Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-04-10
Ths NAvAL RESERVE.
Iiow such a Force Il Maintained and Paid
In Great Britain

How such a Force Il Maintained and Paid
In Great Britain
For the last twenty-five years, says
the San Francisco Chronicle, Great
Britain has maintained n magnificent
corps OF scarnen called the royal naval
reserve. forming body Of men under
obligations TO serve on her coast-defensc
war-ships Liberal appropriations have
been made for drilling these men ia
gunnery, smallarms tactics and the
general duties of war-ship, and to-day.
were the sea-going British ironclads
called out for duty on stations other
than on her own coasts, the naval re-
serve numbers sufficient men TO man
the gJin-boats, small turret ships and
other types of vessels that are classed
under the head of 'coast-defense ships :"
In Great Britain the coast guard, doing
duty as life-saving patrolmen and watch
ing for smugglers, are all ex-man-of-
war sailors, ready at n moments notice
to serve on board ship. These coast
guardsmen are in receipt of yearly
stipend and pension. Many British
merchant vessels-steam and sail-fiy
what is known as the blue ensign, in
distinction from the usual red flag that
is familiar all over the world This flag
on ship denotes that her master is q
lieutenant in the reserve, and at least
cne-third of his officers and crew also
belong to that service.
Every summer the reserve, or at least
as many as are to be found ut home
ports, are placed on board Of a navy
ship and accompany the feet of war
vessels during their cruise, receiving
pay and rations from the Government
The obligations of a reserve man are
that he shall be drilled either on board
of cruising ship, or one In harbor
especially designed for the service, for
at least one month every year. unless in
the case of officers they can give proof
of their efficiency. In time of war the
naval reserve receive pay similar to the
regularly enlisted men of the navy. 1t
will thus be seen that the British navy
possesses a large reserve to man its
ships Besides this body, the Govern
ment, anxious to foster it's marine, has
at various seaports several line-of-bat-
tie ships for the training of young men
as officers in the merchant service. The
management of these vessels is vested
In various bodies consisting mainly of
ship-owners and merchants, and the
good work effected by these ships In
proved by the number OF masters of
vessels who acknowledge their training
on the Conway or Belviderc.
For many years the want of reserve
force Of men has been a subject for
thought among those interested in our
navy and mercantile marine. Secre-
taries of the navy in their reports have
urged upon Congress the propriety of
establishing body of seamen that
could be utilized both as an auxiliary
to the navy and for defending the
various coast ports at which they might
reside. In accordance with American
institutions the force maintained by the
navy Is small, and any sudden demand
upon it's resources would be mot by the
creation Of naval militia
In New York the members of the
Seahwanaka Yacht Club organized a
volunteer naval reserve; the United
States sloop St. Mary's makes annual
summer cruises with her crew OF young
lads, and in the winter, while in harbor,
the boys not only receive a good
scholastic course but are also taught
seamanship. Massachusetts, and New
Jersey are now deeply interested in the
scheme of providing the State with .
navel militia, and quite recently our
Chamber of Commerce took the initia-
tive step for similar service In this
State