The sun., 1890-01-14
THE sE1Cohsr 1rsKn1E
Auxiliary oarr1sons of lrIntia - Ne Pros
Viasd for HarhSr Defence.


Auxiliary oarTisons of Militia - Ne Rros
viasd for HArbor Defence.
WAsHNoToN, Jan. ls.--The United States
seSeoast Reserve, which the bill Of Mr.. outch-
con proposes to establish is quite different
from the Naval Reserve, for the organisation
OF which another bill II pending In ConRrosa.
The Naval Reserve Is, indeed. like the 6eacoast
Reserve. kind Of seaboard militia, and In
New York. Massachusetts, and perhaps other
States. battallons Of such forces have already
been formed awaiting the cooperative action
OF Congress. But while the Naval Reserve is
composed OF yachtsmen. fishermen. coasters,
and others familiar with seRfaring life. and ls
designed TO serve exclusively on vessels, the
seacosst Reserve is meant wholly for the
forts. The Naval Reserve resembles the Brit
tsh force Of the same name, while the Soacoast
Reserve corresponds more nearly to the volun-
teer artillery. which forms one Of the main re-
liances in Great Britain for coast defence.
The need OF q Seacoast Reserve 10 set forth
by Gen. Schoield. who shows by elaborate
tables In his last report that the war Rarrisons
OF our frontier defenoes should amount to
about $4,000 artillorymen;" but in time OF
peace. he adds, one-tenth Of this number
would be sufficient since Il could easily take
care OF the guns and works. and also serve as
:" the nucleus for instructing. In time Of peace,
the militia Of the seacoast States who must be
rolled upon to supply the great mass OF men
needed for defence in war" Secretary Proctor
also particularly urged in his report the train
ing OF citizen soldiers as heavy artillerymen,
and declared this to be really the most import
ant OF all forms OF militia service. since our
country is 30 much moro likely to be attacked
by water than by land:
,sIns REeS IN ss heavy guns hsy S supply AZ
asH II the a.s os S a
leS wl seek militia services which VIII give them an
e 2oSff1 81 :.s
ss y nsa % ao 9Th pas a
training themselves to man the sfsnsSe works hcIr
S SfT in IS aSST d soSs io s
their own homeG
Adjt.-Gen. Kelton, In his summary Of tho
much on the needs Of having heavy artillery
men among the militia:
n'sSy :ry ogd b CSs
Sss sSsE sat- few for tns New states three fo
taa T sl 'hssi az
se;sS and .wS for the sa,ss on the p.ec Al the,.
r
being Pc:'iS. need Of tSs aoysrnmsnt rather
Of sG as noqa 70 sSs
Organization. W 'A'
Under the pending legislation tho seacosst
militia of the States bordering upon the ocean.
Gull, and lake frontiers. to the extent OF ono
York and California the Secretary OF War may
accept two regiments each. Each regiment is
70 consist OF not more than twelve companies.
divided into battalions offour companies, each
under Major. with q battalion Adjutant In
stead Of full regiment, one or more such bat
troops are 70 be seiested By the aoVernor % from from
the armed and uniformed State forces on the
osne my das hss anS e506 e.
a1a aSd may Be IKE
Uh 10 of IN nv n ol, In
near some neighboripg fort designated BY the
of heavy guns and submarine mines and tor.
pedoes; The officers are also to be, instructed
GE sr tss Sns detailed to
is suBsistenee during sRis p period viii Be ike
that in time OF peace Seacoast Reserve regi-
ments and battalions are not to be ordered be-
6oush whie Tor they
al are to be wholly under the jurisdiction OF the
Such are the main features of tho new meas
viii PROBABLY % commend itseif By It's simplicity
for ,whatever legislation on this subject may Be-
undertaken; taken While thirty days Is the maxi
tion no minimum Is specified. since with the
occupations OF oittzen soldiers 1t might be
found impracticable to exact moro than two
pose. Should a week or ten days be found all
that was expedient to REQUIRE. the time also
would undoubtedly be accepted in lieu Of pres
once at the State encampment Since these
regiments would form a part OF the State
militia, there could. Of course. be no objection
to turning them over absolutely for short
period to the United States service. as the gen.
eEal Government would bear all the e1penses
Of transportation. subsistence, and pay. At
all other times the seacoast regiments would
be as much under the control Of State authori-
ties as any other part of the National Guard.
just quarter OF o century ago the National
Artillery Association was organized among the
British volunteers. and it's results have been
very creditable. The Government supplied
the volunteer artillery with guns and ammuni-
tion free OF cost, and detailed non-commis-
stoned officers OF the coast brigade for Its in
struction. Its forces were largely recruited
from mechanics and workers in iron, and Il has
attained q good degree of skill In artillery
practice, In our country the system would be
somewhat different the object being rather
that each permanent fort on the ocean q and
local regiment or battalion Of militia as
slRnment the regular officers of the fort
would take special pride In the INSTRUCTION and
discipline Of their auxiliary force: The chief
practical difficulty would be to obtain reRi-
ment or battalion which could afford 80 long
withdrawal from ordinary occupations each
year as seems to be contemplated. But since
the maximum time Is not compulsory, and
since In the case OF regiments living near forts
which can be reached In an hour II might be
possible to substitute single days OF heavy gun
practice for the present practice with small
arms. In one way or another fairly efficient
Seacoast Reserve might be formed.