TRAINING SHIP

Evening Star, Issue 22541, 8 January 1937, Page 3

TRAINING SHIP

CALIFORNIA STATE VISITS AUCKLAND Manned by 108 future officers and engineers in the American merchant navy, the training ship California State recently called at Auckland. Although the ship has been making training cruises almost every year since 1931, this was her first visit to Now Zealand, but several of her officers were in New Zealand with the American fleet in 1.925. The California State is a steamer of war-time construction which was_ converted for use as a training ship in 1929. Since that time the vessel has formed an integral part of the California Nautical School, which is operated by the State Government, with financial assistance from the United States Federal Government. The cadets entered at the school are all young Californians, .and a high physical and educational standard is demanded of them. The school course is one of three years, and every year about four to five months are spent in an extended ocean cruise for practical training purposes. For the remainder of the year the ship is based at Tiburon, near San Francisco, and although the cadets live on board their theoretical training is- carried out in the school buildings on shore. In spite of a somewhat ungainly appearance, the ship itself is kept spotlessly clean, and the cadets are a. fine type of young American, courteous and obviously efficient, their ages ranging from about 17 to the early. twenties. The vessel is commanded by Superin-tendent-commander R. C. Dymer, and all his officers are chosen for their ability in instructional work. Practically every one of them has served in the United States navy. The present complement of cadets is equally divided between navigational and engineering training. _ _ The present cruise of the California State proved uneventful. Her departure from San Francisco was delayed by the maritime strike, as a result of which the cadets themselves had to ship and stow all the stores required for the voyage. The vessel’s only port of call before her arrival at Auckland was at Papeete, but she remained at Auckland for a fortnight before sailing for Australia and islands' in the Pacific.