APPENDIX QQ.

NAUTICAL SCHOOL FOR THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS,

Calle Santa Elena, Manila, P. I., August 6, 1900.

SIR: In obedience to an order of July 25 from the office of the military governor, I have the honor to submit the following report of the Nautical School for the Philippine Islands for the year ending June 1900:

30,

After much preliminary discussion the school was opened on December 15, 1899, on Calle Santa Elena, near the Cuartel de Meisic. The school building was, and still is, rented by the Quartermaster's Department, a portion of the lower floors being used for storage of property that belonged to Spain. It is well suited to the purposes of the school, having a large hall for office and drafting room and four smaller rooms for individual instruction. The furniture for the building was, by authority of the military governor, nearly all taken from the old Spanish nautical school and school of arts.

The course for the school was fixed at three years. The instruction during the first year includes arithmetic, algebra, English, geography, and drawing. That for the second year geometry, plane trigonometry, geography, mechanics, English, and drawing. During the third and final year the pupils are instructed in spherical trigonometry, nautical astronomy, navigation, theoretical seamanship, and hydrographical drawing. The course in the last is sufficient simply to enable the pupils to read and understand charts. All classes are instructed in practical seamanship three times a week.

A programme of the instruction is hereto appended marked "A." The hours of instruction were chosen so as to avoid the hottest part of the day.

The school was opened by authority of General Order No. 55, of November 9, 1899, from the office of the military governor. In accordance with this order Lieut. V. L. Cottman, United States Navy, was appointed the first superintendent, it being arranged that he should have extra compensation to the amount of $200 (Mexican currency) per month. He was assisted by the following: Juan Basa, instructor second class, $108.33; Quintin Delgado, instructor third class, $100; E. L. Filmer, instructor English, $60. Mr. Filmer was also appointed secretary, at a salary of $15 per month. In addition a janitor was appointed, at $30 per month, all in Mexican currency. I relieved Lieutenant Cottman on December 23, 1899, at the expiration of his cruise.

Twenty-two pupils were present at the opening of the school. They had all been examined to determine their qualifications for classification. Some of them had been pupils in the Spanish nautical school. Three of them were found qualified to enter the second year. The other 19 were placed in the first year, or third class. While the

work was not hard, methods were very different from those to which the pupils were accustomed, and they dropped out one by one, until, at the end of the school year, March 31, there remained only 10 in the third class and the original 3 in the second class, making 13 to complete the three months' work.

During the months of April and May the school was closed, to give the pupils a vacation during the hot months. I requested the Compañía Maritima to take such of the pupils as desired to go on board their steamers. They very kindly consented, and in this manner 5 of the pupils received valuable experience in the profession they are

to follow.

In order to give as much practical instruction as possible, a mast has been erected in the school grounds and fitted with a topsail. The pupils are frequently drilled at this to make them familiar with the nomenclature and the handling of ropes and sails. Of course, it is impossible to get sea experience from this. That must come from life at sea on board ship. A boat, presented by the commander in chief of the naval forces on the station, has been hoisted on the banks of the river near the light-house. About once a week the pupils are taken out in the boat, in order that they may learn boat sailing and handling.

During the months of March and April and the first two weeks in May a notice was published in one Spanish paper in Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, and Dagupan, giving the date of opening of the new year and the requirements for admission. The new school year was to open on June 1, and the requirements for admission will be found in General Order No. 55, November 9, 1899, from the office of the military governor. It was desired to publish more widely these notices, but the necessary authority was withheld by the former military governor. On the 15th of May but five candidates had presented themselves for admission. After consultation with the present military secretary the superintendent took steps to advertise the school and increase the interest of the people in it. As a result candidates began to present themselves. It was found necessary to permit them to enter after the school year had really opened, and in fact the entrance examinations were not closed till about the middle of July. In all, 35 new candidates presented themselves for admission. Of these, 29 were admitted. after passing the necessary naval and physical examinations. Three were found entirely disqualified by the surgeon, and 3 did not report for examination. Since the classes opened, 3 of the new pupils seemed to find the work too hard and have disappeared. This leaves 26 new pupils. One of the old ones who had been advanced one class failed to report. There remain 38 pupils to commence the year-16 more than the original number to enter. It is believed that in another year we shall have the full number at first set as the limit to be taken, viz, 60. Owing to the increased number of pupils and advance in classes, a change was necessary in the number and classification of instructors. At the end of the past school year Mr. Delgado was not at all well; the work had been too hard for him, and, besides, his methods were not at all satisfactory to the superintendent. At the beginning of the new term, on June 1, it was necessary to replace him. A new instructor was necessary to take the second class, as Mr. Basa was to take the first. This new instructor was appointed by competitive examination. A rigger and an assistant have been obtained to care for the mast and WAR 1900-VOL 1, PT X-16

boat and to assist in the practical instruction of the pupils. The new school year opens with the superintendent assisted as follows: Juan Basa, instructor first class, $108.33; Carlos Diez, instructor second class, $100; José Marcaida, instructor third class, $83.33; E. L. Filmer, instructor English, $60; E. L. Filmer, secretary, $15; janitor, $30; rigger, $60; assistant, $15.

