The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-15
4 STATE NAVAL MILITIA.

The necessity Of q state naval militia
has been recognized By congress Wnicn'
4 fts last session, appropriated szo'ooo IN
cid Of such organizations IN the seaooaro
states. In state like Washington, whose
line Of defense would be the waters OF
Puget sound, the necessity Of naval NIL
litis nesds no more argument than 1t does
for the mort Of New York. In event of
war from any quarter the success Oh the
fight made by the sea coast deienses OF
Washington would fx the fate OF every
mort mon the Sound In event OF war
volunteers would have to be relied upon
70 man the heavily armed ships and float
fnr batteries that would supplement the
land batteries of our sea coast iortinca-
tons. Against land attacks we should
have nothing to fesr, II we can make Sc
r,,re our projection seward. This would
be the military problem for both Wash
fngton and Oregon to solve in event OF
war. The fate OF these two states would
be fred By the Issue OF the naval battle
tonight an the waters and behind the coast
batteries Of the Sound, and at the mouth
or the Columbia. II goes, therefore, with
out saving that both Washington and Or
eron surely need anayal militia.
The naval militia wanted in these states
need not be composed of men fitted for
deem sea operations; they need only be
sucf material as would make an efficient
crew upon Sound steamer, with the drill
and training added that would make them
competent to man battery of sea coast
guns or the armament of a heavily arm
ored ship or floating battery built for
harbor defense. This naval militia would
not interfere with the prosperity or the
efficiency Of the land militia, for it
would draw its recruits from a differ
emit class Of material that is not
now naturally absorbed by the land
militia. The naval militia would be at
tractive to men who are sailors by instinct
or education rather than soldiers; men
fond Of aquatic life, like yachting, steam
boating, sea fishing, or the coasting trade.
Such men, while not deep sea sailors or in
many instances, professional sailors at
al, are all men Of aquatic instincts and
tastes; men, who. whether at work or at
play, prefer water to land life. These men
would make an IDEAL militia for coast and
harbor defense. and many of the seaboard
states at the East are making preparations
70 enroll such body Of men.
The testimony of the military authori-
ties il that in New York and Mas
IL. A. L. e.. a.
valuable addition to the National Guard
and has drawn its recruits from classes
that otherwise would not have sought the
state service; officers and employees of
steamship companies, ex-navy men, ma
rine electricians, tugboat men, yachtsmen
and Others whose tastes lead them to the
water. This naval militia would be taught
the varied and interesting drills of man.
of-war. with special attention to the man
ipulation Of great guns and torpedoes and to
Workmanship. The battalion would as a
whole b handled as naval infantry or
marines, drili which is accommodated to
the conditions of It's dual duties afioat and
ashore. The officers of the naval militia |
would Of course need to be selected |
from men Of thorough knowledge of state
waterway, lighthouses, buoys, tides,
shoals and proper anchoring places; in |
tinately acquainted with rivers and with |
the railroads which cross rivers, and |
familiar with the best war and fog signals. |
The navy department would always give a
vessel or squadron for a summer cruise,
and would furnish unseaworthy vessels
for armories, II desired. The battalion of |
militia ought to be easily raised in Wash
ington and Oregon, where men of the de-
Eirable aquatic tastes, training and ex-
perience exist in great numbers.