Evening star., 1938-08-28
By RaIth McCabe.

~ My q lew mOntnS nave elapsed
since the passing OF the blackest
days in the history of American
merchant ships. These days were
marked by the hearings and trials which
followed the outbreak of labor disturbances
and mutiny at sea. This group Of events
had been preceded by the hearings which
followed the tragic fire which destroyed
the Moro Castle of the coast OF New
Jersey.
Charges were made which have fixed in
the minds OF thousands Of Americans the
belief that vessels nying the flag of the
United States are obsolete, dangerous,
poorly equipped and manned by officers
and crews who were inefficient and in
solent.
Some Of these charges were true some
were exaggerated. and many were COM
pletely unfounded But out OF the welter
grew & new national policy relating to the
merchant marine. policy which, TO the
surprise OF the average citizen, will not
require a generation TO reach its full de-
Velopment, but which already is operating
successfully and will reach its peak within
f1ve years.
Holds Guarantee Of Service.
This does not mean that within that
time, or for that matter at any time. the
United States will boast a fleet of great
luxury liners. battling for the trade OF
the North Atlantic or carrying holiday
parties on de luxe cruises around the world
But it does mean that within that time
a great feet Of modern, comforta BILE ships
will carry American products and passen-
gers to destinations in the ports of the
seven seas. And these ships will be manned
ncient in the entire world.
Many Of the ships owned by the Mari
time Commission or operated under It's
subsidies admittedly are now "in the last
stages OF obsolescence." Some are being
reconditioned, work already Is under way
on SO new ships to replace others. and
still greater building program is planned
for the near future 1t Is hoped 50 ships
= year can be built for the next five years
The greatest progress, however, is being
made in the development of an efficient.
trained personnel. Along with the train
ing program is . campaign to make the
life OF the seamen as pleasant as possible
The crews quarters on every ship now
operating have been. or are undergoing
remodeling TO add to their comfort and
on the 80 new vessels the quarters will be
inner than any others in the world. Work
ing conditions are being improved and an
effort is being made to give the men more
assurance of steady work. From time
immemorial it has been the custom to hire
crews for each voyage. Now an effort is
being made to hire them on an annual
basis.
Training Schools Projected.
Hiring by the year, however, brings q
demand for training and experience. The
first steps to meet this were the estab-
lishment by the Maritime Commission OF
the cadet and cadet officer systems. One
OF the most important steps in the whole
scheme has just been taken and will get
under way early in September. This calls
for the establishment CT training schools
for unemployed seamen and officers
Under the cadet system boys are trained
for future service as licensed officers. Cadet
officers are those who have had more
years aboard ships under control of the
Maritime Commission, and for cadet officers
Is two years, although this may be short
ened by completion Of the extension and
correspondence courses prepared by the
Coast Guard, which all are required to take
A cadet aspiring to become a deck off,
Ger must have graduated from high school.
while engineer cadets must have graduated
from q technical high school, from 4
standard high school, with two years. ex-
perience In . shipyard or marine engine
plant, or have completed two years in an
approved college engineering course.
To become a cadet oficer a boy has
three roads open to him. He may be a
graduate Of the Naval Academy, the Coast
Guard Academy, or the State nautical
schools of New York, Massachusetts,. Penn
sylvania or California. and have . license
as = third mate or third assistant engi-
neer; or he may have completed the cadet
course and hold license or he may have
his license but never sailed under It, pro-
vided he Is not more than % years old.
Work and Study.
| On board ship these cadets and cadet
officers rank with the other licensed per-
sonnel and are given training in naviga-
ton or engineering, along with the regu-
lar duties Of their class. They must work
full eight hours 4 day and in their
spare time must take the prescribed corre-
spondence courses. Cadets receive $50 4
month and rations and cadet officers get
SIS . month.
The value Of this plan Is shown by the
fact that 10000 boys have their applica-
tions ON flle for the 400 berths available.
The 400 in service are distributed among
200 ships, since 4 provision Of the law
requires that in no case shall they replace
unlicensed seamen.
The schools which will open in Septem-
Der offer even greater prospects in many
respects. These are for unemployed sea-
A