I'nymaster-fteiiernl Kxplnins Why
Thore Are Only ooo Knllstctl
Men in Service.
TOTAL OF 77.UOO Al'THOKIZKD
Hopes to ICiNirli Strength of TO,000
by Mild of 1018?1'nys Tribute to
lilur.jurkjsts as Most fic^oruus and
Itig-Hetfrted Men in World.
Iliv Ashih <nte<l I're.ss |
WASHINGTON. No-.-int.. r ::i ?IUkIi
wages ashore and tho increased cost ot
living have seriously hnni|? roil navy
recruit inc. Rear-Admiral McOnivaiij
l?!> ymnKtor-K^netitl. tol'l the Houso
N.ivnl t .'oniniittec to-(la.v in explanation
of why there art' only about SiV.oOO en
listed men in the service, although
! Congress has authorized a total
i strength of 77.0110. lie said It was
hoped that a total strength of 70.00,')
: could be reached l?y the end of 131&"
"Th'dr innhiliiy to send home enough
money to Keep those dependent upon ?
111? ? iti is the uoverning factor in pre
venting many men from enlisting,'
said the admiral. Krom long experl-"
??nee with the account of bluejackets,
lie said, he was certain a majority had v
' wives, mothers, sisters or other de
pendents at home, adding:
"And they are the most generouS
1 and l>W;-hearted men that ever live?L
We a r? Just about keeping even in
; recruiting now. and that condition willr'
continue while the present high wages
prevail."
lie-enlistments now average about Su
per cent of the available men, and ?
. the percentage steadily Is going up. *
\\v\ i'kki.s niuKcn.v
iik;ii hist ok i,ivin?
Aside from slow enlistments, the
\VTTTrftis said the navy was feeling
directly the high cost of living. The
average cost per man per day for ra-..
tinus in lint;, he said, was cents."
but in the last quarter of that year a-.