Last year the school was run upon an average cost of about $663 per month, including books, stationery, and incidental expenses. For the present year the average monthly expenses will be about $850. The monthly estimates are sent in through the department of public

instruction of Manila.

The methods of instruction, system of marks and records, and the discipline of the school are based upon those of the United States Naval Academy. It is naturally impossible to make the sweeping changes required by this system all at once, but it is hoped that in time the system will be in full working order. It is impossible, too, to require a very high standard of work from pupils who have heretofore lived under a system requiring practically no standard. But the standard has been made sufficiently high to get, it is believed, the best material. Monthly, semiannual, and annual examinations will be held. Monthly reports of the efficiency and conduct of each pupil will be sent to the parent or guardian and posted in the school building, so that those responsible for the bringing up of the pupil, the pupil himself, and the instructor may see the results of the work.

At first the pupils and parents seemed afraid of the school and appeared to take but little interest in it. The superintendent and his assistants have worked hard to reassure them, and it is very gratifying to be able to state that all now seem to take much interest and strive to do their best. Probably much has been contributed to this result by the consent of the present military governor to put the pupils in uniform. It is beyond dispute that the Philippine people have a great weakness for uniforms. Since the fact became known that the pupils of the nautical school are to wear uniforms, it has been necessary to turn at least three or four applicants away because it was impossible to longer hold back the classes for new pupils. All the pupils will be uniformed on Tuesday, August 6. It has been decided also to uniform the instructors, as it will probably conduce to their greater influence over the pupils.

All instruction is now necessarily in Spanish; and it will probably be at least five years before the instruction can be given in English. But the sooner the better. All the Spanish text-books seem to be very inferior. This is especially the case with those in navigation and seamanship, which are the most important. The school is without modern instruments. In January last the superintendent requested of the Navy Department, through the military governor, some few modern instruments and standard nautical text-books. All these are needed now; but no reply has yet been received from the Navy Department. The senior or first class could be easily taught the use of the instruments and could gain much information from the books, though they be in English.

The respect for authority and physical development of the pupils are not unprovided for. Each school morning, at 8 o'clock, they are required to form in front of the school building and remain

uncovered while the United States colors are hoisted. After this they are given from ten to fifteen minutes setting-up exercise. Their handling the sail and spars also assists their physical development.

It is greatly to be hoped that this school shall be the best in the islands in its results; and that it may, in time, supply the majority, if not all, the officers required on the steamers used in developing the trade in the islands. To this end the superintendents will bend all their energies.

The people from whom come the pupils are natural sailors. It is found, at least in this school, that they are very amenable to discipline and have great respect for authority. While they possess but little originality, it is to be hoped that this will develop with their better education. We have already overcome some of the faults which generations of them have possessed.

As it is absolutely impossible for anyone to gain the experience of the sea anywhere except on the sea, it is respectfully and strongly recommended that the school be provided with a small sailing vessel of two or three hundred tons, with auxiliary steam power. This would prevent the vessel's being dependent upon tugs for getting into and out of port; and besides, the modern sea officer should know enough about steam power to be sure of what to exact of his engineers, and to prevent his being helpless in case he has no engineers. With such a vessel the pupils could be taken on a cruise during the months of April and May of each year, and could be exercised in Manila Bay frequently during the school year. Of course it can not be expected that a new graduate of the school will be able to at once take command of a vessel; but it will be, and should be, expected that he is perfectly at home on the bridge of a vessel of any class, or in her rigging or boats. A certificate of graduation from the Nautical School of the Philippine Islands should enable its holder to obtain a life position at once and without trouble. Unless we can produce this result the school had much better be closed. We can not produce it except by some association with the sea during the three years' course. Naturally the ripe experience of the officer must come from long years of seagoing.

It is also respectfully recommended that a rigging and sail loft be fitted up on the lower floor of the school building. In this the pupils will be taught the marline-spike seamanship with which they must be familiar to become good officers. The word marline-spike is used because no other word can express the idea. It means the A B C of rigging a ship and her booms and boats. It is simply indispensable to the seaman, and must be learned when he begins his career.

In justice to the corps of instructors, who have labored, and are laboring, arduously for the best interests of the school, this report ought not to be closed without making a recommendation in their behalf. It is therefore respectfully recommended that the salaries of instructors be readjusted to conform to the following table: Instructor, first class, $150, Mexican; instructor, second class, $125, Mexican; instructor, third class, $100, Mexican; instructor, English, $75, Mexican per month.

The work of all is hard, as this class of school requires much individual instruction and careful training.

In closing the report the superintendent would respectfully invite attention to the fact that the instructors named in paragraph 9 deserve his thanks for the interest they have displayed and the able manner in which they have taken hold of the duties assigned them.

Very respectfully,

GEO. F. COOPER, Lieutenant, U. S. N., Superintendent.

The MILITARY GOVERNOR IN THE PHILIPPINES.

8 to 8.55, spherical trigonometry and nautical astronomy.

9 to 9.55, English.

10 to 11, theoretical seamanship.

Afternoon:

3 to 3.55, navigation.

4 to 5, drawing (Monday and Friday).

4 to 5, practical seamanship (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday).