The herald., 1895-11-18
THE NAVAL MILITIA'S NEEDS
An Organization Entitled TO Every
Encouragement
The Appropriation Should Be Doubled and
Arrangements Made for Drilling and
Cruising Under Proper Officers

WASHINGTON. Nov. 17.-Assistant
Secretary McAdoo has transmitted to
Secretary Herbert the report of Lieuten-
ait Niblock on the operations of the
naval militia during the past year In
indorsins the report Mr.. McAdoo says
the organizations are growing rapidly in
favor, and the interest Of the puolic in
them is steadily increasing.
This organ cation, founded on patriotic
zeal, is entitled to every encouragement
at the hands Of the government. Speak
ing of the results Of his own inspection
OF the various battalions last summer,
be says that above all things they need
national encouragement and suffi Gent
boats to perfect themselves in drill.
Lieutenant Niblock re port shows that
New jersey and Georsla were the only
new states to make returns and share in
the allotment of funds during the year.
Under the present system of allotm nts
an undue share of the money go,s tn the
older ORGANIZATIONS, which, lieutenant
Ninlock suggests, might be corrected by
divi ing olly one-half IF the total aprro-
priatioN amuns the militia pro rata, and
then using the remaining half t. aid the
new examinations and those who have
not yet reached tho loan OF ship or boat
and ms. h e shows that the supply Of
ships for military purposes is now ex-
hausted. and touchins the experience of
tho California militia on their last cruise
aboard the government vessels, he says
tGat such short cruises of no real
benefit to the militiB. cause of the
hot and facilitating weather of the south
ern summers, he suggests that the time
of cruises of the North Carolina, South
Carolina and Georgia militia should be
changed to spring or fall.
On the line of improvement OF the
militia rs whole, Lieutenant Niblock
has many i'm portant recommendations to
MAKE. he SAYS there has been consider
nhls diminution in the enthus asm in
the older organlZ itions due largely to the
uncertainty as 10 tue real purposes and
aims of ;he naval militia as indicated by
the number OF RESERVATIONS. Unless 1t is
desired that the movement should drift
on in an uncertain and hesi,aiIns way
with possible ultimate failure, q vigorous
state and national initiative should he at
once taken. The state laws should be
made uniform and the navy department
should he Empowered to bring three or
four organizations together in camp which
with a cooperating squadron Of ships,
would result in increased efficiency and
give def iteuess of purpose The appro-
priation for the naval militia should be
Increased frnm $25, 100 tn $50, 00) ANIMAL
ly. A. beat rk is of the utmost i'm.
portante, tie battalions should be pro-
vlded WI b good navy cutters, with ell
equipments necessary ana to ensure uni
+, rm ty il nichols; The outfits of the va
riuus divisions should he Standardized
and to this end, Lieutenant Niblock indi-
cat Just what suitable outfit should
consist Of Steps should he taken to Or
Ranize naval reserve of officers. s.amen
and Ships under national auspices. In
this ex-ottcers OF the navy and former
enlisted men, naval militiamen who have
served specified term, and seafaring
men generally, can make up the erson
mel and yachts and merchant steamers
the material.