Norwich bulletin., 1916-04-18
NAVAL TRAINING CRUISE
FOR CIVILIAN SAILORS.
Nearly q Month viii Be Given on
Board Reserve BattIeshioa.

The navy department has authorized
q naval training cruise for Civilians
which will begin on Aug. is and last
until Sept. IL, and notice to this effect
has been received at recruiting sta
tons, signed by Secretary Josephus
Daniels. The course OF training is TO
be given on board reserve battieships
Civilians win be recruited by naval
districts and the ships will be allotted
according TO the number OF recruits
accepted in each district.
Qualifications.
Recruits must be citizens of the
United States. between the ages of 10
and As. in good standing, and must be
able to pass q prescribed physical ec.
animation. Unless they are Fl years
Of age, recruits will not DO accepted
without the consent of q parent or
guardian. An applicant for enrolment
must be able TO demonstrate to the
satisfaction OF a recruiting officer that
he possesses some nautical KNOWLEDGE
or experience. or that he has had some
technical training which would TT him
for service IN the navy. Six months
Of experience, or its equivalent, In any
enc OF the following trades would be
considered qualification for enroll
ment: Machinist. bOilerulaker, plumb.
or, shipftter, coppersmith. carpenter,
electrician. engineer, fireman, telegra-
pher, radio operator.
After he has qualified an applicant
will be required to sign n form OF an
plication for enrolment addressed 90
the secretary Of the navy, which will
/ be supplied by recruiting officers. Ap-
| plications must be made 10 recruitins
| officers not later than June !.
The objects Of naval training are:
To help equip properly qualified men
| TO act as reserves in time OF war OF
national emergency by giving them 4
| course OF training on waTships under
! naval officers and naval discipline.
To foster a patriotic spirit and give
| TO civilians some knowledge Of the
navy and the naval requirements oil
| the country.
To interest civilians in naval mat.
tiers so that by taking future courses
| Lf training and by study many car
qualify for acting commissions afteI
taking the necessary examination.
| Expense.
Each man when reporting on ship.
board will be called upon fer a de.
| posit of $50. which win cover the cos
of his board for the cruise and provid,
him with the necessary outfit o
clothes. Should the actual cost o
board and outfit be less than til,
amount Of the deposit, the difference
will be refunded. The applicant mus
also pay the cost OF transportation I,
end from the ship.
May Volunteer.
The obligation to defend the countr,
in case of need already rests on Al
male citizens of military age. At tn
expiration OF the cruise the recruit
Will announce his intention as 4
whether or not he win volunteer q
service in the navy in case OF war oc
curing within the next four years.
At the end Of the training course
. recruit will be given a certiIcat
signed by the commanding officer o
he ship specifying the nature OF tn
: duties he has performed. the eHcirnc
he has displayed, and the rating he
hest qualified to fill
Outline Of the Cruise.
. Recruits whose applications hav
hcen approved by the navy depart
ment will be notified to report O
} LoaTd the ship to which he has bee
assigned at a given time and place
, Their civilian clothing win be turne
, over for storage, and they will :
: supplied q sufficient outfit Of uniforI
clothing which will be charged again.
heir deposit After the recruits al
On board, the ships will leave the
{ respective naval districts and cruis
{ for n period OF about three weeks. Dun
ing this time recruits will be given
: practical instruction in the duties re
: ouired on board ship.
: 4 portion OF each day will be give
? Up to the study of special subject
which will be largely optional, so thI
recruits who have aptitude for
knowledge Of such subjects as naviCa
) ton, signaling. radio work steam {
} electrical engineering may have a
: opportunity TO specialize. Boat dri
} will be given and landings made an
Iccruits will be taught the manual
: arms and military formations. Duriu
| the final week of tho cruise the shiT
r viii return to the naval district
: whence they came, and in addition
the courses Of instruction, recruit
Will be given a general idea OF the
own naval district and its defensiy
problems.
During the final week residents
. the district who own yachts or motC
boats which would be useful as auzi
iaries in time of war Will be given a
opportunity TO operate in coniunctio
with the ships. They will he given q
! much instruction as possible in n
5 handling OF their boats IN the capzc
= ties for whlch they are best suited. ar
4 II is hoped that submarines may
available against which offensive an
J. defensive tactics mny be prDctlced.
Although Il IS not essential, IL
I ! oped that yacht and motor DO;
r owners who intend to participate
/ this final week OF manoeuvres ca
c take the preliminary weeks OF ir
] struction 10 be given on the cruise
= At the end OF four weeks the shit
Will return TO the ports whence the
n camo and the recruits will be dii
= charged.
I