The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-05-18
Men Needed
For Crews of
Merchant Marine
(By Associated Press.)

Washington, May 1.-THE sea is
calling again to American youth.
AS the new ships of the merchant
marine glide down the ways, the need
for men grows more pressing. Album
dGnt opportunity to aid in winning the
war is offered the crews of the new
vessels, with the certainty that when
peace comes there will be further ad-
venture and good pay in carrying
American commerce throughout the
world.
Recruiting of the boys and men who
must go down to the sea if America is
to regain her old place among the
maritime nations is in the hands OF
the Shipping Boards enlistment SER
vice, headed by Henry Howard, with
headquarters at Boston, who has out
lined to union men and steamship
companies what already has been &C.
complished.
about year ago we realized the
shortage that was going to arise when
the new feet was finished" Mr.. How
ard said, "and we started the train
ing of officers, both deck and engi-
neer. We established a train Of
schools extending along the Atlantic
coast, the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific
coast and the Great Lakes, to enable
lis to get hold of the men who had ex-
perience at sea. We then got the CO.
operation of the Steamboat Inspection
Service, No man was admitted to
our schools for officers unless he
could first qualify for experience re-
guired by the rules of the Steamboat
Inspection Service. That obviates the
training of any dead material. after
men get their licenses we place them,
as far as possible, on board steam
ships as junior officers, to get actual
bridge experience, for thirty to sixty
days. During that period they get
SIS a month, with no bonus, paid by
the Emergency Fleet Corporation, so
that the only expense to the steam
ship companies taking these men is
the food they eat.
1--WE have turned out officers so fast
that great many have not been find
ing positions in the merchant marine,
and have gone into the navy. 1t has
been, to a certain extent, a short cut
to a commission in the navy, going
through our schools, owing to lack of
cooperation in many of the steam
ship lines in taking these men on. We
believe, however, in view Of the action
that was taken by the American
Steamship Association some weeks
ago that this will now be strengthened
out, and that we will get the places.
There have been licensed, since the
first of June, something over 5000 Of
f'cers both deck and engineer.
Engineers have been giving train
ing in various technical institutions
the Massachusetts Institute of Tech
nology, in Boston; the John Hopkins,
iii Baltimore; Case School Of Applied
Science in Cleveland; the Tulane
University of Washington, in Seattle.
Then outside of those institutions we
have been giving special engineering
courses in Philadelphia, in connection
with the icebreaking steamer, the
Governor Weaver, loaned to us by the
City of Philadelphia for that purpose
We are also giving some courses at
the Seamen's Institute in New York,
We are starting an additional school
In Berkeley, Cal.
1--WE have been in touch with the
Officers Association in England, and
If any shortage develops here. We will
bring officers over to fill the places
We have an offer of cooperation from
the English Officers Association. W.
have felt from the very beginning thai
We ought to develop our own materia
here to the utmost before we call OF
any foreign officers, but it looks nov
as if it might be necessary to call OF
foreign officers, to have reserv,
force on hand to meet any emergenc,
that may arise.
1--WE have started training ships TO
training sailors, firemen, cooks AM
stewards, oilers and water tenders
We have in operation the Governo
Dingley at Galveston and the Cover
nor Cobb is at sea. Our program
calls for giving these ships five day
out of the seven each week at sea, S
| as to give the men their sea legs. Tn
old army transport Meade is bein
: used as a receiving ship.
I'VE divide the men into squads G
4 ten each, under an able seaman as in
structor. One of the principal thing
: is to teach them lifeboat work.
With training every day for thirt
! days we feel that those men are prof.
4 ably as good in handling a lifeboat a