Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-01
NAVAL MILITIA.

! NAVAL MILITIA.
Necessity for Such National Organisation
Shown by Secretary Tracy.
| The necessity for increased facilities for the
organization Of national naval militia calls
forth q chapter in the annual report Of Secre-
tary Tracy that will be read with interest He
says:
One of the most vital defects in our present
naval saystem is the want Of an organized
militia, SO trained that in case of necessity it
will be prepared to supply the demands Of the
naval service. The number Of seamen now al
lowed by law is 1900. Most Of them at any
given time are necessarily scattered. They
would not be available at all in an emergency,
nor would they in any case be numerous enough
to form more than the nucleus Of an active
| force.
| At the outbreak Of the civil wer there were
| only 200 seamen on the Atlantic coast at the
| disposal Of the government for the crews of
| ships fitting out. Largely in consequence of
this naval operations during the first six months
were delayed and obstructed. The necessities
Of war afterward increased the force to $4,000.
Most OF the new recruits were destitute of naval
| training, and to obtain even these it was neces-
sary to pay heavy bounties.
The want Of supply Of men in reserve
places the navy at great disadvantage as COM
pared with the army. The army has always
behind it a well-trained militia which makes its
real numerical strength. Without this it would
be a feeble instrument OF national defense. The
| navy needs its reserves as much as the army and
| they should be composed not only of trained
| seamen, but of trained naval seamen.
The development of the militia is in the in
terest OF a true economy. Its cost to the gen.
eral government lies only in arms and equip
ment for training The remainder of the ex-
pense is voluntarily borne by the states. Com
pared with the cost of regular force of the
same size this expense is little more than nomi-
nal. as the periods of active employment are
confined to what is required for training pur-
poses alone.
1t is the true American principle that the
standing forces OF the government, military or
naval, should be kept ON the smallest possible
footing consistent with the requirements of
defense. But it is essential to the maintenance
OF this principle that there should be body of
trained citizens back of the small standing
force which will be ready to meet an emer-
gency. The United States has no use for O
large body OF men. drawn away from productive
labor and consuming their time in permanent
army or navy, but it requires that provision
should be made for recruiting both branches
OF the service in case Of necessity directly from
the people.
INTEREST IN THE SUBJECT DEVELOPED.
Until recently no steps have been taken to-
ward the creation Of naval militia but within
the last two years an active interest in the sub
tect has developed itself, not only on the sea-
board, but on the interior waters and on the
Pacifi,, and spontaneous movement has taken
shape In the passage by several states of acts
Tor the establishment Of a naval militia. In
some cases successful organizations have been
already formed, and all that is required is such
action on the part of the general government
as will put the naval militia on the same footing
as the land militia. namely, the issue of arms
and equipments. Other states are tending in
the same direction in response to an active
popular demand, and there is every reason to
believe that with proper encouragement from
the department and no other action by Con-
gress than an appropriation for the supply of
arms the creation OF a naval militia will be as
sured.
1t is clearly in the interest Of sound policy
that demand of this kind springing directly
from the people and closely concerning them
should meet with hearty cooperation on the
part OF the government, and that general dis
position thus aroused and expressed should not
be suffered to die from delays and discourage
ment: The naval militia Of the country now
actually in existence should be put on the same
footing as the land militia. A bill with this OBJ
Ject was introduced at the last session of Con-
gress and earnestly recommend its passage.
The naval militia organization in New York
has been permitted to drill on board the Min
nesota and the organization in Boston on board
the Wabash. The latter drill lasted several
days and was equivalent to the annual encamp-
ment Of the land militia. Landing and boat
drills also took place at selected points in the
nelghbOrhOOd OF Boston and the organization
developed high degree Of spirit and energy in
its members.
In connection with the subject Of naval
militia, would call attention to the advantage
OF providing place in its rank for persons Of
special requirements demanded by the naval
service, but OF a character somewhat outside of
the ordinary scope of professional training
The extensive employment of electricity in its
applications on shipboard makes it necessary
for naval officers to acquire a certain amount
OF electrical knowledge, but it is impossible for
all, or even for any great number of them, to
become expert electricians, nor is it desirable
that they should do 80 at the expense of other
branches of their profession of more pressing
importance. To meet this want it is suggested
that corps Of naval electricians be established
in the different states that have created a naval
militia to be attached to this militia and to re-
ceive the naval training which it is the great
object of the militia to give.
BY this means a corps of electrical specialists
would be organized familiar with the needs
and usages OF the naval service, and the ex-
tended applications of electricity to naval ves-
sells would be rapidly developed in time of
peace as well as in war. In the latter cOntin-
gency the corps would be especially valuable
in fitting out new vessels with electrical appar-
atus, and in taking charge of the electrical
plant on board ships in commission. The num-
Der of officers available in an emergency would
thus be increased, as those now detailed to cleo
trlcai work could be assigned to other duties,
and their work could be carried on by the ex-
perts of the naval militia