The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-29
A NEW NAVAL RESERVE.
COMMANDER MILBER's hcOo or
the srsrEM PROPOSED.

Tho Naval Reserve Association has draw
up n substitute for Mr.. C%unmlngs's bill to es
tabllsh All auxiliary force In addition TO the on,
already furnished by tho Naval Militia Of III,
various States.
The view taken In this.mcasure Is that Their
should be a national organization for this pur
pose. A Commander i. W. Miller of the Firsr
New York Naval Battalion expresses II, many
ex-navy officers have always desired to create q
United States Naval Reserve ty development
out Of the Naval Militia organizations; but thi:
could not I've done until the States whose prop,
crty aud would be jeopnrlcd by q
sudden war should lie awakened TO their com.
paratIvoly defenceless condition.
The tino Ia now ripo, says Commander NIL.
Ter, In view Of recent events, TO organize and
instruct scafaring men ns Naval Reserves, ami
also TO obtain torpedo boats for local Use In the
protection of specified ports and OF sections OF
coast within which they are to be stationed and
used. These boats can be supplemented with
larger vessels, stationed In specified ports, and
these also can no used for the enlarged and i'm.
proved instruction of the state Naval MIlittas.
As the term Of enlistment Of the latter IN sew
eral States will soon expire. II is further sug-
gested that some new method of developing
cnthusiasm will be useful in order TO enlarge
and strengthen that body. and any legislation
for this purpose should look primarily to
what will increase local interest and growth.
Commander Miller points out that we must
not assume that we can draw men from II large
merchant marine, since such n marine does not
now exist. Nor could long terms of service
be req uired from the national Naval Reserves,
since on account Of the nature OF the Coastwise
merchant navigation It would be impossible
for officers or crews Of merchant vessels to do
more than attend evening drills during the
winter. and pprfprm a wapk'S tour of lutv DIR.
ing tho summer. I'VE can, however, says
Commander Miller. "induce fishermen, yacht
sailors, and 'longshOremcn to serve n month
or more during the winter by paying them. 1t
will therefore be no more difficult for men to
enlist in the United States Naval Reserve than
for other men to Join the Naval Militia or Ma
tional Guard. New York has now over 10
OGO uniformed National Guard and only
about 400 in its Naval Militia"
What Commander Miller. then, would de-
velop is, first. State Naval Militias. capable
OF defending, as organizations, certain specific
localities, and. secondly, a United States Naval
Reserve, composed Of officers and men OF the
merchant marine. to augment the forces of
men.of war in time of emergency. In order
to accomplish these two results. one or two or
the new battle ships and torpedo boats should
be stationed in certain harbors with a mini
mum crew, thus liherating the enlisted men OF
the navy for duty on board the cruising squad
rons." With these explanatory statements Of
the objects of the new measure attention can
now be directed to the proposed bill itself.
1t begins by declaring that n United States
Naval Reserve shall be established. composed Of
able. bodied men between IL and - years of
age. to be enrolled in such numbers as the
President shall deem necessary. for periods not
and ratings corresponding To those in the navy.
and to consist Of the following: Ex-oficers and
fnyIltT lie "a M nnp n n ~ a. II lFi t,a npn
state Naval Militias, revenue marine. life sav-
ing, lighthouse and Coast survey services, duly
engineers. pilots. and all others serving in the
merchant marine, the owners. officers. and
principal o occupati or" is IS on DaH the pG iii, sea or
navigablc waters of the United States. or in
the construction, repair; and rigging of vessels.
Enrollment in this Naval Reserve, or full
from land service in the National Guard or
militia. The officers are to he commissioned,
vice. They are to have their choice as to perform
them, are to have the same pay as
officers and men # the navy, and they must
war or imminent danger of war.
A noteworthy section OF the bill is that any
o 1ss tSI, S S2mma Raserv by and a i9 IaYins IN Ser "f nomr
plement at least five officers and men OF the Re-
serve for every hundred tons OF Custom House
Naval Reserve vessel, and shall have
the right 70 fly 9 distinctive flag or pennant as
: The system Of organizing. the Naval Reserve
Is to be framed by n Board consisting of two
m members s1 frp% on the sr 9%S{ ti tW Std a,sp S the % Miijti"sI
extra pay, for 1--WE years. They viii establish
rotary OF the Navy may detail officers and pet
y officers to enroll; inspect, and INSTRUCT the
Reserve. and take charge of the United States
Any naval officer below the rank Of Lieutenant
GiGmm% appreI may bs at t n,s assirei T Sr5m the the p nsyy
active list TO the Naval Reserve on one-half his
The annual appropriation for the Reserve is
fixed at $50. 600. In addition there is to he
stationed in each of the principal ports a port
for local defence and for the training Of the Ma.
Reserve and the Naval Militia, Sufficient
l%inesri m "na hc cFsws sd Sft ,o ps to f tR"se sliow wee f by
to the navy. and they are also to have on
board sufficient fuel AID stores for a ten days
annual cruise.
For the construction, arming, and equipping
three such torpedo boats, the sum Of $500
'mch boats are ready. and thereafter 100000;
)t the first three boats. two are to be stationed
IN II t@ wil Aii be seen af from SH the on for sas ha'i snm %@aTt:
IF the elaborate bill proposed, that II very care
and thorough plan has Leen drawn up, for
not conflict with the existing state Naval Mill
ias. but rather supplement- them. But even
does not complete the studies made ON this
ubicct; While the bill provides for nm %orgnni:
;ation by a Board of Commissioner. the Naval
teserye Association Of New York, under Presi-
lent Herbert l.. Sattcrlec. has made an elaho-
ate statement of n scheme for the purpose. IL
would make the basis of the Reserve like that
II the navy, with special corps of engineers.
ilachinists, torpedoists, electricians, and
'ilots, the remainder being organized in skele-
on battalions or Sims companies. those of each
district constituting n brigade. Then II Is pro-
'Osed to classify the Reserves according to pre-
iOus. experience in the Government service.
Snval Militia, or merchant marine. Those who
ave seen the most service will he In the first
lass and receive only nominal training, while
hose OF the second class, with n little less ser.
ice. VIII receive a little training. the third
lass more, and so on through the six Glasses.
Fhich are described us follows:
Glass An cx. onicers of the United States navy
T IL rank higher than Lieutenant Commander, all
N'onircrs OF tho Marine Corps or a rank higher
nan Captain, and all ex officers Of the Naval Mill.
Ia of "A rank higher than Commander. The He.
Of this class 10 report In person upon their
rst enrolment, ana annually thereafter, either In
erson or In writing, and 10 be In honor bound To
nallfy during the year In ono ar more branches,
o., In ordnance, torpcdoes, marine architecture,
ne science Of navigation. tactics, sc, as may be
commended by the Board OF Commissioners, and
; report annually that they hay" 50 done.