Gilpin observer. (Central City, Colo.) 1897-1921, 1918-11-14

used for transport purposes will be turned back to
their original uses commerce carriers. and Will
call for merchant crews
The work of manning the merchant marine with
all Amsrican crews thus becomes one of the great
est of the governments present activities.
Ut is being carried out entirely by the United
States shipping board through Its own recruiting
service. This service has national headquarters Mt
Boston-a famous old seaport and n natural CEN
ter for American sailors-and has training sta
tioas also at New York, Norfolk, New Orleans, San
Francisco, Seattle and Cleveland. 1t maintains
a fleet of - training ships and is training 6,OoO
men month.
The system of securing recruits for this service
they are not enlisted, but sign contract to
for the duration of the war, with the privilege of
serving as much longer they like-is exceed
ingy simple.
Observing the effectiveness of establishing
branch post offices in drug stores, the shipping
board applied the idea to recruiting and estab-
lished it's recruiting stations in each store of
well-known chain throughout the country. There
are 6S54 of these stores and in each the proprle-
tor or head clerk is sworn in as "dolara-year
man" to work for the United States shipping board
as Il special enrolling agent of the merchant ma
rne.
These enrolling agents began their work last
spring They got to going strong in August Of this
year. us the figures already quoted indicate.
The men whom they sign are sent to seaports
for training the government relmburslng them for
their railroad fare.
The young men entering the merchant marine
through the shipping boards training service be-
come the special charges and wards of the shipping
board for the duration of the war.
Their welfare Is looked after from the moment
they enter the service. They placed on board
big training vessels, where they are put into uni
fornl-a special uniform, differing from that used
In the navy--and are given n scientific course of
training in the rating for which they "sign on"
Some are trained sailors. others fremen
ntInr mr. holar sfa rIs Far Ina
cooks and bakers special schools are maintained
aboard ship. there being ut Boston and an
other Mt New York.
Firemen are given special school course also.
the character Of coal, combustion, care of boil
ers and the like. The shipping board maintains
large school for fremen at Chicago and another
at Boston.
Water-tenders and oilers-the assistants to the
engineers q ship-are also given special school
training before being taken to sea, at u Chicago
school of engineering.
When the young men thus trained-and some
are quite young, the minimum age limit Is
eghtecn-have finished their special courses they
are sent to merchant ships. In proportion
of four to each six able seamen carried.
Ahoat ashore they are responsible always to
the shipping board. and every time they return to
IN American port they report their whereabouts to
the recruiting service headquarters.
In this manner Uncle Sam keeps u paternal eye
ON the young men making their first voyages. He
knows them, and knows that he can trust them.
They are part of a big family of young American
sailors of the best sort-Amercans whose loyalty
IL beyond question. and whose bravery and devo-
ton give the lie every dry and every hour Of the
day to cruel ISLANDERS that have been circulated
since the began against the character Of Amer.
lean merchant crews
The young American merchantmen faces grave