(Shunpao, th May.)
'The establishment by China of arsenals after the foreign method and the building of steamers for her naval service, the institution of the China Merchants' S.'N. Ca., and the purchase of foreign vessels for her mercantile fleet, are all excellent measures; but although in the possession of fine vessels, her sailors (7X =F) are not yot fully skilled in their profession. As Confucius said, the scheme is good but not without aflow. In ordinary times of fair weather navigation, the skill of the sailor cannot be properly judged, but an emergency arises and his efficiency is suddenly put to the test when too late, Therefore, to the use of steamers should be added attention to the selection of sailors. The knowledge to navigate a steamer to certain point, and to press on with speed is but the first element; but in addition to general efficiency in seamanship, it is essential that the sailor be gifted with intelligence and presence of mind. He should therefore in ordinary times, be disciplined to meet danger by we means should the mere filing up of the complement of a crew be alone looked to. with intelligence, They are invariably quick in general are gifted by nature in superficially apprehending a subject, but not so ready at thoroughly understanding it from a cause and effect point of view; consequently on first approaching a subject they consider it easy on examining the result of their efforts they' become aware of some defect in the In the employment of men, exaniinais but too often not made beyond the surface; before danger occurs they are looked upon as able employes; when an emergency arises, they are for the first time discovered to be unworthy of employment.
But can questions affecting steam navigation be viewed as a matter of minor importance? On the one hand the interests of the state, in respect to naval steamers, are largely concerned; on the other, in' the case of merchant ships, the property and lives of the people are at stake; and is it right that the naval and mercantile interests of the country should be jeopardized through want of skill on the part of the seamen employed? Therefore, as steamers have been adopted, it is of the utmost importance that the training of our sailors should not be disregarded.
These remarks are advanced as bearing merely on times of peace, but should war arise—the naval fleet being required to skirmish with the enemy, and the mercantile fleet to assist in the transport—the efficiency of our sailors becomes of vital importance, With the growth, too, of a mercantile fleet, naval strength, which depends on the sailors, is also rendered the more necessary, from the fact that the western law of warfare, although forbidding pillage on land, allows of seizure at sea; and a strong navy is thus required to protect bur merchants' ships and prevent their falling a prey to the enemy.
That China has inaugurated a steam fleet without giving attention to the efficiency of her sailors is much to be feared; and when the Japan question arose last year, it was owing to this, that those who discussed the relative strength of the two countries entertained grave misgivings as to the probable result of a contest with Japan.
As regards the recent affair of the Fusiny steamer, had the sailors been specially well Aisciplined to their profession, there seems no reason why, when mei denly with danger, they should not have been able during the emergency to lower all their boats. Therefore, we are of opinion that if China does not intend to make permanent use of ste the subject can drop; but if she purposes to adopt them permanently, canour sailors than looked upon as a class not sufficiently important to claim attention? Vessels may go out to sea and for days and days meet with no trouble, Butin the case of one craft numberless lives are at stake; and if these lives are entrusted to unskilful sailors, and without taking every human precaution—trusting merely toa fortunate immunity from peril—disaster should finally come, and t 1 be completely lost, is not this an injustice to those concerned? If passengers and shippers understood the question, it is to be feared that they would pause before running the Fish, "Av to naval Captains and important officials, as well as subordinate officers and marines who are daily on board, wherefore should their lives be entrusted to unskilled sailors (JK =F). It is to be hoped that the Naval authorities will give their attention to this subject.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.