The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-07-27
THE PENSACOLA JOURNAL SUNDAY MORNING JULY a. 1919

try with Lieut. Kirkpatrick OF the regu-
lar navy. In charge OF the training Sec
ton of the aviation branch. and to report
or the aviation mechanics schools SIT
!. uated 1T the different naval aviation
camps. The reasons for the ineffective
ness Of these schools. which had prompt
ed the trip. were found In the lack VI
capacity. antiQuated teaching methods
and an entire absence OF co-ordina ton
OF the stations with one another or with
the central authorities.
Since there had been no time to inn
pose any standards from washington
each school had been organized by the
station commander according to hts own
IDEAS. and almost Invariably with OBJ
iotete equipment or mono ut al, most %
the instruction being given on the black
beard There was no instruction In sew
eral special branches essential to the
maintenance OF an air static .
All these reports were set forth IN. re-
ports sent to the navy department by
mail and telegraph. and when the inves-
ugators returned complete plans for .
reorganization system Of training were
presented and put into operation. STAN
dard courses for all branches Of training
for aviation mechanics were mapped out.
with standard lists Of equipment. Even
| such skilled occupations N those of car
penter, coppersmith. blacksmith and ship
filter were included in this system.
Operation of these courses and selection
OF men to be trained was Entrusted to DR..
Locke. who Immediately organised . sys-
tenn Of travelling inspectors to keep In
touch with conditions at every school
In the country. DIR. Locke and his assoc
ciates were aided In this work by many
OF the students they had personally train.
ed Many OF these students were ma
ture men with previous naval or engineer
ing experience.
In June. tho bureau asked Dr. Locke
to inspect the submarine school at New
London. and recommended improvements
In instruction and in means OF increas-
ing capacity to supply the needs of the
great number Of submarines which were
being completed. There were not enough
officers and men from the regular navy to
man boats. and the school at New London
by itself was entirely inadequate. There
fore, thH*Training School for Submarine
Per sonnet wAs expanded to include courses
in the United States Navy Gas Engine
School at Columbia and at Pelham Bay.
The commander Of the submarine force
Of the Atlantic feet and the commandant
Of the submarine base at New London
coilaborated with DIR. Locke in drawing up
plans for the new course.
On June II. 1918. the bureau Of naviga-
ticn issued q circular letter TO all ships
and stations summarizing and defining
Dr. I1ocke's duties and powers and making
him a direct representative Of the bureau
In matters pertaining to selection and
training OF officers and men in branches
previously described. Later letters and
orders increased DIR. Locke's authority ~
the system organized by him expanded.
Several times during the progress of his
work DIR. Locke was offered lieutenant
commandership. but had refused, consid-
ering his work in the capacity of civilian
director as satisfactory. When the fall
term opened at Columbia his official du
ties required all his available time. and
so be was unable to assume. any univer
-sity duties. Being barred from his uni
yersity salary, and having. from the very
beginning of the war given up his con-
sulting work, which normally Melted him
several times as much as his salary, DIR.
Locke was forced by circumstances to
accept commission as Heutenant-com-
mander at a greatly reduced stipend
One Of the most difficult problems to
solve in connection with the training work
undertaken was the preparation Of syllabi.
course OF manuals and references texts
suited to the intensive courses organised
and to service conditions. At the time
the armistice was signed little had been
accomplished In printing these texts and
notes. The regular navy has decided to
do this In the interest Of Standardization