Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-22
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT Is DOING

win the tAouSanQ9 OF r0CIultS VINO
have gone into the Navy officials of
that branch of Uncle
Navy Reern;+ Sans fighting force
have been up against
Training. some hard problems
in training. but they have been met
and at this time very efficient or
ganization has been evolved for TAX
ing care of the recruits.
The best instruction. where posi-
BILE. for the new men is in training
stations. ashore for f1ve months. where
they are taught swimming. handling
boats, military maneuvers, technical
and elementary subjects. These in
clude arithmetic, geography, history,
stenography, typewriting and other
high school subjects, which are al
ways paramount.
In the early days of the war the
need for additional men to fully man
all the ships which were at once
placed in full commission did not per-
nit this five months instruction in
training stations. Many young men
were of necessity at once ordered to
the ships, where the most thorough
intensive training was given. The ex-
cellence of this ship board tutelage
has been evidenced in the efficiency
early shown by those given this prac-
tical instruction. Moreover. the quick
rush of recruits overcrowded the
training stations. so that it was inn
possible to carry out the systematic
and well-matured plan of instruction
in the training stations. With the
completion of the shore stations, the
enlisted men have been able to receive
the benefit which five months at train
ing stations afford. The policy of the
department. however, is to subordi-
nate instruction ashore and every
thing else to the manning of the ships
by the best-trained men who can be
assigned to this duty.
In addition to the enlisted men the
Navy has had need of officers to COM
mand the recruits. The first and best
source OF supply of naval officers, OF
course. is the Naval Academy; second,
the experienced enlisted men and war
rant officers who have served long in
the naval service and secured ad-
vancement by demonstrated fitness;
third. the trained men in the militia
fourth, experienced seafarfng men:
fifth, young men in the naval reserve
from civil life who have military, en-
cheering, or scientific education.
From these sources a large number
of additional officers have been Sc
cured, not few of whom have proved
valued additions in the time when
more ships have been commissioned
than the Navy could supply with Of
hcerS in the regular establishment
The return to the service Of retired
officers has been helpful and they are
now filling many important positions
held by active officers in times OF
peace. Special training has been
given to capable men seeking COM
missions and the departments instruc-
tons require demonstrated capacity
before enrolment or promotion in the
commissioned rank.
Every ship has been converted into
a training station and the fittest men
are being advanced as their qualif1ca-
tions are established. Intensive
courses for naval reserve officers
selected by competitive examinations
have been provided at the Naval
Academy. and instruction to qualify
as officers is being provided at other
points for men who show they have
the talent. 1t is hoped by officials OF
the Navy Department that the oppor-
tunity for such instruction can be ex-
tended to others in the regular and
reserve forces of exceptionally capable
young men who have enlisted in the
Navy.