The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1919-03-28

Lure of the seven seas Is drawing
many of the young men recently dis
charged from the army, as well as
others who had war jobs In industrial
plants and are now idle, into the mer-
chant marine.
War experiences and war unrest
seem to have led many young Ameri-
cans to seek broader fields than salts
fed them before the war. They have
had taste of the world. and want
more of 1t.
This change In the tastes of the
country's youth has been Of timely ad-
vantage to the United States shipping
board, which Is looking for thousands
Of young men to serve on the new mer.
chant ships built by the government
as result of the war.
Ships Of the new cargo fleets owned
by the nation are being launched at
the rate of two a day. Each vessel
requires a crew Of not less than fifty
men, and the shipping board aims to
make these crews as nearly as possible
all-American.
To secure the men 1t needs for the
merchant service, the shipping board
began establishing its own recruiting
Offices in large cities after the war
ended-when the average recruiting
Office went out of business.
Its Office for the middle West was
opened at 35 South Dearborn street,
Chicago, In the heart of the downtown
section. Young men flocked to II as
soon as 1t was open. The office is in
charge of DR.. Oliver J. Lee, director
Of free school in navigation that the
shipping board has maintained at Chi.
cago since early in the war. for train.
ing deck officers.
Chance to See World.
"We offer the young man no longer
satisfied with his former outlook in
the world a chance to see distant
countries" said Doctor Lee. 1--WE
plan to give the young sailor who en-.
tiers the new merchant marine plenty
Of chance to improve his opportunities.
His voyages will be varied. so that he
may see the greatest number of coun-
tries In the shortest possible time.
When he has learned the business Of
seagoing he will be trained as an of.
ficer, If he shows the right Qualifica-
lions. Young men suited for CONNER
cial life will then be encouraged to
enter exporting or importing houses,
at home or abroad, for q commercial
career, for which a knowledge Of sea.
going and Of different countries Is q
firm foundation"
The young men signed on for sea
service at the shipping boards Chica.
60 Office are sent to Boston under es.
cort, at government expense. At the
old New England seaport they are
placed on ships of the United States
shipping boards Atlantic training
squadron for two months special In
struction as sailors, firemen, cooks or
stewards. While taking this training
they are paid $50 month, and have
free board and quarters. They rate as
apprentices, and wear q distinctive
blue uniform.
On completing the training period,
the young mariners are shipped out in
the crews Of deep-sea vessels, at wages
varying from sos a month for ordinary
seamen to SIS a month for firemen.
They agree to remain in the merchant
service at least a year.
May Seek Promotion.
At the end Of the year the young
men will be counted as experienced
American seamen. They will be ex.
pected to seek promotion, and at the
end Of two years they will be qualified
to study at a shipping board school for
officers, which gives technical instruc.
ton in navigation or marine engineer.
ing. The engineering courses are CIV
en- at the best technical colleges.
In addition to maintaining recruiting
stations In the large cities, like New
York. Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore,
Washington, New Orleans, San Francis
co and Seattle, the shipping board, by
arrangement with the war department,
has placed representative at each of
the army cantonments where soldiers
are being discharged, to give the men
Information about the merchant ma.
rine