The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-08-09
NAVAL ENuSTMENTS
|FOR.TWDsYEARS NOV
Floating Forces Afford
Splendid Career for
Young. Americans.

The old IDEA that it took four years
70 make sailor was buried last month
when Congress passed law providing
for two gear enlistment.
This 70 the result OF the Nays war
experience with over $4,000 young
Americana. After q few months train
ing they stepped into places at guns.
torpedoes, tifrets. on bridges and In
wireless rooms alongside veteran navy
men. IN all classes OF fighting ships,
and IN q year II was impossible to tell
the new men from the old, 30 rapidly
did they acquire sea habits and ia
miliarity with the mechanism Of .hetr
ships.
The Navy department quickly real
lied that II II wished to attract to the
Navy the type of young Americas who
would be an honor to the uniform in
times of peace tt would have TO first
shorten the term OF enlistment. The
second week OF recruiting since the
law was passed shows an eighty per
cent Increase OF enlistments oveT what
they were two weeks previous.
This showing ID very satisfactor,
to the department, and Il Is confident
~ expected that as the news is spread
OF the short. term enlistment at least
double the number OF enllstmep:s will
follow. A short cruise In the navy -
just what the young men OF the coun-
try have been waiting for
Therss is no doubt that the Navy
appeals strongly TO American boys,
who at the age OF eighteen and nine
teen get tired Of using their lima gina.
tons and wish to find out what the
world really is by travelling. Four
3 years was too long time to ask then
70 give up without hurting their
chances for successful civilian "a
feer The two year enlistment solves
the problem. and now Il fine lot of
Young men. the best the country cal
produce arc coming in daily The peo-
4. pie OF the United States are waking
up TO the opportunities OF the two
year enlistment and the Navy Is
hound TO be the Service For Young
Men. The boys do not run the risk
OF contracting diseases for the Navy
is the healthiest place Ia the world
The ships are so sanitary ana the
Navy men are so clean personally +,
that there Is practically no sickness.
The ships are spick and span as the
operating wards OF hospital.
Il is well known what wonderful
physiques are acquired by two years of
Naval training The good food, ath-
letics, and regular hours, in n short
time. build up the most robust YOU'RE
men n the world a class Of REC g $
in three months gained twelve pounds
average weight per man.
Coupled with the physical advan-
tages are the educational features.
The young man of the interior towns
now have chance to get out OF their
homes for short time, sail the Sever
seas, and go back homo and settle
down. The educational advantages
are apparent and all young Americans
OF good character will have the same
opportunities TO see the world as the
rich mans son.
The Secretary OF the Navy has ak
en- particular pains to see that there is
Chaplain on every important ship.
Fathers and mothers frequently inquire
as TO the moral influences of the life
their boys are entering. The chapiains
are welfare workers are looking out
for the boys personally Maynard
boys are rejected. Only those of good
moral character are accepted. y great
many OF the boys who arc coming in,
STATE that they do not intend to make
the Navy their life's work, but are
coming for only two years Just to get
the hardy and vigorous manhood, ccur-
age and selt-reliance that Navy train
ing gives. 1t is evident that as long
as We do not have universal service.
the youth Of the country are going 10
get Just as much benefit out of the two
year enlistment. A large number of
the boys are cominGin for the two year
cruise from high schools. A great
many of these young men realize how
they have neglected their bodies and
as consequence they lack the physi-
cal stamina which would be so usefu.
% them in the battle OF life. 1t is an
ideal Arrangement for boy to finish
on his education with a two year
cruise Other high school boys are
coming in because the Navy depart