The morning call., 1891-12-21


The naval militia. therefore, comprises today
an effective. organized force OF 100 men dis
tributed among SIX States. From Information
received from various sources IL is beyond cues
ton hat as soon the necessary authority is
given by enactment Of their respective Legisla-
tuIes, olier States Will Immediately establish
organizations and tie number of men In the
service VII! be lai eely increased.
An estimate OF $4,000 has been submitted for
continuing The aiming of the militia, but II is
earnestly hoped that Congress may see lit 10 ill.,
Crease lhis Amount In order that this new aud
most important branch OF tie service may be
placed on a substantial footing.
Tie department has endeavOred to facilitate
and encourage by every means In It's power the
training OF the Stale organizations. With this
object III view, and also partly TO contribute to
the training OF tie navy ITSELF The Squadron Of
Evolution conducted diils for Two successive
weeks at Boston and IN Long Island Sound for
the militia organized in Massa chusetts and New
York, the TWO States most advanced in prepare
ton.
lie importance of this movement. which is
destined TO add TO the strength OF the navy a
considerable force OF militia, with all The ad-
vantages oil thoroughly preliminary training,
VIII be universally appreciated. 1t should be
helped aud forwarded In every possible way.
The drills OF line naval militia during the past
year have shown how much can be accomplished
IN inns direction by organization aud discipline.
Under tie command OF capable officers, many of
whom have had professional experience, the
naval battaions have reached a high state of
efficiency, and the establishment of the naval
militia must be regarded one of the important
events in the record OF our naval progress during
TIC past year.
FURTHER NATIONAL RECOGNITION.
A letter has been received at battalion
headquarters from +. S. Gardner Assistant
Secretary of the New York Board of Trade,
which first agitated the question of a naval
reserve and worked up the measure through
Congress. lie has written TO urge concerted
action for further Congressional recogpi-
ton. Senator Stanford and Congressman
FELTON, and Cutting have been made inter-
pStpi the sublppt and the la Il a6
went on with letters of introduction to Sem
ator HOar, who has champloned the cause.
The most reasonable assurances of CO.
operation have been given. A bill will be
presented which VIII be consensus of the
best features OF the various suggestions
made and agreed upon by the several bat
tallOns organized. Oregon is a little back
ward with its organization, but its delega-
ton will be in accord with that Of Cali
fornia.
The three city companies of the battalion
have each been called upon to submit to
headquarters plan for the defense OF the
harbor Of San Francisco, utilizing to the
best advantage the force as now organized
and as it will be drilled.
Company has eight $50 honorary men,
bers, and two or three more. These
sailor boys have not been mapping
CONTRACTS FOR UNIFORMS.
Company ID is having its uniforms made
under contract with j. j. Dulan of Vallejo.
and Il and c with Chief Gunner's Mate A.
Anderson. They will be delivered at the
rate OF two or three dozen per week. Over
S2400 has been collected from the merchants
Of this city TO uniform the boys. The uni
forms Will be made in strict accordance
with navy regulations and payments on the
order of the Paymaster. Those now being
made are the regulation blue shirts, trous-
ers, caps, knife lanyard and neckerchef
The three companies will draw each to the
extent Of a third of the money collected,
which Is sufficient to provide them with this
uniform. But the battalion also wants the
white duck uniform, so that the collections
have not ceased.
A library for the battalion has been
started. For the scrap books, Adjutant
Brooks has already string Of newspaper
clippings longer than the longest "hoine-
ward bound" ever flown to the breeze from
the miZZen-truck of man-of-war.
Battalion orders are In cerulean blue. but
Lieutenant Commander Chandler is boss
nOw,' and blue it will be- Adiutant Brooks
signs them in black, though. .
DEAD MATERIAL Topped OFF.
Secretary of War Proctor said that deser-
tion cannot he stamped out of the army be-
cause OF tie "ineradicable restlessness of
suggested by Battalion Orders No. 3 dis
charging % seamen-1 from b, Z from A
(San Diego, 8 from G and ii from ID, and
ali for removal save two for disability.
At first glance this would seem not to be a
good showing for the battalion, considering
that 1t IS not four months old yet. "The
fact Is" as Adjutant Brooks states, that
what IS in apparent loss in numbers is really
gain in material" The discharged repre-
sent dead material which came in with the
rush OF organization. Live men have taken
the places of these dummies and the COM
panies are full.
In the next orders course in marlin
spike seamanship will probably be author
lied. All in all the battalion is in a most
satisfactory condition, and all are entitled
TO the utmost credit for their pluck, for they
have thus far relied upon their own re-
sources solely.
AT the election in Company B on Thurs
day evening Charles H. Croker was elected
Lieutenant, junior grade. He is member
of the firm of III. S. Croker & Co.
ENCOURAGED BY THE NAVY
Nothing has given the officers of the bat
TALON more ENCOURAGEMENT than the earnest
promises OF cooperation on the part of
officers Of the navy stationed at Mare
Island. The cruiser San Francisco will be
down to-day, and with the kind permission
OF Captain Sampson, Lieutenant-C Com
mander Chandler has arranged to assemble
his boys TO spend day on board and wit
ness the clearing of the deck for action and
the drill with great guns-literally and not
hgura:iyely.
Lieutenant Commander Sorley of the Bos.
ton reserve has written to the California
Battalion urging its cooperation to the end
that the Navy Department authorize the
naval reserve to practice on vessels of the
monitor class, arguing with force that in
them the naval militia will find its particn-
lar field of service should it ever be called
upon.
An omission has been discovered in The
Act to establish naval battalion in
assimlating the rank in the n. G. C. of a
Lieutenant Junior Grade" with that Of
Lieutenant without stating which.
a distinctive feature OF the battalion will