THE MANNING OF THE MERCANTILE MARINE.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."1 SIE,—In February and March, 1905, your correspondence included valuable and interesting letters from Captain Broadbent, of the Conway,' and Mr. Frank T. Bullen advocating ocean training-ships for the mercantile marine. We have now the pleasure to bring to your notice the fait that arrangements have been made for these suggestions to be partially carried out, and that the first British ocean training- ship for forecastle hands will leave these shores, if all goes well, early in May next. The Marine Society has arranged with the well-known firm of Devitt and Moore that one hundred boys from the Society's training-ship Warspite' shall make a voyage to Australia and back of about nine months' duration in the four-masted sailing ship 'Port Jack. son.' A special staff of seamen instructors will be provided, also a chaplain and surgeon, and the boys will go through a course of training during the voyage. The cost of the scheme to the Marine Society will be, roughly, £2,700, and we desire to make an earnest appeal to the public to come forward and subscribe this amount. Up to the present only 21,030 has been received, and a balance of 21,700 is therefore still required. May we urge upon your readers the importance of having our ships maimed by British seamen, which cannot be the case unless British boys are trained for the sea ? The constant decrease of the British element and the great increase of the alien in our mercantile marine have been brought prominently forward of late, as also the danger to the Empire if this state of things is allowed to continue. Here we have an earnest endeavour to train in the most practical manner boys of good character and physique who will make thoroughly de- sirable recruits for our sea services. We have received an offer of MOO if nine others will contribute like amounts, and so far have either received or been promisPd 2.800 towards this. Only one single donation of £100 is r qu'red to secure the offer. The smallest contributions will be gratefully received, and should be sent to the secretary, Marine Society, Clark's Place, Bishopsgate Street, E.C. We venture to hope that this appeal will not be in vain, and that those who have not yet given to the scheme will do so now.—We are, Sir, &c.,
ROMNEY, President.
C. PICKERING CLARKE N. BOWDEN SMITH Vice-Presidents.
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