The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-06-27
''C00D THINC'' SAY ADM|RALS
 OF NAVY COURSE
Officers Approve Training Course for Civilians-Will
 Stimulate Interest.


 Officers in the navy from admira1s down to ensigns are all Enthusiastically in favor of the naval training. cruise for civilians to be held this summer. Professional soldiers and sailors have in the past been rather inclined to look down in an almost contemptuous man ner on the efforts of civilian recruits to learn their trade. In the case of the naval training cruise, however, this attitude is conspicuously absent and there seems to be an unanimity of feel ing among officers in the navy that the cruise will be of great ultimate bene- fit to the needs of the service.
 In commenting on the cruise Ad- mira1 F. F. Fletcher, who has just re- tired from the command of the Allan tic fleet, says:
 ''It gives me great pleasure to state that believe the naval training cruise for civilians will prove of material benefit by stimulating a healthy inter est in the navy and familiarizing a large number of representative Amer jeans with the elementary require ments of naval life.''
 'It is to be hoped that it will prove to be a real start in building up a re- serve for our first line of defense which we can call upon in time of need"
 Admiral H. T. Mayo now in com mand of the Atlantic fleet and station ed aboard the Wyoming, his flagship just now lying at the Brooklyn navy yard, says in comment on the work of the civilian committee:
 ''I fully realize the work that is be- 1 ing done by the committee in connec- l ton with this project and I believe l that the whole service appreciates the fact that this work expresses pub lie interest in naval training a desire to do something in preparation for pos sible emergency
 "A cruise such as is contemplated will certainly give all who participate an insight into the methods employed in the navy and a knowledge of the service which will be of much value. This work can only be considered as a start, the men, who have had the \ training which may be given during g l this summer cruise, should be in a position to grasp a great many techni- cal and practical points, which will be a great asset should there be call l for their services later on.'
 l ''I realize that it is a most difficult | task that the committee has before it in getting men interested in the nauti- cal side, the military appealing So much more to the average person." 1 Rear Admiral N. R. Usher, com- mandant of the New York Navy Yard writes: /
 'The patriotic efforts of the civilian committee making toward increased | interest in the navy is obviously sat isfactory to all classes of our citizens I feel sure that the proposed civilian training cruise on battleships will not only arouse hearty cooperation of suitable men for the summer cruise but will permanently interest a large and valuable class to fit themselves for the country's service at sea- A7-1-r1 I@os fected whereby men who have al ready enlisted for the cruise can, if they desire, get a. little preliminary l training aboard the ships in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. A number of recruits are anxious to do this so that | they may not be absolutely new to all the ships customs and technica1ities when they go aboard on August 15 Such details as how to swing a ham, mock, names of various parts of the ship and a little knowledge of the manual will make them feel much more at ease.
 To this end the government has cers who can find spare time to give them preliminary instruction whenever they are notified that a number of re- cruits can visit the yard at the same time. Of course, it would be a waste of endeavor and quite inpracticab1e for one man to go there alone, but i a half dozen or so telephoned over il advance they would be welcome an6 given whatever instruction is possible in the time allotted. The naval off cers are more than kind in this mat ter and will give this preliminar, schooling either in the day time or al night best suits the recruits con Venience. ,
 This preliminary training will talk place on the batt1eship Maine, whicl will be one of the ships to carry tht New York contingent of recruits. I is now used as a receiving ship in tht Brooklyn Navy Yard and is therefore in full commission and fully ofhcered