The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-08-20
HINTS TO RESERVES
Useful Information for
Amateur Sailor Boys.
ADMIRAL WALKERS APPRECIATION
The Battalion Will Play an I'M
portant Part in the Next War,
If We Have One.

While New Jerseys Naval Reserve is
still in its infancy, it is not too early for
that part of the general public which has
become interested in the movement to be-
come conversant will some of the funda-
mental principles underlying the organ1-
cation of bodies of men to cooperate
with the sea forces of the country in
time of war. AS a great many questions
are asked every day concerning this or
that feature, showing decided ignorance
of the plan and scope of the movement,
it does not seem out of place to clear
away some of this haze of uncertainty.
The Naval Resrve idea has been in op-
Grafton about five years.
In Massachusetts and New York, where
it was first tried, it's progress was neces-
sarily slow at the start. The Reserves
had to feel their way, as it We're, for
they had no precedent to &C by. There
had been nothing of the kind inthis coun-
try before, and the Reserves found con-
stantly hat they had to take the init
alive. They made mistakes, of course,
but they had wise men as their leaders,
men who had served in the United States
Navy in the capacity of officers, and men
who were, above all, pronounced enthnsi-
asts in the new movement. To these
men the rapid rise to prominence of the
Reserves in the two States mentioned
is very largely due, and it is to the Re-
serves of these two States that the new
organizations as they sprang up in the
various States must look for advice and
assistance.
The United states Government officials
including the Secretary and Assistant
Coapatarv of tho NAVY President CleVR-.
land, the Secretary of War and, in fact,
the great majority Of the officers of the
navy, are highly pleased with the man
ner in which the movement is progress
ing, and there is now but little doubt
that in a few months every State which
has a coast line, either on the Atlantic
or the Pacific or on the great lakes will
have a Naval Reserve organization, well
drilled and fully equipped, ready to go
into active service on a few hours notice.
IMPORTANCE OF RESERVES.
The Importance of such an extensive
volunteer sea force in time of war can
scarcely be over-estimated, and the only
wonder is that some such movement
was not started years ago. If the United
States Navy had had such a force to
draw from during the Civil Wal the eff
feet OF hat part of the conflict carried
on upon the water would have been power
full. There would have been much less
delay in getting vessels into roper fight
ing shape, for the number of men con-
yersant with the details of a man-of-
wars mans life and duties would have
been much larger than it was. The Ma
val Reserve officers could ave rendered
valuable service in the drilling of recruits
and in the instruction of many of the
simpler details.
All this was long ago realized, but for
a long time there was no one willing to
shoulder the responsibility of fathering
such a movement, which many were
bound to look upon as an experiment
whose ultimate results were doubtful;
the Reserves at the present time the
following, taken from a letter to Com
mander Miller of the New York Reserves,
written by Admiral Walker after last
years cruise of the New York Reserves,
throws considerable light
ADMIRAL WALKERS LETTER.
"As commander-in-chief of a squadron,
1 had in the years 1891 and 1892 the d.
rection of the annual exercises OF the
Naval Militia organizations of Massa-
chusetts and New York, and my re-
only my appreciation of the value to the
navy and the country of the whole move
ment to organize bodies of naval reserve,
but my entire satisfaction with the re-
suits of that movement. ! found in the
naval militiamen intelligence and zeal,
ready Willingness, to undertake any labor
however laborious, and an aptitude Tor
acquiring and utilizing knowledge OF a
military marine, which gave the most
assuring promise of their value to the
navy in time of war. This was the gen
eral sentiment of the officers under my
command who came directly in contact
with the militia n instructed them,
n this was the substance of the re-
ports made to me.
1T can not be expected that men whose
ives are spent almost entirely on shore
in business and professional pursuits VIII,
in a few days, attain the habit of sea
life; nor even that yachtsmen Will at a
bound grasp all the differences which
exist between a schooner and a protected
cruiser, but a good yachtsman is a good
seaman, nevertheless; and an organiza-
ton of young men, intelligent, jealous
and Industrious, including q large per-
centage of yachtsmen and others interest
ed in nautical matters, contains the best
material we ave for a naval reserve. A
thoughtful officer will look over the whole
ground and at the general results to be
obtained. In the naval battle OF the fu-
ture it will be much more important to
fire a gun straight than to stopper a
backstay, and the naval militia have al
ways shown themselves good marksmen.
WHEN THEY ARE NEEDED.
'sThe discipline produced by ~organiza-
ton and drill, the habit of obedience,
steadiness and self command gradually
acquired, do not, in the possible.ordeal
of a future war, yield in value to any
other quality; and, finally, the pride,
patriotism and pluck of Americans, en-
rolled and organized for a special pur-
pose, will never fail to bring them in
unbroken ranks to the front when their
services are needed. If | were ordered
to fit out and command a fleet in time of
war, it would much tighten my heavy
responsibilities to know that from the
naval battalion of New York and Mass
achussets, and those more recently or
ganized, ! could put a hundred men
should know that they would stand to
their guns and handle them intelligently,
and l would trust them to pick up any
missing bits of s~eamanship."
The closing sentences of the above
show a certain seriousness which ought
men OF this city, whose names are now
on the roster roll of the New Jersey
Battalion. The Reserve Is being organ
lied for business which, while there is no
Immediate probability of it developing