New Britain herald., 1926-12-30
NAVY DRIVE BEGINS
 ON FIRST OF YEAR
Uncle Sam Calling for Enlist
 ments to Complete Force

Announcement was made at the navy recruiting office, s3S Chapei street, New Haven, in charge of the Connecticut recruiting district that a drive for first enlistments would commence the first of January. This drive is to obtain first enlistments to bring the strength of the navy up to the S2,500 standard allowed by the appropriation bill for the present fiscal year. Also it becomes necessary to obtain 5000 extra en- listments to man the giant aircraft carriers U. S. S. Lexington and U. s. s. Saratoga which will be com- missioned the coming spring and summer. Qualified aviation mechan- ics are particularly needed for each carrier will be equipped with 72 fighting and observation planes Op- portunity is being given to non-rated men to be sent to an aviation Dchool at Great Lakes. Illinois to qualify in aviation ratings such a machinists mates, metalsmiths. etc.
 At the same time the scarcity of skilled artificers still remains First enlistments are authorized by ma chinists mates, coppersmiths. boiler makers, patternmakers and black smiths who are qualified by reason of experience and training. Such quali- fled men can be enlisted imme- diately as second or third class petty officers and after a short course of training in naval life will be sent directly to battleships and repair vessels of the fleet.
 To stimulate recruiting activities the forty recruiting districts of the United States will be placed upon a competitive basis on the first of January. The Recruiting Service is divided into seven Grand Divisions, Connecticut being placed in the New England Division. Captain Charles E. Courtney. U. s. Navy. Is in com- mand of both the New England and Eastern Divisions covering the ter ritory from Maine to and including Virginia and West through Cleve- land, Ohio. Captain Courtney's head quarters are in New York City and he will make frequent trips from his headquarters to inspect the Re- cruiting Districts in New England.
 Building Gunboats for China
 The construction of the six gun boats for duty on the Yangtze-K -Kiang River is proceeding with satisfactory speed. These boats authorized by the last Congress are especially built shallow draft vessels, designed for duty on the Yellow River which eX- tends a thousand or so miles up into the interior of China. By 1nterna- tional agreement a constant patrol is maintained by the Powers to pro- tect the interests and lives of their nationals from the warning of the Celestial Kingdom. If it were not for the presence of this patrol and it's continued activity, plunderins and murder of the White Devils" would be certain and confiscation of American property would result.
 The hulls of these gunboats are being built in Shanghai The en- zines are being built in the United States for transportation and further assembly in China.
 Upon the completion of these river gun boats the United States will have a modern and effective force for the protection of American lives and property along the Yanet- ze. The present force of gunhoats is old and antiquated and some of them can barely proceed up stream against the strong currents of the river.
 Old timers in the navy well re- member the difficulty of proceeding from town to town at the heighth of the spring floods An old salt tells this plaintive story of his strenuous duties in the old boats of the Yangtze Patrol.
 i've seen it happen time and time again-we were lip the Yantze in a gunboat. She was nothing but q hulk with her boilers shot; and the current of that old river was pow erful strong away up inland where We were. Well. you would be called | for your watch and as you stun. | bled below you would look at the trees and the familiar landmarks ]