New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-30
NETWORKS NAVAL MILITIA.

REPORT OF LIEUTENANT Nlbi-A|h O-' ~
CRUISE MADE LAST SUMNER
Washington. Oct. % (speciaD-A. P. Nib'ack' who
represented the Navy Department on the recent
annual tour OF duty OF the LIST Battalion o' the
New-York Naval Reserves, submitted to secretary
Herbert to-day an official report Of his Inspection
Lieutenant Nblack says In part;
AS announced in a special order of the Adjutant-
General OF NewYork, the object OF the suhiiiei
tour of the naval militia Of the State was based
upon the assumption that a foreign war was I'M
minen and that II was essential prior " nos, i
of the approaches TO New-York. 1t was aimed IN
ciden,aly to give both officers and men exper'ece
in practical longshore work, the PREPARATION OF a
war map and experience in signalling ana recon-
nosances In carrying out this idea me . ,b i'm
Naval Battalion and portion OF the shore o. LAKE
the selection Of sites for signal staH Hg
lawrence on Friday July 10, in company with the
Wes landed Saturday morning at West Shell
ter Island. Camp McApin was established, and
routine began a. a. m. Saturday. Monday ana
part Of Tuesday were spent in reconnaissance work
by boat parties in pulling boats and by the com
Emons The shore line was examined from Gar.
diners Bay to the head Of Little Peconc Bay, and
SPECIAL Information collected for the Naval War
College. A good feature Of this work was the writ
on return to camp. while the notes and Impressions
were fresh In the mind. 1t also facilitated the re-
10 readjust certain differences in reports OF boat
parties AS result of the information obtained re-
ports have been forwarded to the Department since
the cruise together with maps and sketches made
the ground all Of which WI be extremely vaiu-
on Monday evening the 3o9oat Cushing ar
oears and on vsons we're a a
and instructed In assembling and firing Whitehead
sh of Re
stan spent the day on board the Cushing under IN ~,
NiS n
Great Peconic Bay. and by marching In extended
on shinnecock Heights. On Thursday morning camp
was broken and nine boats crews were towed out
Which the boats made the best of their way up
Sound each divisional commander having orders to
esynS the boats IN charge Of boatSeepers and
going by rail to New-York SO as to reach the New
a5oa Se aus s e Hs'
s speaks we'll for the physical condition Of the bat
talon, which is made up Of an unusually athletic
probably on account of the hardened physique OF
of 81 hs the n ns and @ my
effects physically resulted. the anticipations from
The battalion camped by divisions along the beach
with the boats moored abreast the DIVISIONS to
talon was of the highest order Too much cannot
be said in praise OF the spirit in which this feature
Information Collected by the 'iongshore reconnol-
ssnces Is such that it offers great field for the
sigma corps is practically efnclcnt The commits
sar1at and quartermaster arrangements were good,
and reflect credit those In charge. The hospital
facilities excellent and complete In every de-
tail The chief petty officers particularly eff
cent set of men.
In view OF the general tentative state Of the
question Of infantry and artillery drills both in the
battalion In the manual. guard-mountlng guard
duty and battalion drill. may not be taken as an
index Of purpose to SUR this feature OF the tran
ing The New Hampshire. as an armory. Is not
good pace for infantry drills, but. nevertheless
guard duty may be taught there and certain tenden-
italy those Of the Navy. PROFESSIONALLY. the du-
ties OF a sailor board snip do not conduce 10
military erectnes3 bearing but for all that the
despised surface indications Of the military spirit
are really the military spirit. The man who learns
hold himself wei. TO salute properly, and TO alb
military spirit whether or not ne knows any Of
the details OF the profession. The discipline OF the
battalion is. however good that with increased
efficiency In guard duty. and with the introduction
OF the new infantry and artillery instructions. the
New-York Naval Militia will take its place
mode. organization.
Hitherto good deal Of man-of-war training has
been had in the brief time allotted each summer the
idea being 10 train the Nava. Militia a ship
company for a reserve IN time OF war. The pro-
gramme this marks somewhat OF a departure
from this course in effect the duties which were
between the practice. functions OF the Army and
Navy. In a country with long stretch OF defence
less sea coast and handful. Of cruisers fleet
any promise OF usefulness In rs defence Is graft
flying that there is for any organization which
II military and efficient The assured success OF the
Of the organization Of Naval Reserve under purely
auSD'ces