A German Training Ship.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 31, 11 February 1904, Page 4

A German Training Ship.

An interesting training ship nrrival at Port Phillip on the :ird mst.— to German bapque Herzogin Sophie Charlotte, Captain E. Ziinder. from Bremen via Honolulu. The vessel is permanently erngagfd by the Kcnddeutscher Lloyd for converting law material in the shape of oaciom to ftfgjhly-qualifitd officers for the steamers of the line. The main object of 'the movement is to ensure the employment -in the company's steamers of ollicers who have been odiucatvj from the " apprentice " a&e uaJ-ier the inmicjiate yupenijxia of its instructors, and in whom tue comf/jmy can repose every confidence wixiv the graduates have njjualiImJ for important positions in t lie service. The system ri( juires that cajiets, who rajige in age from sixtvja to twunty ytars, must do all the work commonly performed by .jailors. 'ltey accoi'dingly often ex-(jc-risnce tine d&rk ar.ii perilous side of s-camaiLC.ip, which necessitates tl.eir going aloi't when wii.'ds blowstrong and seas run high. At other times the I avis are put through a less exciting l course of instruction in seamanship, a-stt o,noiny, and otlief useful subjects, including the French anil English languages, Incompetent officers carried on the vessel for that purpose. The ca<luts on the Herzogin Sophie Charlotte 1111111•ber cigjuty, and are the sons of well-to-ido Germans, each la:d paying a premium of £lO a year for his maintenance ainU education on board. Tnere are, in si&Htkm, eight otlicers, including two instructors in navtigiat-ion and two mtxlical men. The latter goii'tlemcn, whilst looking after the health of the cadets, give them instruction as to how cases of sickness or acci-dent should be treated when the services of a doctor arc not available. While the vessel was working up Hobson Bay the 1-tuiß exhibited excellent seamanship, j a.r.1.1 went about their work with an Cißth-usiasni which showed that their hearts were in it. *