New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-23
THE NAVAL RESERVE PLAN.
GREAT INTEREST AWAKENED THROUGHOUT
THE COUNTRY.
STATES ANXIOUS TO COOPERATE WITH TIE Gov
ERNMENT FOR ITS EsTABLIsBMENT-MR.
WuITxrY oS THE Project

WHITNEY ON THE PROJECT.
WASHINGTON, April 22.-In letter written to
Representative Whitthorne, chairman Of the Naval
Reserve Sub Committee of the House Committee
on Naval Affairs, Secretary Whitney declares him.
self earnestly in favor of the proposed legislation
for the establishment Of Naval reserve.
The necessity for the maintenance Of Naval
reserve the Secretary says, is universally recog
nized at the present day that an Endorsement Of
the proposit,on is necessarily matter Of mere form.
No nation maintains standing army and navy
adequate to its defence, to the maintenance OF
its rights In war. All Of them rely upon reserves
and upon the preparations previously made for ex-
panding quickly from peace to war basis. The
maintenance of Naval reserve, he asserts, is
measure of economy. Under such system body
of men, supporting themselves by ordinary civil
pursuits is enrolled and maintained by the Govern
ment sufficiently for its purpose in the event OF
war at comparatively small expense. England,
he says maintains, with an annual expenditure
Of less than So, 100000, an auxiliary naval force
twice as large as the entire American Navy.
The suggestion that Naval reserve should be
established, the Secretary continues has awakened
the greatest interest in all parts of the country
and already more than one State has indicated a
determination to cooperate with the Government
in this cfor to secure it, and the Department is
in almost daily receipt of resolutions Of repre-
sentative bodies Of citizens throughout the country
expressing the greatest anxiety that the necessary
steps to secure reserve should be Immediately
taken.
lie adds: The necessity for Naval reserve
has become more imperative with the changes
which have come about in the art OF war; In
former times, when the implements of war were
simple in construction and the ship was handled
wholly or mainly by sail, the seafaring class were
available for immediate incorporation into the
Naval fo1ce; now seamanship plays an unimportant
part the ship is handled below deck, and no man
is fit to be engrafted into the Naval force who
has not been previously trained to knowledge
of the modern implements of war and naval tactics
1t may therefore, be said that there is no longer
any Naval reserve In the merchant marine. More
than this, preparation which has not been pre-
viously made cannot be extemporized The speed
and power of modern navies are such that fort
night is sufficient for European Power to con-
centrate an overpowering force, where months were
formerly required and hence the only time for
preparation is now In time Of peace"
After ndOrsiDg in a general way one OF the
measures for the establishment OF Naval reserve
now before the committee and suggesting some
amendments, the Secretary concludes his letter
as follows:
In the Judgment Of the Department, 1t is both
necessary and economical that the Government
should have In reserve a fleet Of auxiliary mer-
chant ships previously prepared with the necessary
fittings for instant conversion into cruisers which
would therefore be available upon moments
notice for use by the Government IN time OF war