Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-06
BRITISH SHIPS PLAY
AMERICAN ANTHEM
Star Spangied Banner Heard
in Navy Since April, 1917.
Upholds Tradition.
BY ROBERT SLOSS.
Especial Correspondence of The Even
ing Star and Chicago Daily New>.)

fspecial Correspondence of The Even
ing Star and Chicago Daily News.)
LONDON, England, February 2.-Un-
Gle Sam could learn many lessons from
John Bulls primer for his future SAIL
ors. Both in the matter of speed in
obtaining results and in the degree of
efficiency impaired, the British system
of training naval forces developed
since the beginning of the war amounts
to a revolution Heretofore little or
nothing has been divulged concerning
the subject. and less allowed to be
written But through special facilities
granted to the Daily News by the Brit
ish government, the curtain momenta-
rily has been brushed aside and some
thing of what has been accomplished
revealed.
Some figures concerning the British
navy will emphasize the significance OF
this progress. OF the 100000 men now
engaged in Britain's naval warfare
200 900 are employed on mine sweepers
and trawlers in the vigil against the
enemy in the North sea and waters ad-
jacent to England and elsewhere. while
the remaining 100000 men constitute
the personnel of the fighting navy
affoat-seamen, stokers, ships engi-
neers, gunners and officers. At the
wars outbreak the latter numbered
$50 900, just one-half of what they are
now.
Navy More Than Doubled.
How this last figure has been doubled
in three years through adding to the
navy 10000 men drawn from every
section of civilian life was shown me
on a visit to one of a number of En-
gIish ports at which the work of train
ing constantly is proceeding. Emer-
gencies have shown that these recruits
measure up in nerve and efficiency to
the high tradition of the British navy
as exemplified in scores of engage
ments in which, after eagerly Offering
their lives for their country, they have
risked them again in efforts to rescue
the drowning sailors of the enemy
Many times while such efforts were
in progress the Germans have tried to
torpedo the vessels pursuing their work
of mercy. The latest illustration of
this was in the action that ended the
story OF the former German cruisers
Breslau and Goeben. at the Dardanelles.
when torpedo was fired at British
the Breslau This torpedo very mar
rowly missed its mark.
Play "Star Spangled Banner
Democracy and equality of oppor-
tunity for advancement are the key
note of the training that has been given
to 1900 boys between the ages of
fourteen years and three months and
sixteen years and nine months at this
port since August. 1914, on three train
ing ships An incident making the visit
doubly inspiring to an American was
the playing of The Star Spangled Ban
ner'' along with the British national
anthem at the beginning of the day.
program This custom has prevailed
at every naval station and on every
training and battieship on routine and
ceremonial occasions since Uncle Sans
entry into the war.
Veterans of the Navy. retired on PEN
sion and recalled on the outbreak of
war as instructors, are responsible for
the training. The faces of the 1.4Oo
boys constantly learning the six weeks
| course on the three training ships here
reflect their eagerneSs to grasp the
rudiments, and their subsequent work
| is proving, beyond the original expec-
| tation of the chiefs of the naval train
| ing department. the efficacy of their
! planning. Experts have been aston
/ ished at the actual results of the two
weeks of disciplinary instruction and
the four weeks following of training
| in seamanship and gunnery theory and
practice.
Hero of Station
powerful incentive to the classes
| is the hero of the training station. Jack
Cornwall, the midshipman whose brav-
| cry and steadfastness at his duties in
the last Jutland engagement won him
| the V. c. as posthumous aW ard. after
| his death in action before reaching the
! age of sixteen. At one time Cornwall
was in barracks at the port in question:
| a fact that makes even more Impressive
| the influence of his heroic death on the
minds of the boys in training.
| From the drafts of recruits constant
lily arriving at the port, selections are
made for the course in gunnery with a
1 view to nerve and steadineSs as well as
| alertness. a fact that may have much
| to do with the>remarkable results
shown in craftsmanship. Starting in
their course by actually handling the
guns after period of study and dem
onstration, the beginners get to target
work almost at once. A motor pro-
yides a movable target aboard ship cor
responding to the motion of the waves.
while the pupil trains gun on the
mark, his accuracy being registered on