The Elbert County tribune., 1917-07-06
Navy, With Its High Ideals and
Splendid Record, Justifies
Nations Pride.
MEN NEEDED FOR SERVICE
Uncle Sam Pays All Expenses and
Monthly Wage 10 All Velvet
There Is Always Room At the
Top" True Of Navy.
BY EDWARD q. CLARK.

l
| Washlngton.-Sailors of the Ameri-
can navy. many of them young men
who only year ago were on the farm,
at the bench, at the counter, or in
school, today are In Uncle Sam's de
stroyers sailing the waters Of the
northern seas. where they are engaged
In the heroic duty of upholdIng the
world principle of freedom for all peo-
pies.
| The American people always have
shown kindly disposition toward the
nan-of-war and the man-o'-warsnan.
There has been an appeal about the
sea which has drawn and held the in
terest of landsmen who never smelt
salt water. Americans always have
taken pride in their navy.
Today Uncle Sam needs men for his
navy and he wishes to get them from
the ranks of those who 'are charged
with the volunteer spirit of service.
Our great fleet Is modified ''some-
where on the coast" for possible deadly
service with the great fleet of the
enemy. Today. for the navy has al
lowed the fact to become known many
OF our smaller craft. the bulldog de-
stroyers of the navy, are hunting the
submarine sharks in the waters off
Dnunt's Iteck. close to the coast of Ire
land and farther north, where even in
summer the elements at times are al
most as fierce as "man. the enemy"
Pay Is Doubled.
Recently the congress of the United
States increased the pay of the sailor
men so materially that the recruits's
pay is double what it was.
In the navy the young men of the
country, both in times of peace and In
times of war secure liberal educations.
Their opportunities for travel and for
sightseeing are greater than those Of
men employed in almost any other call
Ing in life. Moreover. the boys just
entering manhood who enlist in the
navy are given opportunities for in
struction which. If they have the ambi-
ton and the mental qualifications, will
enable them to enter the naval acad-
emy at Annapolis on the same terms as
midshipmen who nre nominated by
members Of congress, and at that in
stitution to secure an education which
Ats them for the commissioned rank
which the government OF the United
States will confer upon them.
There are traditions in the American
navy which keep high the spirit of en-
deavor In every man who walks the
deck under the colors. from the ad-
miral to the apprentice seaman. The
boy learns all about John Paul Jones,
and his deeds on the sen for his coun-
try; all about Decatur, Bainbridge,
Hull, Porter, Fnrragut and Dewey. As
the secretary of the navy has said. in
what is really an appeal to the youth
of the country to enlist under the
navy's colors, the standard Is high
Service Of High Ideals.
"The navy has been throughout Its
| entire existence service of high
Ideals; and its unbroken record of
great and worthy achievement, of duty
well done, has been due to the high
standard set for officers and men in the
beginning and which has been main
tained ever since. This standard was
never higher than it is today; and any
young American who thinks of going
into the navy may feel sure that, on
|
which he may, and should, always feel
justifiable pride and of which the
uniform is badge of honor"
Young men between the ages of sew
enteen and twenty-five, who are not
skilled in any naval trade, are enlisted
rs apprentice senmen. Immediately
upon being sworn in at the recruiting
stations they are sent at government
expense to a naval training station.
The apprentice seaman, because he is
green man and simply undergoing
S17.6O month. From this time on,
however. under the recent act of con-
gress his pay throughout the war and
until six months after its ending is to
be S32.60 month.
Now 1t must be remembered that the
sailor, whether he be recruit or a
seasoned -o'-wnrsman, Is under no
expense at all for his livelihood after
he once Joins the navy. He Is given
clothing, food, shelter and medical ct
tendance. Out of his pay all that he
/ spend is such money ns he desires
to pay out for such luxurles and enter
tainments as he seems inclined to In
dulge In.
Increase Soon Comes.
prentice seaman continues long to draw
simply the amount of his first pay. His
first raise comes In the seaman branch,
and If he is In the fireroom he gets an
additional sum.