Surrounded by a cordon of sidewalk superintendents, the landship Recruit was under construction in New York City’s Union Square when this photograph was taken in April 1917.

Library of Congress

Manhattan’s Battleship

By J. M. Caiella

June 2022

Naval History Magazine

Historic Ships

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“This big ship is advertising propaganda, pure and simple,” is how Blain Ewing, chairman of New York City Mayor John P. Mitchel’s Defence [sic] League in May 1917 described the “USS Recruit,” under construction in the city’s Union Square. A month after the United States entered World War I, the city was behind in providing its quota of men to the Navy. The Army had the draft to fill its rolls, but the Navy and Marine Corps had to rely on recruitment. The Recruit was to serve not only as a recruiting vehicle, but also as a training “ship” and a hands-on interface between the Navy and general public.

The Defence League believed it “pays to advertise” and proceeded to do so in New York fashion, if not style.

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J. M. Caiella

Mr. Caiella is a journalist of more than 45 years with experience as a photographer, editor, writer, designer, and graphic artist. He has worked as lead editor of scholarly publications for the Naval History and Heritage Command, senior editor of Proceedings and Naval History magazines, and writer-editor for the U.S. Marine Corps’ History Division.

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