New-York tribune., 1919-04-16
ADMIRAL Mayo Announces
Prospective Cob Can In
spect Fleet and Choose
His Job Before SigningUp
Lack of Men Is Serious
Thousands of Sea Veterans
Get Victory Leave and
Enjoy City's Hospitality

Admiral Henry T. Mayo, commanding
the 1o5 ships OF the Atlantic feet now
81 anchor in the North River, issued
Yesterday the first official order au-
thorizins commanders TO recruit sail
ors on the decks and to assure the re-
cruits Of immediate training on the
ships Of their choice. This plan elimi-
mates the long, tedious weeks Of train
ing camp service and permits the re-
eruit TO make personal investigation
Of his Job first.
attention is invited to the acute
ness Of the personnel situation" the
order from Admiral Mayo read. when
the ships Of the Victory feet leave
New York at the end of April they will
be manned by smaller crews owing to
the fact that II per cent are to be dis
charged and released from active ser
vice during the next two weeks
The privilege will be open only dur
ing the fleets stay in home waters, and
i. is believed the order will stimulate
recruiting, not only for the ships in the
Atlantic fleet, but for the $50 merchant
. ships which the navy has added to the
force since the war.
May Observe "Gob's" Routine
Men may go aboard destroyers, sub
marines, battleships or chasers and fol-
low the routine of the sailor. Men want
ing 10 get special mechanical ratings
can inspect the ships and make in
quires. Enlistments are optional as
far as possible in any branch the re
cruit specifies, and after enlisting the
training viii begin on the open sea or
wherever the ship IS assigned.
A blue uniformed army Of II. 900
"gobs' invaded Manhattan yesterday.
Commander C. B. Mayo, of the Bureau u
Of Navigation. and Commander Noyes,
o. the Pennsylvania, said that even the
admlra. was off on liberty.
l. was announced that Admiral Mayo
and Rear Admiral Hugh Rodman had
gone to Washington to sit on the Navy
Selection Board to recommend promo
tlons in rank Of those reserve officers
who VIII De retained in the service.
Crowds Of visitors travelled back and
forth between the piers and the dread
noughts during the afternoon.
Lots of Tickets for "Gobs"
Liberty parties OF sailors showing off
are we'll supplied with tickets to thea
tres, dances and parties, and the officers
require reasonable assurances from the
"gobs' that they Will use the tickets
before they are given out. Thousands
Of the "gobs" are satisfied to And their
own entertainment. Just let 'em alone >
was the observation from petty off
Ger at the pier. They'll find fun anC
plenty OF IL
The Knights OF Columbus has ar
ranged several all-sailor mornings a
the Ringing Brothers and Barnum AM
Bailey's circus al Madison Square Gar
den, the first of which viii take plac,
this morning. Six thousand men ant
officers will see something new in th'
matter of trick yard arm performance:
on the flying trapeze. The doors opel
al a. m. Other performances ar
FOR April 19, %. 81 and 26 The mil
hon dollar fotilla Of automobiles or
eanized by the War Camp Community
Service from wealthy families will con
vey the sailors to the big show ant
% other points of interest in the city
The Navy Club at 500 Fifth Avenue
nas announced open house Special clui
rooms and features, chiefly culinary
are ready. Just because It's on tlftt
Avenue doesn't imply that 1t ia no
"'he gobs' own club" Mrs. william
Hamilton, vice president. said yes
terday.
Learn New Signalling Tricks
commander Russell Wilson arrived
or the flagship Pennsylvania of
Ninety Street 10 organize tht
slrnal service The war has taught The
nav new tricks in signalling.
C0ief I5oa.swain's Mate Frank J
Kelly. known in aquatic, naval ana
messroom circles as the wild Irish
man Of The navy" is arranging for the
faTship's grand ball, 20 be held in The
Hotel Pennsylvania. or April "a.
Tho announcement from Washington
that the battlesnip Arizona had re
placed the Mississippi az the escor'
flagship for the George Washington, ex
planned tnc failure % the Arizona te
arrive here yesterday with the feet