The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-14
THE NAVAJ MILITIA.
The Second Years Training OF the New
Orxanizausn Openiug with Good Promise.

Organization Openiug with Good Promise.
WASHINGTON. June 13-Hot weather brings
with II for the naval reserve their season OF
practical shipboard drills. which this year will
be carried out more widely than ever before.
The first organization to take part in them.
that OF North Carolina, will show It's interest
in tho work by going over to Norfolk to receive
Its exercises there on tho cruiser Newark.
The New York reserve will have war vessel
OF It's own this year. the old Richmond. Of 2.700
tons, now attached to the training station at
Nowpcrt As last year. tho drill will begin In
tho North River and end ut Fishers Island.
and the Rochester reserve will go down to
Now York harbor TO take part In the drill.
Boston will Garry out local manpuvres this
season rs last Naval reserve movements
have been started In Rhode Island. In Penn
sylvania. in Maryland. in Illinois. in Wiscon-
ain. in California in Washington. in Texas,
and perhaps in other States. 80 that there
should DO widespread series OF exercises be-
fore summer Is over.
Secretary Tracy in his last report described
tho establishment OF tho naval militia as ono
OF the most important features OF naval prog
ress made during the year 1901. In previous
report he had proposed force Of harbor de-
fence ships for the lending ports. and had sug-
gostcd that each such ship should become
the rallytng point. the armory. the drill hall
the parade ground. and the naval school OF
those young mon who have shown such spirit
and oarnestness In the organization Of tho
naval militia. 1t should DO their privilege to
become tho principal source OF supply for tho
complement both Of officers and men. OF their
local ships: and the result would be IN ad;
dtion o., incSlculable strength 18th, to- the naval
a career not only Of much usefulness but OF
yerita6lo honor to the naval militis. They
H sn not sa p so e hf sSn
the land militia Ia with the army. They.would
GSeeupy place s1mething analogous TO that OF
which would Be- ths reserve q the sessoast
new n laval mi litln movement becomes Of much
30 lar below what il NEEDED The humber
pfsns swe bu sy sE sSlsy sSoaas to 40
yHsEy large. win be asking eomplements.
tie slo0ton armoTed cruiser New York. an:
S IL ss 0fR
supposing. however; Tint the additional
forco should be conceded. 1t H. quite evident
that at sudden cal for the Ta
all the vessels in com mission at once some
this will be still more the case when big battle
ships like tho Indiana. the Massachusetts,. and
tho Oregon. and othsr vessels expensive to
maintain are made ready, Tho force of on,
listed men is kept Mt only tho average reQuired
| for ships in commission. But in sudden call
| for all tho aNilable force the naval militia
would be the source looked to for supplying
| the needed extra men.
Again. Congress- has just laid the founda-
tons OF an auxiliary navy to be headed by
fast liners. But it cannot engage crews for
these vessels The crews that have shipped
| for ordinary pence service may decline to serve
for lighting purposes; and even II willing to do
handling OF big guns Here. accordingly tho
naval militia would come in with services Of
| the greatest value.
1t is to DO hoped. therefore. that the present
| season will see as great progress In the naval
reserve as the year 1891. That season ended
with six States sharing in tho small appropri-
ntion OF C9nSress and an agGregate OF a iittIs
show naval militia organizations N tep %, or
| zen. Certainly. fort general Government. It
| Is most economical establishment, yielding
large body Of trained gunners to rely on at
trifling expense.