16. THE NAVAL MARINE. The con, firmation of the Italian unity as an accom plished fact is coincident with the feverish anx, iety that manifested itself in all the European countries in the great transformation that occurred in the marine service through the change from sailing vessels to steamships. At that time there was going on in Italy a com plete reconstruction and reorganization, not only of the material, but also in the personnel — especially of the officers.
Officials.— In 1859-60 there existed in Italy only the Sardinian and Neapolitan marine, for the other states of Italy bad no marine. The great diversity in the general management of these two navies, the difference in ability and culture in the upper officers who were con spicuously superior in the Sardinian navy caused a decided lack of that harmony which is one of the essential factors in union. It was deemed necessary to combine the two naval schools of Genoa and Naples; and Leghorn was selected, in a region that might be called neutral, as the site of the new Naval Academy. The high est results were obtained in every respect in this institute, for thanks to a critical and careful selection of students, it produces to-day officers who will bear comparison with those of any navy in the world.
Until a few years ago Italy possessed a flourishing merchant marine of sailing vessels, from which were taken a num ber of the best officers for the naval service. The excellent seamanship of the Ligurian sailors was so well known that they were sought by foreign navies. But after the change from sail to steam, and the consequent diminution of sailing vessels, the large number of sailors on all the Italian coasts, and especially on that of Liguria, gradually diminished.
The great dockyards for construction, steel works and industrial establishments of all kinds arose in the course of a few years, as if by enchantment, on two sea coasts of Genoa, and they have caused a fruitful and vigorous awakening of the energies and eco nomic resources of the country. they have
absorbed for the most part the better elements, which, according to ancient tradition, were due to the marine life.
At the present day, the supply of seamen is not equal to the demand, and the state supplies the deficiency by voluntary enlistment and levy. The personnel thus enlisted consists mainly of the special branches of the service and partic ularly gunners and torpedo men.
The Italian sailors are not given by nature or custom to the indulgence in wine and liquors, and they have the well-deserved reputation of being well disciplined, sturdy and of being able to endure an exceptional amount of fatigue. The descendants of the old Greeks, who colon ized the coasts of Calabria and of Sicily, are to-day the best element in the manning of the Italian navy.
The inhabitants of the coast of Calabria and Sicily have been fishermen from their in fancy. Accustomed to all kinds of fatigue and to every sort of weather, sober as anchorites, they pass their lives with an oar in their hands, thus tempering the muscles of their arms and chest, as the steel is tempered in the fire. And it is this valuable element which accounts for the brilliant victories constantly gained by the Italian seamen in the international regattasuver a long course, as in the regatta at Shanghai in 1905 between a vessel of the Italian navy, Mar co Polo, and one of the strongest -vessels of the American navy.
Unfortunately, owing to the demands on the naval exchequer, the pay of the men is wretch edly small, and for that reason very few re main in the service after their obligatory term expires. This is a very serious inconvenience, especially where gunners and torpedo personnel are concerned, for they require a long and ex pensive course of instruction. Consequently, recent years have seen the beginning of a move ment to improve the condition of subordinate officers and the specialized personnel, to induce them to continue in the service. Special at tention has been given to the instruction and selection of gunners.