New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-23
Boys for Our Ships
Dry Land Training at State Institu-
tons Suggested
To the Editor of The Tribune.

10 the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: A recent article from The
Tribunes Washington Bureau, "Ship
Board Plans to Drop About 600 En-
ployees," contained two paragraphs
that deserve special consideration:
'Tn commenting upon the personnel
Of the crews operating American ships
to-day it was stated 1T the board that
three-fourths Of the members of crews
owe allegiance to foreign flags; it is in
Dictated that in the great ports Of the
world the percentage of American sea-
faring men is but one-third Of the to-
tai number.
"Shipping Board officials realize that
they face difficult task in presenting
attractive propositions to American
youths to serve as seamen. The aver
age boy OF to-day feels that he can do
far better in other walks Of life"
If the United States Shipping Board
and the mercantile marine corapsnies
are interested in recruiting or prcvid-
ing requirements for ships Of American
registry there is an abundance Of ma
terial to be found in every state that
supports disciplinary institutions for
J boys. A great number Of these boys
could be utilized as nucleus to build
up personnel for our merchant
service.
You will remember the U. s. S. Re-
cruit, which was erected in Union
Square to stimulate the imagination o.
our youths and aid recruiting FOR the
navy during the war The same thing
can be duplicated on institution
grounds by the erection Of full
rugged ship minus the hull. with every
spar, sail end rope in shipshape working
order. Two hundred boys could bs
trained ST time, once - twice
week, with classes in knotting and
splicing, sailmaking, compass, Steer-
ing, carpentry, log ard lead lines. For
sea training q brig of about 500 tons
burden would be required during ths
summer months for short cruises to
the West Indies to give the boys th1lr
sea legs.
The average boys of TO-DAY are ez'
actiy the same as they were forty
years ago. They have imagination,
bat the opportunity for its exercise is
restricted by the exclusion Of the
waterfront from view by covered docks-
Years ago boy could wander along
the waterfront under an arch Of flying
jibbooms. or climb aboard some clip
per and watch the foreign cargoes be-
ing discharged, or listen to some c'd
salt spin yarn about life on the oceaa
wave that would invariably assist MS
Imagination to run riot and make nin
wish he we're old enough TO be sailor
Of engineer on a steamboat.
All the hoys have to stimulate then
now are sea stories ard a view Of mast
That makes poor background for ths
boys that read about John Paul Jones
or Mr.. Mdshipman Easy, etc Tho
United Stetes Shipping Board VII.
never obtain the requisite number OF
American seamcn until it initiates
svStam If training ships where the
youth can learn to be a sailor or ens'-
reer at government expense.
There is nothing fantastical sbous
dry-land uairing ships. l know taa'
England obtains an abundant supply
of sailors from Scholarships that afS
built miles away from salt water.
Give the boys chance to volunteer
to become eailors at any institution
and the government will never be she''
of seamen Tor the navy or the mcrchsns
marine JAMES FOREMAN ST.
Passaic, N. j.. Aug. 10, 1921. /.