The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-10
A NAVAL RESERVE.
Trained Crews Needed to Man
New War Vessels.

During the past year great deal has been
written and said concerning the defenseless
condition of the Pacific Coast and its utter
helplessneSS in case of war with foreign
maritime power.
Many suggestions have been made for
remedying the evil, and in some cases steps
have been and are being taken. Pneumatic
ana hlgh-p0Wered guns, to be mounted in
coast Notifications, have been appropriated
for. torpedo station has been established
on Goat Island, and the Monterey, coast
defense vessel OF modern type, is building
at the Union Iron Works aud is destined to
be permanently stationed on this coast.
The monitor MonadnOck is to be completed
III accordance with modern ideas and de-
signs, and no doubt other vessels of similar
character Will be built and stationed per-
manently III our waters.
One important item, however, seems thus
far to have been overlooked. Vessels like
the Monterey are useless without trained
crews to man and fight the III. Where are
these trained crews TO be obtained?
Recently great deal has been said con-
corning the difficulty encountered by the
Navy Department in obtaining crews for
the new naval vessels, especially since the
passage OF the law prohibiting the enlist
ment or any but American citizens, either
native born or regularly naturalzed. Now
that the failure OF the Shipping Bill seems
likely, and the stimulus it would probably
furnish to shipping matters thereby lost,
this difficulty is likely 10 be increased, or al
least in no way diminished.
1t therefore behooVeS our citizens to take
other steps toward the attainment If so de-
slrable and important an end as the crea-
ton and maintenance OF force of trained
sailors TO be drawn upon for the manning of
our naval vessels for the defense of our
ports IN case OF war. Very simple and eff
iectual means to this end are at hand ana
have been adopted by several of the Eastern
States, notably New York and Massachu-
sets. In these States the Legislatures have
passed acts creating bodies of naval militia,
which form part of and nave in all cases
the same status as the National Guard.
The Navy Department has met these
efforts more than hall way, and allows to
these States the periodical use of receiving
and training ships for purposes of drill and
instruction. From time 10 time, also, COM
petent naval officers have been detailed to
deliver lectures and otherwise to instruct
the naval militia in the theory and practice
OF modern naval warfare. The Office of
Naval Intelligence, established in the Navy
Department at Washington, publishes and
supplies professional literature which will
enable officers and men to keep fully posted
in ali modern developments of naval tactics
ana material.
The times seems ripe for the creation of a
similar furce on this Coast. The Chamber
OF Commerce has received communication
from the Steamship Sailors Union OF this
city, asking Tor its influence in obtaining for
California force OF naval militia, to con-
sist OF battalion of four companies of 100
men each.
The Chamber Of Commerce has taken up
the matter with commendable promptuesS,
and has appointed a committee to inquire
into the subject and formulate a bill creating
such force to be introduced in the State
Legislature. The committee has been hard
at work and has drawn up such a bill and
will make its report to tie Chamber OF Com
merce at lis next regular meeting on Tues
day, the 18th inst.
a number of prominent naval and army
officers have been invited to be present. in
Guiding AdmiralS Benham and Brown, Cen
eral Gibbon, Captain Remey of the cruiser
Charleston aud Captain Sampson of the San
Francisco, who has given this matter a great
deal of attention and has written several
articles on the subject of naval reserve.
These officers will undoubtedly be present
at the meeting and will probably express
their views
1t is earnestly hoped by the promoters of
this meeting that the citizens will interest
themselves i'll this matter and be present in
large numbers at the meeting on Tuesday
next.