WHO'S WHO IN THE SHIPS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 188, 11 August 1925, Page 11

WHO'S WHO IN THE SHIPS.

MEN OF TEE U.S.A. MEN-O'-WAK now thk duties ai:k assigned. lii i'\ery ship of tli* , t'nited States \:(vy '.;c loinplement is organised in six iriiaiuni'iu-. viz.:—<;.;nnery. navigation, iiijjii-criiiL'. construction, medical, supi'ly. 1 In- execrtive officer i- the cli-rect repruseiitali* <■ of tin- captain, and is tJie officer next in rank to the captain of the •ship. All head* of departments and other officers, and all the crew, are under ; ii- orders as the aid or executive of tin , captain, in all that pertains to the operation and maintenance of the -■iii. and to the preservation of order and discipline i>ll board. All the captain's ci ui'i~ are transmitted through him. While the captain's orders, he takes precedence over all other officers. 'l'ho first lieutenant is the construction nflicir of the ship, and has ehanje of ;ill e■|uipini'iit. stores and supplies. except tho-e pertainina; to electrical machinery. He is responsible for the cleanliness, g-ooil order, efficiency and lie;;; and trim appearance of the ship i'< a v.hole, and is also in charge of all me.-- pear, and stores of the crew, and (sf nil nieNS tables, cooking utensils, galley.-, chests and lockers. Known as the '"First l.:i!i." he is the chip's housekeeper. The officer performs al! navigating duties, and is responsible for the < :\ ' .• ,ni.l ifoiid order uf the steering yj'-Av. the interior of the conning tower, .he c'iarl house, navigator's office and rtiTeroonis. and nil instruments. ;;id.- or ;:; purntu- en]ployed in tlic nay of l!if -iii|'. -'i.li charts, etc. The jfiuinery officer is in charjre of Iho enure ordnance equipment and is the head of the gunnery department of the eliiji.

The engineer officer is the head of the engineering department of the ship. lie has charge of all material, stores. supplies", etc. ami is responsible for tin , efficient upkeep and mainteenance of the main anil auxiliary machinery. The medical officer, in addition to his medical duties. inspects all fresh provisions delivered to the sh!]>. He is authorised to inspect the food provided for the crew, to supervise the preparation of the meals and to make reports , on the-se matter-; to the captain. He accompanies the first lieutenant on his weekly inspection of living spaces. holds and storerooms, and is in charge of the hospital and dispensary. The enlisted men are divided into four classes: Seamen. artificers, mexsuieu and specials. When a lad joins the American Navy lie is enlisted as an apprentice and spends the first lour months of lii-■ service at one of the training stations. It at the end of the four months he passes the necessary examinations lie becomes an ordinary seaman and is drafted to one of the ships. He remains an ordinary seaman for a year and again has to pass examination before he is promoted to seaman, first class. When he joins as an enlisted apprentice he receives an initial outfit of uniform free, but thereafter he must pay for his own uniform. Apart from this expense and such items as his barber's bill, which costs him one dollar monthly, and for which lie is entitled to erne hair cut and thirty shaves, the seaman lias few expenses to meet. He knows the precise term which he must serve in the Fleet and should he desire to take his discharge at the end of four years lie may do so. If he re-engages for a fur: her term he receives a bonu- and other inducements arc offered. The .-v.-iem lit).* both advantage? and disadvantages. Four year* is considered by -onic to be too short a period in which to train a seaman, to instil into him the necessary sea sense and to make him a seaman by instinct as well as liv profession.