mr.. Bywater is so
well acquainted with the British navy
that though he looks upon it with pride
it does not represent to him uncom7
mon achievement, but merely what is
to be expected from the British navy.
Therefore his use of superlatives in
regard to our bluejackets may be
taken as an opinion that he believes
our jackets are as good If not better
than the British.
Referring to the claim of Germany,
and the United States that they. have
each solved the problem of converting
the land-lubber into an efficient man
o'-war's-man within the three ears,
Mr.. Bywater writes that no unbiased
observer who has seen the finished
article in both countries will hesitate
to award the palm to the American
product.
The mental machinery of the yokel
from inland Prussia or Bavaria is
inferior to that of the average Ameri-
can youth from the inland State;
but this fact does not of itself ex-
plain why the latter. make the
better seamen. The advantage Of the
volunteer system in naval recruiting
is that only youth are enrolled who
have a natural inclination toward the
sea, whereas under CONSUMPTION largo
numbers of young men are taken for
the naval service who have no Unborn
aptitude OIL temperamental disposition
for the life.",
This is strong evidence from COM
petent authority. But it only confirms
the opinion Americans have held for
a long time. We knew it, but we are
glad to have Mr.. Bywater confirm
what we think of the men in the navy,
though they are few There will soon
be more.-New York Herald.