The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-19
CHicAGO.s NAVAL MILITIA.
The Bearisg or a. Aacient Treaty On ITS
Ability to Practise AAoAt.

Ability to Practise AAont.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 1s.--That lie curious point
which Is raised In regard to the proposed on.
listmont Of a battalion Of naval militia in I'LL
nois. for duty on Lake Michigan. Is
very curious one. The movement in be-
half OF this new organization for coast defence
has reached Chicago. and has been checked at
tho outset By the fear that It may be in con.
trayention Of the Rush.Bagot treaty neCo-
tlated nearly three. quarters OF . century ago.
The Navy Department now has the matter
under consideration.
There should DO. however. not the slightest
difficulty in coming to q conclusion. The
Rush Bagot treaty has nothing whatever to do
with the personnel OF war ships, but only with
the vessels themselves These are Its restric-
tive ~ oyisions in regard to tho vessels:
The na,s fGres :. y. maintained upon the A ~ Il
a.a Stats. snail is.ss,crS sonhn.d 10 II: follow
ton. "sras anu sra.d viii one nov Nv
IKE Zach mi ~ WIZ 's' re:
...ass Is Sar.n aud vii,
";Ssr a.m:a .ss'ss on Nj. ,ts: nay BE-
shall then 10 built or armed
1t Is therefore beyond controversy that tho
Chicago naval reserve eau proceed 10 organize
itself in any numbers that 1t likes. and can
arm and equip ITSELF and practise with great
guns, small arms. ind cutlasses to It's heart g
content
Yet 1t is equally clear that It could not get a
modern war vessel to practise with. uuder the
treaty. If It can be content to use the Michi-
gan. which is now the guardian Of tho upper
lakes, 1t may safely do so. The treaty does.
indsed, allow two war vessels ON tho upper
lakes hut the limit to 100 tons burden and \
single 1S.pounder cannon practically prevents
he n n NJ nj Of u ma NJ
that tonnage would DO built. except u torpedo
boat, which would DO barred by the provision
as to the armament Thus tho real cues.
ton is, whether, the naval militia will
on posra the III isns' 70
It could have, battery a. big e. the ono mount.
cd On tho onsn ss Could or be
Chicaxos naval militia, keeping In view is
board o"es ysar by rsi Sss a notion Of n:
home sa.slIon 1his would q. Iosst 10 NOR.
!nents OF regulars beyond tho Mississippi 10
learn their business.
Ing light the singular snachtonism OF the
Rush BnKot treaty Is . compact OF current
sol not exceeding 100 tons 6urdsn ana .rmed
with one ls-pounder? This agreement de-
scri6es eraft o. bYfone age: And, In fact. It
spite of tho anxiety 10 respect 1t. Tho Michi-
gnn H. OF aS0 tons rs measurement and fsS tons
ing her to take the place OF the two vessels nj.
lowed on the upper lakes. she would still
violate the conract. SufIerance by Great
Britain might be plea ded against any complaint
now but the treaty reads like unrepealed
Militla lay. recurring mon to. turn out with
f1int muskets and spontoons.
Nevertheless. tho Rush. Baeot treaty is re-
Rarded by our Govern NJ ent to day with a VEN
Grafton so scrupulous that last year 1t refused
to Rivo tho contract for building the new 800
ton practice vessel to the lowest bidder F. ".
fear Of infringing this International compact.
contract was awarded instead to Moore Sons
Of Eiizabethport although the practice vessel
was not to bo " m Maintained upon the American
lakes" as the treaty language ran. but was to
be removed at once 10 ANNAPOLIS. and there
cS %sd VESSELS rsr ss. b ss Sst
armed that prevented the Michigan firm from
receiving Q contract otherwise due to
It: What is the explenat!on Of this xtraor-
dinarv desire to maintain tho hush Bagot
treaty? Clearly 1t is the belief that the only
aanSes TO our nke frontier comes from The
draught vessels of the british, navy through
tho st. Lawrence and the Welland Canal to
menace the safety Of our lake cities. Hence
the enormous respect for The sanctity Of this
compact evep in q particular that could not
is!rly 30 sss1msd to hiring. IT. while the
novel by sail mower. still. even this treaty
would not he violated BY the organization Of
naval militia In Chicago. should 1t ba content 10
drill without modern war vessel on the lakes