New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-15
SOLDIER AND SAILOR, TOO

% the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: In praise OF Mr.. Dings ea,,..
Saturday, February 10, "what Do Va.
About Running Battleship?' I will a.. s
all due respect to all concerned. thu, w
ally, do not believe any civilian. url.s''
an ex-service man, can sppreeiat. ."
meaning of this cartoon. However, tb,,. y"
about 5000 service and ex-service men ~
York who are readers of The Tr;hn ~"
who will surely laugh with Ding ~, aae
preciate the genuine wit and humor -, ~
prompted him to create this drswirs
We men, thousands of us, have sne,,,
years or more in Uncle Sans praetic,I WI
college, preparing ourselves not selssLI.
the battle OF life, but for the battle Of !"
the protecting Of home and eountrv ny
pairing ourselves for the accurate slin,;.~
shot and she'll rather than the artistic -.
ing of ink, we feel ourselves more c...,s
and deserving of manning and COMPASS
Uncle Sans fighting craft than the pre.~.--t'
uous college student who never give. Z,
country the slightest thought until -
arises and he svails himself Of the Oo,.,
tunity Of bringing to himself lot OF u rssc
notoriety by volunteering his service, :.
an officer"
Where, we ask, is the student OF math.r,,
les, of chemistry or of science who will 81
unteer his services as an apprentice Sea-.
or student soldier and take his chances -
with other men of equal moral. mental 49,
physical ability? Our country to-day /, a.
ing this problem in civilian life even nn,.
than in military life. Ask any factory MAJ.
ger or labor head what his greatest probl,.
is, and he will tell you invariably that n,
applicants come to him with the expeeta,;.,
Of relieving the manager.
The days of moderated and unrcfned ma,
hood in the United States Navy are past. ,,s
We have contrary TO the ideas Of a numb,
of misinformed civilians) in our navy ,o.d,s
morally, mentally, physically and spirita,,,
speaking, personnel not 10 be equalled BY A.,
other country on earth. Men Of the finest tn
of moral character are finding in the nav,
to-day opportunities for real service ana p.
wards by promotion for every earnest a..
desvor put forth. Let me enlighten tho.
who have heretofore had the very mstsks,
idea that the United States Navy was dun.
ing ground for undesirables and incoms.
tents. | have served four years in the Unity
States Marine Corps, and in view Of imp.rS
ing danger to our country have reenlis.sa
for the sole purpose Of being truly prepare
and in ranks with the first at the frc,,
Three years of my previous service wen
spent aboard the U. S. S. Wyoming, and dur.
ing that time / took part in every battle And
target practice. Qualified as first clsu
gun pointer on the 5-nch battery. My record
was eight hits out of ten shots in forty.tv
seconds. This record was made at night vita
our ship and the target under way in a rougt
sea. Was transferred aboard the U. S. s
Washington and sent to Havana. Cuba ia
June, 1912, to quell disturbance there Saw
service in Vera Cruz, Mexico, from April
| 1914, until the outbreak Of hostilities 10 Es.
rope in July, 1914, when we were recalled u
our home port New York; to protect our
own shores. Was appointed non-eomnI,.
stoned officer my first year in the service AID
received an excellent discharge.
| ask you, kind reader, not in a persoril
way but in behalf OF my comrades, am and
are they not better fitted 10 man or command
Uncle Sans fighting machine than these col.
lege boys who are apparently so patriotic AMI
anxious to serve as officers? grant yoV
that you will, in your application 10 study
and determination to win, make good doctors
or lawyers or any Of the other profession,
for which you may be preparing, but II yos
are ambitious of becoming an officer in the
army, navy or marine corps, go 10 our acads'
mics and receive the proper schooling; %
not study 70 be an electrical engineer in s,
artifcer's school True enough, We will need
in time Of war more officers than We will End
eligible in our service in time Of peace, Bat
let us hope that the deficiencies will be flsa
by men at least familiar with human nature;
and where could you find better place 70
study than in our ranks, where you nee.
every type of American manhood? We can
not all be generals in time of war, so let Us
hear from those who are willing TO shoulder
rife and learn from experience what u
means to be an officer. No wonder Uncle
Sam looks worried in Mr.. Ding's cartoon.
PAUL WESLEY BARBOUR, Z. s. NJ. C.
Fort Lafayette, New York Harbor y. Y, Feb
10, 1917.