Evening star., 1918-02-17
WHAT The GOVERNMENT Is DOING

neers and manufacturers. who aided in
tho work through spirit OF patriotism:
gave their time and their energy and
their advice without thought Of none
tary reward, and further It is stated
that in some instances the men entered
into this service. ct e distinct disad-
vantage. inasmuch as the success OF the
truck detracts from the importance of
makers
The work on this modernized standard
truck used by Uncle Sans Army at
home and abroad started back in 1916.
when the officer in charge of the trans
portation division of the quartermaster
department consulted with automobile
engineers. and in conjunction with q
committee, prepared draft OF mill
Department. Following the drawing up
Of the tentative specifications a general
meeting was called, at the request OF
officials Of the War Department, in
possible. at which were present the
chief engineers of representative
truck manufacturing companies through
out the United States. 1t was at that
meeting that a special committee was
appointed to go over with officials OF
the transportation division the specifi-
cations already drawn up and to give
such advice and aid as they were aple.
It was following such preliminary
meetings and conferences that the final
evolved.
One of the many vast problems that
has had to be. faced by the United
States Shipping Board has
Recruiting been that of recruiting
and training officers. en-
oeaauoA. gineers and crews for the
greatly enlarged merchant marine in
prospect. Much study was given to this
detail. and recruiting service was es-
tablished, with offices in the custom
house building in Boston.
The first work that was taken up was
that of training deck officers The
Scholarship method of training officers.
while successfully employed by the
states of Massa chusetts and New York.
proved too slow, with toe limited
number Of graduates for the present
emergency.
A plan was therefore adopted OF tax
ing men already trained by experiences
in seamanship and giving them snort
intensive training in special navigation
schools under the direction .iG he OF the re- re-
been in operation 1t Is reported by
oficials of the shipping board that
more than $4,000 men have applied for
training as officers. From these appli-
ence as seamen have been accepted.
A large number Of navigation schools
have been established already by the
board on the Atlantic, Pacific and gult
coasts. For this purpose the country
has been divided into seven districts
following. as nearly as possible. the
geographical divisions employed by the
United States steamboat inspection
service. The cooperation OF that serv-
ice with the recruiting service, by the
work of examining candidates for ad-
mission to the schools. quite naturally
has been of the greatest value to the
shipping board experts.
The teaching staf OF the recruiting
service has been made up of the best
available technical talent for the teach
ing of navigation, including experienced
sea captains as we'll as teachers from
scientific schools and technical UNIVERSE
ties.
For admission to these schools q mini
mum of two years experience at sea Is
required, in accordance with the rules OF
the steamboat inspection service govern,
ing the fitness as seamen Of men granted
licenses as deck officers. During the
period of schooling the men receive no
compensation from the government, and
no allowance for expenses. The schools
are not yet being run to their capacity, IN
order not to produce licensed officers
faster than they can be assimilated by
The next work to which the attention
of officials of the board has been directed
is that of training engineers. For this
purpose the field for advancement through
special training is open to oilers and
water tenders on existing saagoing yes
sells, to engineers on great lakes steamers
and to stationary and locomottve en-
gineefs Of suitable experiences. For this
purpose engineering courses under the
supervision of the recruiting service of
the board have been established at some
of the leading colleges and universities.
K
During the past year and certainly
during the coming year, when the price
of all kinds of
National Forest feed is SO hlsh.