APPRENTICE, NAVAL. Apprentices are enlisted for the United States naval service between the ages of 15 and 17 to serve until they reach 21 years of age. Minors between the ages of 15 and 17 are not enlisted without the con sent of their parents or guardians. The appli cant must be of robust frame, intelligent, of per fectly sound and healthy constitution, free from all physical defects or malformation, and not subject to fits. He must also be able to read and write. In special cases, where the boy shows a general intelligence, and is otherwise qualified, he is enlisted, notwithstanding his reading and writing are imperfect. upon enlistment boys are rated as •hird-class apprentices and receive $9 per month and one ration. After completing their tour of service in a cruising training-ship, if qualified, they are advanced to apprentices of the second class at $15 per month. After serving one year in cruising ships of war, if qualified, they are advanced to apprentices, first class, at $21 per month. Apprentices, first class, during the last year of their enlistment, may be given acting appointments as petty officers, third class, and if they serve the probationary period in the United States Navy, they must be recommended to a permanent appointment previous to dis charge. Upon the expiration of the enlistment of an apprentice he will, if recommended, receive an honorable discharge; and upon reenlistment within four months from date of honorable dis charge he will receive four months' extra pay of his rating when discharged, a continuous service certificate, and an addition of $1.36 per month to his pay. When first received on board a train ing-ship apprentices are furnished, free of cost, with an outfit of clothing not exceeding in value the sum of $45. This outfit is furnished on
the supposition that the apprentice will serve during his minority. Should he be discharged at his own request prior to the completion of his term at the training station and the first practice cruise, he must refund the value of the outfit. As soon as practicable after the apprentices are enlisted, they are forwarded to the naval training-station at Newport, where they receive instruction in English studies and in the rudiments of the profession of a sea man, for the period of six months. At the termination of this period the apprentices are transferred to the cruising training-ships. There are three departments of instruction and train ing—seamanship, gunnery, and English, the last embracing reading, writing, spelling, geog raphy, history, and arithmetic. There is also special instruction as buglers, carpenters, sail makers, and blacksmiths. When apprentices are to be discharged their parents or guardians are informed, and ample time is allowed them to come themselves, or send means to defray the traveling expenses. The course of instruction on board the cruising training ships is of six months' duration. The instruction begun at the shore station is continued aboard the cruising ves.±els with an increase of practical work. When transferred to the regular service cruisers, the instruction is still continued, and the apprentices are regularly examined before being advanced in rating. Should the term of enlistment of an apprentice expire while he is abroad, he is to be sent to the United States as soon as practicable, unless he desires to reenlist.