Admiral Waesche suggested the organization of a basic school with an annual enrollment of 500 boys. The Cost of opening such an institution, he said, would be about $720,000. Later additional schools might be opened if the plan proved successful, he said.
A system of additional training for qualified seamen under which a semimilitary grade system would be in: augurated, entitling sailors to increased compensation as their rank advances, also was proposed.
Admiral Waesche advocated the assignment of Coast Guard officers to all merchant marine ships to serve as "observers and instructors."
The plan, which would attempt to eliminate weaknesses in present American merchant marine organization, was regarded by observers here as another attempt by the Government to strengthen national defences.—United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.