Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-27
WHAT BUSY MEN
CAN DO FOR NAVY
Work in the Reserve Described.
Service That Is Not Tech
nical Nor Far From
Home
BY A NAVAL EXPERT

reauy ior our bit when the emergency
comes but we hardly know i'm what way to
go aoout " II is all very well for the
young unattached man TO enlist in the
army or navy or marine corps but we of
family and business cannot see our way to
mat Besides, to enlist means TO be away
four years and all the time. SO that cannot
be done.
Still. we have behind us all the time the
thought that we may he required to enlist
IN war times, and be sent away willy-nlly,
ana that is not pleasant OF course, we
Woulu 20 IL IN minute II the necessity
came and the call was strong as in Eng
land but we do not see ahead any such
lkelihood, and still we do not like that
lhslstent idea at our heels and would like to
go INTO something" that would enable us
10 Keep an eye on our business and family
ana still fill a place that must be filled by
somebody. We may as well ali such a
pace, where we are doing our stunt and
sun ne near home as to wait until we are
GRABBED and sent anywhere when the real
call comes,
>, ouch chance is right here with us now.
livery eHort is being made to fiII 5000 places
Tor duty near home and in this naval dis
ulct' so that we may become home guards
ana sun have a chance of the most strenu-
% ous ana important duty to be had any
where. The idea is to be one of those who
volunteer now to he ready at n call 10 de-
tend our own hailiwick against aggression
Men are needed to be ready to man the tug
ooats' merchant vessels, mine layers, mine
sweepers, submarine chasers and patrol
boats right in this river and bay. the duties
extending on the coast only as far as Bar
negat, N. j., on the north and Assateague
Inlet, Va. to the southwark
Enrolling for Future Work
There is chance for lot of us to do our
bit 1t means that we enroll now TO per-
form the duty when called upon We do
not have to go at once but simply stay at
home and attend to our affairs until wanted
Then we will be engaged right near here
At times we will be free to get leave and
be with our own and still be in touch and
ready to work day and night
In addition to those needed to serve on
these protecting boats. many others are
needed. A large clerical force will be needed
with stenoeraphers, typists, etc. also store
keepers and accountants called yeomen in
the navy. Also, wireless men and women
VIII be needed to fill in the vacancies due to
sending away the present ones to more i'm
portant duties. Furthermore ii is not every
one on minelayer or a patrolboat or other
defensive craft who actually must be the
expert In mines or nets or guns Those
really doing expert work are very few in
reality and the bulk of the crews are made
up of others who are expert in their various
ways, as captains, mates. engineers, fire
men, cooks, writer's, nurses. etc So there is
a chance somewhere for every one of us,
would correspond to ordinary seamen in
the navy.
It will not be all fun by any means when
you remember that it is on the bad nights
that attack Is most likely to occur. and
we must he ready for bitter cold and frozen
spray and green coming over
small boats as we are patrolling the waters
of the lower bay or the adjoining seas
In time of peace there is no responsibility
at all. We enroll and are ready and receive
a retainer for this enrolment and prom
Use for the future S12 a year just as we give
a lawyer a retainer in payment of what we
hope he will do later. In this case it will
not be what the Government will hope for.
but what 1t will exact, which is right, too.
We enlist in whatever capacity we feel we
are fitted for and what the enrolling officer
is convinced we can best do for the cause.
All Can't Be Officers
And do not think that we are all fitted
for the high commands or even for an Off
GERS position. If you think you should be a
lieutenant in this reserve, remember that
one of the things you must be able to do
and do at once and without a chance of
failure is to lower or hoist boat alongside
In the worst kind of weather. You must be
ready the very first time this may occur
and you must remember before you claim
this ability that the lives of all in the boats
crew depend on your knowledge. 1t will be
dark as pitch and raining, and the wind
will he blowing and the seas will alter
nately lift the boat to the level of the
deckhouse of your small craft and later will
drop it to about the depth of the keel.
Maybe you have tried under these crcum-
stances to hook the falls at each end and
hoist away with a at just the right
moment to catch the boat at the top of its
lift and safely get. it started away from
the reach of the waves. IL you have not
tried this thing / advise you to enlist an
ordinary seaman until YOU have learned
something Of the sea This is merely one
of the many thousands of things you should
have at your finger ends. Perhaps you know
all about the meaning OF the various nag
codes. If you do, you are wonder 'better
enlist as seaman until you nave the
chance to serve under tho quartermaster
long enough to learn this one thing, so you
will not make mistake,
Philadelphia would be the most important
spot for the enemy to attack with the idea
of crppling our resources. There is little
danger with the present outlook for an IN
yasion of our land. but the possibilities or
a sea attack that would reach to our navy
ward and manufactures in this city and all
The way down to the mouth of the bay must
he Immediately provided against This at
tack would be up to this reserve to attend
to and prevent. If possible. The regular
nayy will have enough to do In many ways
and probably most of its work VIII be away
from this coast, so that it will be impossi-
bic for them to defend each harbor against
submarine attack. The army can do moth
ing against these craft except Tor the mine
Iaying, in which they are very prohcient
still there are few of them, and you re-
serves must fill their places OH the mouth
of the bay and help the submarine hunters
there and inside the harbor.
There are recruiting places for this city
| ,t the following stations: City Han, Naval
| Home. Fitzwater street and Grays Ferry