New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-09
NAVAL RESERVE PLANS.
THE MOVEMENT MEETING WITH FAVOR.
HOW THE SCHEME Is BEING PUSHED-oPlNloNs
OF SOME OF THOSE MOST IN.
TEPrSTEO IN TT.


TKREsTED IN IT.
Tho project of establishing Naval Reserve by
utilizing yacht squadrons and merchant marine has
attracted widespread attention and desutory ois'
cussion on the subject has been going on in the news
papers for year or The only quarter In which
mis- movement, has yet taken effective shape is IN
the state Of Massachusetts, where blu TO cs'aDish
Naval Militia passed al the last session oi the
Legislature and went into effect In OctoDer a Dill
known a. the whitherne BILL designed to secure the
cooperation of the National Government Is now pend
ing In Congress- and 1t is intended by those interested
I'm the movement to Introduce measure 10 pun 'io
nlan upon a practical footing In the next Legislature
of this State The Board of Trade and nsporatioh
has taken the subject In hand and appointed COM
nittee Of FIVE to consider the question IL Is maui
lid of tho following: Aaron Vanderbilt. superhteh-
dent Of tho Ward Steamship Line. chairman Generai
Edward L. Moneaux, William Krcbs, Captain ferd
Inland p Earle, and Thornton n. Motley. Mr. van
dcrblt and General Molineaux are now engaged In
perfecting measure TO be introduced al the ncAt
session Of the Legislature.
To aid them in their work. we'll as to ascertain
the prevailing feeling in regard to the matter the com
mittce have sent letters regular army and militia
officers United States naval officers sea-captainS'
yachtsmen, public officials and men who can aad any
thing of value to the mass of expert opinion they arc
endcavoring TO collect The replies already received
number about fifty. Among those who dcchhe lot
various reasons give their views arc ChauhceS
NJ Ocpew and W. X. Vanderbilt Those VINO nave
the matter under consideration and who promise 10
sr,sh thar opnions hereafter arc: Chief Engineer
ceorgc w. Melville United states Navy; Robert Craig
for Chief Signal officer Greedy johnston 'onoe'
Adiutant- General of North Carolina; d. H. Hastings
Adiutant-Gcnera of Pennsylvania; T. f. hussen'
Consul-G eneral at liverpool General Horato T. hihg
and E. A. CruihshahA' pIeSiuoH' Va ~
Exchange. .
Most of the letters, however, are outspoRen IN
favor of a Naval Reserve. Some OF them come nom
Adiutant- Generals Elisha Dyer ir of Rhode island
C. p Chapman, of Wisconsin. Richard r. kenney, OF
Dcaware W. L. Bonham, 1r., of South Carolina
Charles II. Cramp, Edmund c. stanton' Charies
Vatrous C. H. Leland, Chester W. Chaplin, and Hugh
Willouchby of Philadelphia. To the friends OF
the movement one of the most Interesting letters Is
that Of Aduant- General Dalton, of Massachusetts
After clearly stating his reasons for the need Oh
Naval Reserve he says: ,,
no orrapized and controlled by the several STATES as
il nov the case In the active volunteer Aus; ou 4
- Tho general Government should lend It's ald III
furnishing arms and equipment, ana IN PIoNu a
vessels OF for the drill ana Instruction nScess Tb
Glls heretofore introduced in Congress 90 not lliS
H. mater as il is not thought best that the commits
sinns should to its officers by the Presueh ou
The Governors OF the states d sya % te me-
Gcrlmen Of both. The naval contingent frtm ui' SIac
si,ouid not be made distinctive under United states
I,C from te militia under the State. and should not
-, rlaccI bcvond STATE control. Therefore, II would
seem best to organize such force under state cgsduu
~, general Government providing the arms and
equipment with opportunities and f4cies for instlu9
tion. and when required. II cOuld DC WhucTcu AVA
able 10 the Nation in the same manner as ~" pON'ucO
for the calling into service OF the mlllua. MdsSt
chusetts has already received permission 10 use tn'
receiving Shin al the Boston yard, with its armament
have to say In conclusion that IN my OPINION muVI
time NAV DC gained by State action as IL Is hol P"va
lie that ANYTHING Will be done by congress az ~
present short session and. should action pc IanYi
Hereafter the State organ z4tons already rmeI woui
OF course como under such laws as may DC ehdctc'
for :hoir government
Rear Admiral f. A. Roe has a plan OF bis OWL
which he outlines follows;
A state training ship should be maintained at Port
land, Boston, New London, New OK, Pnaael pr a
baltimore Norfolk. Charleston. Mobile, New OI.ea,n
and san Francisco They should be built ana man
tanned and equipped by the several STATES uhHt t
superinendence OF naval constructor anu gi I
shiIs OF war The Federal Government Should supPH
The batteries Of saw siXnch breech l0aulIg guns
With subsidiary batteries of revolving ana rdpd- ~
guns The Federal Government should supply tnt
watch officers, neutenans, ana eAcCuuN'
uontenants one lieutenant commander, captain
one assistant paymasier, one assistant surgeo,i an
Two good for each vessel Inc crews Snoui,
consist of about 100 10 men, enlstcf fOr 1--WE
years of ages from sixteen to twenty i've withou
any educ atiOnal limitations whatever ''HN 1re d..
~ he enrolled when discharged after two years ser
vice as the Naval Reserve OF INC uhiteu oIdos a.
crews of these state vessels will be Instructed u
reading writing and the ground rules OF ai'tDlne1t
and no more They will be drilled in all respect
Ike men in the regular Navy These zen SHIPS are
a little Will turn every two years 600 men thor
opgbiy fitted for sea fighting. BY andby they vii
trrn out a greater number and the system can b
Letters of inquiry were also sent yesterday Il
presidenf-eIect Harrison, Levi r. Norton and Jane
4, blaine The subject will come before the Boar
of Trade and Transportation at thelr meeuhe VI
Wednesday.