The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-08-14

READY FOR SERVICE
New Jerseys Naval Re-
serve Organization Well
Under Way.
NEWARK's DIVISION ACTIVE.
Militia officers Say They Have No
Room For Them in the
Armory.
NEWARK'S DIVISION ACTIVE.

1O0NON@
their annual cruises the young men OF
Newark and Jersey City who are to COM
prise the Jersey battalion were busy with
the numerous details incident to organfza-
ton. Much still remains to be accom-
plished before the reserves can be said TO
be fully organized, and at every turn
some new feature seems to develop IT.
self. One most encouraging element IS
the manifest enthusiasm of a large pro-
portion of those already admitted to menu
bership. This is most valuable just now,
when the battalion may be said to be
emerging from haos n taking on
some semblance of order.
Most of the business so far transacted
at the bi-weekly meetings in the Fourth
Regiment Armory in this city mas
been of a routine character and conse-
quently humdrum. Despite this the at
tendance is always large, and the lively
character of the debates demonstrates
how deeply commemorative young men are
in getting everything into proper work
ing order. There have been some frac-
tional fights even thus early. but nothing
in any way calculated to injure the pro-
gress of the movement has occurred.
In fact, the discussions have been more
beneficial than injurious, for they have
served to stir the members up and spur
them on to effect as satisfactory an or
SCHEME OF ORGANIZATION.
AS matters stand now the preliminary
steps to the separation. OF the battallon
INTO two divisions are now under way,
and at the next meeting, which Will be
held on September 5, the divisions VIII
probably be sufficiently organized TO re-
ceive their shares of the battalion funds
with which to defray running expenses.
AT that meeting also the battalion eA-
eeutive board, which will consist OF nve
- ona1 iEin fOOHf ar WITn
the president, will be chosen. An at
tempt was made last Wednesday night
to have the battalion authorize the sec
ond or Newark division to elect its four
principal officers, lieutenant command
ing, junior lieutenant and two enSlgns.
A motion to this effect was put ana LOST
Some of those who opposed the motloh
evidently inferred that it concealed some
deep laid scheme n w or efneT, W : pia as to 8
organize the division in the way. thar
the bylaws call for. The officers elected
with civil powers. Although they would
have had naval titles they would nave
been president, 1iee, president. secretary
and treasurer. While the losing Of the
motion blocked progress a little it did not
dampen enthusiasm. Later in the even
ing some of those who had opposed the
motion because they did not fully under
stand it saw their error, so that at the
next meeting a similar motion II pre-
sented would doubtless meet with more
THE TWO DIVISIONS.
One result of last Wednesdays meet
ing was to more clearly outline the
of the two divisions. These committees
are to be furnished with full lists of the
members of the battalion; From these
in Jersey nSg Git City ,@ PlaindeIe. Elizaseth, Bay:
10 the First division Newark, n those
residing In the Oranges, Reseyille Bloom
field, Franklin and Nutley will make up
the Second division. The Second division
Will meet this week. 1t has
but four members at present, and is en-
titled to nine. Three more Will be elect
ed Immediately.
Before the next meeting of the bat
TALON a meeting of the Second division
will probably be held in some hall in
Newark. This meeting will be held for
the purpose of bringing the member to-
gether SO that they may become aequalnt
ed with each other and in this means
lay the foundation for the development
of a proper esprit du corps. The MEM
bers will be notified of the lime and
place of meeting, and all will be expect
AS there is some possibility that the
battalion may have a ship assigned to
it this fall, there is no telling Just how
AS soon as the ship is secured all drills
will be held aboard of it. An effort was
of a room in the Newark Armory,. but
Colonel Campbell, when interviewed on
the subject, said there was no room
which was not occupied. All chances of
receiving any assistance from the militia
would seem to be at an enc but the Re
serves feel confident of securing proper
quarters for meetings and drills, so long
as it shall be necessary to hold either or
COMMANDER WANTED.
Perhaps the greatest difficulty which
the battalion has to face at present is
the finding of a suitable man to fill the
position Of commander. 1t is almost i'm
-1vo4fxra that fha laOl1a ny q "a n ~ n II h. -
graduate of the United States Naval Aca-
deny. Such men are hard to find in New
Jersey, as those who reside here are
either too old for the age limit-forty-fve
years-or are still in the service. n case
no suitable MAJ can be secured it is quite
likely the authorities at Washington will
appoint an officer to get the battalion
into shape. This would be ar excellent
thing for the Reserves, and as the Gov
Military Academy as drill masters at
various schools and colleges throughout
the country, it wpuld seem strange in
deed if it could not appoint. naval officers
to supervise the organization of the Ma
val Reserve battalions, especially as the
Reserves are organizing with the express
purpose of furnishing aid to the regular
~ enlisted naval force of the country.
There is one point concerning Naval
Reserves which cannot pc toe sfrongiy
friends. 1t is this:-The reserves are or
ganized for service at sea. Whatever
land duty tha may be done will be in
cidental. For this reason it must be
understood thai the New Jersey bat
talon is not a military organization, and
that the divisions are not to be drilled
and instructed as if they were companies
of militia. The reserves have got to fam
iliarize themselves with the elements of
~seamanship, navigation and gunnery
They will nave military drill, of course,
but only sufficient to go through the
simpler eyolutions in a creditable man
ner.
A good explanation of what is meant
by the above is found in the experience
OF the Rochester division of the New
York battalion while on its recent cruise.
The Rochester division seems TO have
been organized as a military ompany
and in military drill 1t gave a superb ex-
hibition. Experts said that the division
was fully equal to the best company in
the Seventh Regiment of New York. But
was found wanting. When ordered to
lower away a boat, the ensign of the di-
vision, who should have superintended the
m~anoeuvre, had to inquire of a superior
officer how it was to be done. If, there
fore, too much attention is paid to mill
tary drill the all essential features in the
instruction of the reserves must suffer.
SAILORS, NOT SOLDIERS.
The United States Government will be
much more likely to overlook a poor
showing in military drill on the part of
Naval Reserves than it will ignorance of
the simpler details of ship duty. It must
not be gathers from this that slipshod
military drill will be c-ountenanced, but
that while a fair degree of proficiency in
it must be attained to, it must be kept
subordinate to the other lines of instruc-
ton.
u -