Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-22

Insistent demand that the Legislature
mako adequate provision for the immediate
revival Of the activities of the Pennsyl-
vania Nautical School Association Is heard
everywhere in maritime and mercantile
circles
American ships are building in every
American yard. Tho Government is pre-
pairing to spend millions upon Its own mer-
chant feet Private capital Is being poured
out with . lavish hand in the great cam
paign to place the American flag once more
upon ships on every sea and in every port.
And there are practically no American
officers available to command the vessels
in the great American fleets now under con-
struction.
The old schoolship Adams has been with
drawn from nautical school service 1t is
now making Perth Amboy its home port.
and has been lent by the United States
Government to the New Jersey naval mill
tia for use as training ship. The old
Saratoga went upon the junk heap long
ago. Today Pennsylvania has no training
ship
Possessed of one Of the great seaports
Of the world the State Is utterly failing in
Its duty, 1t Is pointed out, in not providing
its quota Of trained officers for the mer-
chant marine.
An appropriation Of $50, 900 is needed at
once, according to old schoolship men, This
will suffice for the first year Subsequent
yearly appropriations of $4,000 would be
sufficient to carry the work forward it is
said. This would make possible the reft-
ting Of suitable ship, and would enable
the association to provide properly for the
comfort and safety Of the cadets and give
them efficient teachers.
When Governor Tener vetoed the bill ap-
propriating 100000 for schoolship work
the students were withdrawn from the
nNhoolehin
to the Government and the association that
managed the school virtually went out of
existence. This situation has remained un-
changed up to the present time.
Saratoga and Adams graduates are not
drop In the bucket when compared with
the great number Of trained captains. mates
and quartermasters that will soon be re-
Quired. Wherever these graduates have
gone they have made fine records and
as they move up the line when promotion
comes to them their places must be filled.
GRADUATES MAKE GOOD"
These graduates number hundreds Since
the old Saratoga was first put to school,
ship use in 1889. being succeeded by the
Adams In 1908, scores Of efficient officers
have been graduated These men are in
sistent that more young men be trained to
follow in their footsteps. The only way 1t
can be done, they declare, is for the school,
ship system to be revived
Captain T. w. Rudderow, captain of the
Port Of Philadelphia, is a graduate of the
class Of 1904. THE situation is very
serious one" he said today, II do not see
where we are to obtain the American Off
GERS to man our great new fleets unless the
schoolship system Is Immediately revived.
Officers must be trained.
THE Adams Is out of commission In so
far as schoolship service is concerned. The
association is dormant virtually dead, and
III ha iGla a a
propriates funds. At least $150O00 is
needed. The bill Governor Tener vetoed
provided for 100000, but that is not
enough. The State should do the thing
right ana grant enough money to provide
for the best of teachers, for the outftting
Of a good ship and for the best of care
for the boys generally"
Similar views were expressed by J. T.
McNally, a classmate of Captain Rudde-
row. ''Neyer before have the opportunities
for career upoh the sea been SO bright" "
he said .and n is the consensus of opinion
na,,4;e., snhes1..,;n ,snuSa ~ ,,io,aa g.,
commission at once The situation 10 really
a serious one and should be met fairly
and souareIv"
WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY NOW
George F. Sproule. secretary of the Com
massioners OF Navigation, emphasized the
Lerisiatnr. ns Is1a disca rIsd the school.
ship bill he said "it nut the Adams out
of commission AT that time no one realized
what momentous happenings would occur
the world over in a few months.
Our flag had about vanished from the
sea, our merchant marine had dwindled
and dwindled. and the situation was dis
couragng. All this has now changed. The
war has turned things topsy-turvy, and
today there exists a wonderful opportunity
for American boys who want to follow the
sea. The merchant marine cannot obtain
enough trained men,
England is developing her merchant ma
rine and all the first-class English lines
have a certain number Of apprentices on