Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-14
Marine ENGINEERS
QUICKLY OBTAINED.
Shipping Board, by Its New Train
ing Method, Solves What Seemed
to Be Difficult Problem.

When the United States Shipping
Board decided that bridge Of ships
was necessary to keep the men lover
there" supplied with the things they
needed for winning the war and de-.
termined to build and equip 1000 mer-
chant ships for the purpose, further
problem faced them than that Of get
ting the yards, materials and men for
such construction. This was the man.
ming Of the ships with seamen, officers
and engineers, especially marine engi-
neers.
1t had been long general knowledge
Of the public that even in peace times
there were not enough native marine
engineers to outfit the ships regis
tered under our flag. few as these
vessels were. So it was hard to FORE
see where these multitudes Of. engi-
neers were to come from.
Board Had Confidence.
The board. at the outset, proceeded
on the theory that there was plenty
of material for an adequate supply Of
marine engineers. 1t estimated that
there were several thousands of such
men in the engine rooms and fire.
rooms of existing merchant ships
oilers, water tenders and f1remen-
; who could be made into capable engi-
neers by little encouragement and
instruction. 1t estimated further that
there were many hundreds. of marine
| engineers. following other .callings
ashore who could be interested in re-
~ 11~r = ~~Af
mated that there were thousands of
stationary engineers, locomotive driv-
ers and machinists who had worked
On marine engine construction or re-
pairs ashore who could be quickly
trained to become marine engineers.
The big necessity was making them
see that their services were needed
in the emergency. to give them some
pointers about saltwater practice in
engineering and to give them their
sea legs" before starting them off on
voyages across the Atlantic.
| Here the college came in. A plan,
originating with Henry Howard of
Boston, the boards director of re-
cruiting, was adopted. Men of these
I three classes are sent to various col
leges for a BRIEF, Intensive training
In marine engineering before. being
sent to sea.
! Novel for Marine Men.
The idea Of college education was
q novel one for marine men. There
tofore marine engineers were grad
yates OF their own engine rooms, be-
ginning as oilers or water tenders
or even coal passers-and learning
how to handle a ships vitals by
watching their chief do 1t and prof
iting by his often not-too-plain in
structions.
| The idea was so novel that the
grimy-handed mechanic who had fol-
| lowed the sea was, at first, inclined
! to shy at it. college stuff seemed
bit too much for him and he gen.
! orally believed that it was, not worth
much to a man at sea. But the plan
was carried on nevertheless. It had
| not been in operation long before the
mechanics began to see something in
it. The fremen and oilers took to it;
and they came out Of the courses with
| second or third assistant engineers
| licenses in such q surprisingly short
space Of time that the method of
their advancement commanded re-
spect.
Now tho board is able to train
plenty Of engineers to handle its
ships; even men who are equipped
to care for the delicate turbines and
Diesel Oil burners that are part Of the
equipment of the most modern type
Of construction.