The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1920-06-25

Just Justified her nickname by doing
something unique In the volunteering
line. Tennessee has just set new
standard In the record Of volunteer
naval enlistment In time of peace
And the slogan that did 1t IS:
GO to sea on the Tennessee"
When the superintendent Ten
nessee steams away majestically
from the New York navy yard some
time In June she will be the first of
uncle Sans first-class fighting ships
TO embody certain new naval idea
the Idea that 1t means pep, patriot
Ism and corps spirit to man a bat
tleship with men from the state whose
name the battleship bears. There are
600 Tennesseeans on board--and more
to come.
These GOO new naval recruits are
the product Of a whirlwind recruiting
campaign through the state of Ten
nessee, says the Sun and New York
Herald, which was led by Capt. r. Fl.
Leigh, U. s. NJ, who Is to command
the new vessel, and who, as chief Of
staff to Admiral Sims during the war,
was In direct command of all the
American submarines and sub-chasers
operating In the war zone.
In his recruiting tour Captain l eigh
has the Jealous cooperation of%Gov.
A. II. Roberts Of Tennessee, who is
extremely popular with his constitu-
ency, and of Miss Helen Roberts, the
governors daughter, who christened
the ship at the launching and whose
charming photograph portraying her
In the act of doing so was featured
in the posters that helped to lure
the Tennesseeans from their mountain
Businesses.
Captain Leigh says he is going to
try to make the Tennessee "the happy
ship" of the navy as we'll as a model
of discipline. He believes that the
spirit of camaraderie and state pride
incident to manning the vessel so
largely with native Tennessee talent
will promote both contentment and
efficiency. Commenting on his novel
experiment Captain Leigh said: "By
February 8 we had enrolled our full
quota OF lower rating men and a great
many additional applicants had to be
turned away Hundreds OF them are
now enrolled upon waiting list, anx-
ious to be summoned for duty upon
the ship of their choice. 1t would
have been possible in this recruiting
campaign to lave fully manned two
great dreadnaughts like the Tennes-
sec with Tennesseeans exclusively II
VIC had been able to accept all appli-
cants.
"But 1t must be understood. of
course. that large percentage Of the
comnlement of q ship like this, In
cludlng the chief petty o-icers, must
necessarily be men who have had pre-
v.ous experience and special training.
That is why, when we go Into CON-
mission. the Tennesseeans at first
nrohably will not muster more than
600 of the complete ships complement,
which numbers, In all, 90 officers, rs
IN the marine guard and $50 enlisted
men As rapidly as the Tennessee
recruits develop proficiency 1t will be
our policy to advance them and thus
create opportunities for some Of those
now OIL the waiting list From time
to time we may also receive Tennessee
seamen by transfer from other ships.
] am convinced that within two years
the Tennessee will be a ship practi-
-ally manned completely by TeD-
nessce crew."
Tie campaign began last November
The state of Tennessee was divided
irso sections with about IS count ea
to each Chief petty officers were de
tailed with posters, moving pictures
and other publicity devices to cover
every city and town In their sections.
Nashville was the officers headquar
ers or bnse station. The co-opera-
ton Of postmasters was obtained and