The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1919-12-03

from the pretty sentiment of being
one of those from the Volunteer
state to serve on the vessel named
for her."
Speedy EnIistments.
AS stated, the plan is to bring
about the enlistment of these 1900
men as quickly as possible. If Sec
rotary Daniels and Capt. Leigh come
to Tennessee it will be within the
next two weeks. The vessel is now
eighty-fve per cent completed. She
will be finished and ready for service
in February, at which time she will
be put into commission. The desire
is to have the men enlisted for SER
vice thereon to go to the New York
navy yard and witness the completion
of the vessel, and take their training
in and about it that they may be even
more conversant with it than other
wise would be the case.
1t is probable that Gov. Roberts
and his staff and prominent citizens
, of the state will be invited to be
present at the commissioning. Some
formalities hitherto unobserved in
connection with commissioning new
naval ship, may be carried out, in
view of the fact that this is the first
time state will have furnished the
full complement of enlisted men for a
battleship named for it.
A flag probably will be presented to
the vessel, and silver service typical
of Tennessee also will be given as a
token from the people of this state.
In addition to the formalities of read
ing. the commission from the secre-
tary of the navy, the occasion may be
signalized by speeches by Secretary
Daniels, Gov. Roberts and perhaps
the mayors of the four leading cities
of Tennessee and others. These are
details yet to be worked out.
Homogeneous Organization
Commander Roper is of the opin-
ion that with the 100 per cent of the
enlisted men from Tennessee, an or
ganization will be had the like Of
which has never before been on an
American war ship. He said they
will constitute Homogeneous mass"
They will be all-American. They will
speak common language. They will
understand one another, as men can
not understand their fellows when
picked from every state and from the
four quarters of the globe They will
have many interests in common, and
IN numerous cases will have the same
friends and often will be blood rela-
tives. The entire plan, while unique,
is ideal and will prove a signal of
success, says Commander Roper
The naval recruiting station in the
federal building in Knoxville was Of
ficially visited by Commander
Roper. Officers and men in charge
were instructed in detail as to the
plan in mind relative to recruiting for
the Tennessee. Hitherto orders had
been issued as to this. but the instruc-
tons given, are even more COM
prehensive and urged upon the re-
crultlng staff the Importance of rush
ing the work for the Tennessee. so
that the men may get all the time
possible at the navy yard in advance
of putting the battleship into service
in February.
Commander Roper also was in con-
ference with Gov. Roberts and Gen.
L. d. Smith and Col. w. S. Shields, of
the governors staff, as to the plan
set out. The governor is very en-
thusiastic in favor of it, and Col.
Shields and Gen. Smith also gave it
their hearty approval and assurance
Of cooperation.
In commenting upon "tht greatest
warship in the world" Gov. Roberts
said:
Il heartily endorse the navy de-
partment's plan to have this magni-
ficient warship manned by citizens of
Tennessee. l strongly advise all |
young men of Tennessee desiring to
travel, see the world, and learn a !
trade, to seriously consider this I'M
usual opportunity for service in our
navy"