Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-17
TO TRAIN $4,000 SEAMEN
IN NEW MERCHANT MARINE
Shipping Board Commissions Two
Training Ships TO Accommodate
Classes OF 600.
PAY PUPILS $40 PER MONTH
Clothing and Other Equipment Also
Given Men Who Are Accepted in
Schools - Experience Not Scccs-
sary-Nlany Enrolling Stations.

/ WASHINGTON. December Is. - An
understanding having been reached by
the United States Shipping Board and
the navy on the manning Of merchant
ships in war scrVicc-by which trans
ports and supply vessels will he man
ned by the navy, and all other vessels
in the merchant marine by the SHIP
ping Eoard-plans have been perfected
ing the merchant crews that Will be
required for the large number OF vcs-
sells which will not come under naval
control.
sea schools for tho new crews. to be
enrolled by the Shipping Board to the
number OF $4,000 men. will be conduct
cd on training ships. two of which
have already been commissioned for
The purpose by the board 1t is pos
sib,c that other vessels will be added
to the training squadron as the work
develops.
The ships already chosen arc the
Calvin Austin. Il fest passenger YES
sci recently in service on tho New Eng
land coast, and the Minnesota. large
passenger steamer from the Great
Lakes. now in Atlantic coast waters.
These vessels will be operated from
4 home station at Boston for the train :
os OF scamen. Gr@men. oilers. water
tenders. cooks and stewards.
Each ship Will accommodate class
OF coo men. who will bn subiec, TO
systematic and intensive schooling
each in his particular line OF work
unocr plan that has been worked out
in detail by the Shipping boards re-
cruitinS department, and mas just re-
cci"cd the official approval Of the
board
For the seamcn. the most import
ant training Will be in lookout work,
litcboat dr:li and fire drill The also
vii! be taught kn"ttins and splicing Of
haMS.rs ana wire ropes. and tie rou-
tine Of work about ship 1T sea This
instruction VIII he impaired ny able
:ea.ncn employed as instructors. each
having; under him squad of ten men.
~ this method II is expected that
the instructor Will be able TO ;naart
10 his pupils in a month AS much know
ledge OF scdmanshir as the average
Erre.l man WORLD get In sevcre; months
OF ordinary seaEoing.
This Instructors will be given large
iy At sea. as the men will he taken
out for frequent trips in the North
Atlan'I: to harden them TO sea lilo
and 10 sc; their sea legs on"
The cnsine-ioom mcn--ircmcn. oil
GrS and water terders--will he trained
on tee same system. with an inatru.-
tor TO a small! Sroup OF men.
.roc@s ard stewards Will have &C.
tual WORK Of preparing meals tor the
Grew. unde: the direction OF seasoned
seq cooks.
The total number OF officers and m.n
needed !oI tie ships the Shipping
Board aims u commission b. the end
OF lois is $4,000. or officers, there
> already arc available a considerable
number. both from the boards .rce
training schools in navigation and ma
rine eng necri1s. which have been ir.
operation '.irce June. and from the
Ordinary supply n ;he merchant ma
rine. The boards schools for Officers.
OF which thirty-eisht have been open
CD Slrcc last juno. ~il! be continued.
Training pay G: $50. "A month will be
given each man accepted. besides
tranSr o!iat:on TO Boston. an outfit OF
clothing and board and lodging on =
:ra:nin. :hiD