NAVY CRUISES ARE POPULAR

Satisfying immediately the national sentiment for preparedness and military training, the Naval V-7 cruises this summer proved unexpectedly popular and successful among college students. Over a third of the first cruise on the U.S.S. Wyoming starting in the middle of July came from Harvard.

The course provides successful candidates with a commission as an ensign in the reserve after four months of training, one month at sea, and three months in the U.S.S. Ellinois in New York harbor. Its aim is to fill a complement of 5000 which it is estimated by Naval officers will be attained following the fifth of the series of cruises.

Month-Long Cruise

This last cruise is the only one still open taking place from the 25th of November to the 21st of December. While the Boston area is only allowed 150, Lt. Commander J.E. Fraher, Recruiting Officer at the Boston Navy Yard stated that he would continue to accept applications until the Navy Department told him to stop. Since the Boston district is so easy to fill it is likely his quota will be boosted.

Principal reason for the rapid response in enlistments in the desire of many college men to get in the Navy rather than be called into army training after the draft act. Following the course one may volunteer for a year's active training which will make him an officer in charge of a destroyer if called to duty.

Mosquito Boats

Without the additional year's training ensigns will probably be given the so-called PT boats, seventy footers with a speed of up to fifty miles an hour in time of a National emergency.

This summer the cruises have gone to Guantanamo, Cuba. Work on them has consisted in the main of five hours of lectures with the remainder of the time being occupied in washing the decks.

Physical requirements for the service are high, particularly eyes. Glasses are not allowed. In addition to this an applicant must have two years of college and a knowledge of trigonometry and logarithms. College students, however, are given an option of taking their three months during the summer. General credit is given by the University for the month taken out of the college year.