Arizona republican., 1917-03-27
Needed By the Country.


 A special appeal is now being made by the govern ment to young to join the navy. It is not new appeal It first became insistent last fall when there was little or no thought in the government mind of war War then seemed very remote. But now, with war seemingly near hand, there is the greater need of men. We are, perhaps, presenting this matter iu a rather bald way
 Recruits would have been wanted for the navy anyway. Events on the other side of the world taught that could not get along with the kind of navy have had. In of serious need of navy. We were only comparatively little better fixed for maritime operations than Mexico with it's gunboat or the republic of Anchuria, o. Henrys fancifu creation whose navy consisted of captured smuggler and whose operations confined the transportation of government officials along the brief coast line.
 We had come to understand at last that a navy had something to do with war and that navy should consist Of an adequate number of competent ships of various kinds manned by an adequate number of men-the number agreed upon then was S7,OOO.
 The navy in many other respects than it's in competency is not what it formerly for the listed men. He was then a kind of servant with p1ratively few duties to perform, but they all IneniaL The government cared nothing for his char aoter and took little interest in his physical mental or moral Well-DelnS. lie was expected to spend days nights in idIeness when there was nothing for him do and to get drunk and fight on shore leave. The duty of assisting in up- holding the dignity of his country did not devolve upon him at all That was looked after by gentle in natty uniforms. some of them called mdship- men and some admirals. Our navy, now, when look back at it. funny affair.
 If though, we looked back certain periods had cause for pride; they periods when long records of glorious achievement made. We speaking of between-the war periods, when men have always dreamed of universal peace and have become soft and incompetent
 Bur for some years, and it was not under the inn petus of prospect of war either the foundation for different kind of a navy being laid. The govern ment became more discriminating to the kind of men t took into it. It wanted only high class young men sober to begin with, and who would remain sober. It wanted young capable of advancement and it spread before them opportunities to advance. It could undertake to make every recruit admiral but it so arranged program that any young man of average capacity who should make naval career life career would do better than the young man Of average capacity who should out for him. self short the government assured the future of a recruit of the right kind.
 For the young man who intended to serve only through one more enlistments should quit for another career it promised him equipment for that career It became school for him. paid him liberay for attending it. took of his health and his morals, gave him a broader outlook upon things in general It undertook to make a of him.
 The navy has now been doing this for some years, turning out men, some of whom skilled artisans and some of whom are well fitted for entering upon any career which civilian cares to embark upon. There are now men, mostly young yet, who beginning to make their marks in the professions in trade and in almost every line who acquired their inspiration in the navy.