New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-17


OF THE STATE NAVAL RESERVES
fBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBuNEI
| Washington Aug ls-An interesting report on
| the Joint camp Gardeners Island OF the Na'n
| Militia of ew-York Connecticut and Rhode
| Island together with certain general Conclusions
| relative TO the character and duties or these SCI
| troops has been made ~ Lieutenant A = MD
| lack OF the Navy, to Assistant Secretary hchuoo'
| Lieutenant Niblack has charge OF Naval "ii'i,'s
| affairs at the Navy Department lie accompanied
| Mr. McAdoo on the Dolphin on the recent tour Vi
| inspection OF the summer encampment o. ths
Eastern States. In his report he says IN part
The Joint camp was in every way success
Each State carried out It's plans. ana me Dspa.,
ment fulfilled it, obligations to IN" letter; G 6,,
attention paid TO camp routine h.nn ST. 49,
| force camped separately. The idea was tnh t
| camping was simply a means 70 an end me eh enc
beng get together where SHIPS cou1 kNe e. ~,
be arrived at on the subject 9! o'"s ,a a' force
got a better idea OF its needs as an o.sAn 10
| ZION especially in the matter OF equipments. ny
equipment OF Naval Militia and ex
pensive than that Of the iamd m wdigb, 4, vital
The 3g Ss sbe or t tent conica With low was
which was used by the Naval Militia OF New ! orS1
seems to be the type best adapted ior the NavaI
Militia also their cooking eutnt The R eom
missariat arrangements Of me ,tIsfantory
but entirely 100 cumbersome. >,u,.,. ,.-
mits the purchase of signal outfits and pulling
boats and their equipments lnquesuGgnaoiy, We
ha
he The milling cutter as a unit. All camping and
signal outfits and all arms and accogtrements.
ment of a pulling cutter in the Navy and inn
mediate steps should be taken by the naval Miit, Ia
this respect. before branching out In other cireo-
Inc Joint camp At GARDENERS Island has given tho
Naval Militia organizl lions OF the three states par
sccppnnis6ed in the way OF reconnaissance work in
ehis immediate region. The tours u duty this year
OF the Naval Militia have. In general. been more
fritfnl than those Of previous years because the
purpose of the Naval Militia is becoming more clearly
show every desire and intention OF sanetionnS ana
developing the reconnaissance work or the Naval
duties as distinguished now from being the result
only Of voluntary ana ind.vidaul acton on me par
promise to give purpose to the Naval Militia move
t,nd If militarv information OF the utmost value
in formulating schemes of defence.
the state maintaining and the General Govern
nlent 1t depend for its success upon strong
sasm and patriotism OF its meTs,rs The laws snd
regulations governing the NaVa Militia vary IN each
State and il would therefore, that the organ
cations would also vary and be what the State author
tiles choose to make them This is counieTIacted.
more or less, by the interest which the Navy DEPART
nlent takes in them. from their somewhat National
character and from the fact tha, me annual spPro
their equipment Being local the Naval Militia nave
navy M Department strives by Issuing textbooks and
bringing them in contact with the regular service on
a naval atmosphere. 1t is from this dual character
that the Naval Militia movement has suffered, on
the one hand from mistaken idea OF tneir becoming
Navy, and consequently. on the other hand. from
lack Of promise Of definite usefulness 10 the states
maintaining them. Naturally II Is not the business
OF State TO provide such reserve and on the other
hand, Ii * distinctly the duty Of the General Govern.
ment. Fortunately. the organization OF true Naval
Reserve under National auspices cannot affect un-
favorably the growth and development OF the Naval
As a State naval force the Naval Militia has q
very wide field 10 cover. and nothing Is more
urgently needed than a limitation or tho expec-
tations which both the State and General Govern
seem to have concerning the Naval Militia
The State inspectors are. As rule, entirely mex
perienced In nautical matters. and on the men-of-
board Of which they occasionally serve.
each Board of Officers applies ITS own standard TO
them in estimating their efficiency. While the
State nd the Government both have a right 10 ex-
pect dollars worth of efficiency for every dollar
spent in their maintenance, the nrst duty or the
Naval Militia is really the State. And un-
doubtedy in time OF war A large percentage or the
Naval Militia will individually volunteer for SER
vice in the Navy. taking such positions as tnelr
merits alone will give them. The Navy as BODY
seems TO hold to the idea that Naval Militia ON
with the rank they now hold in the Naval Militia
This view Is alike fatal 10 both organizations, as
affecting their mutual relations. AZ a matter or
fact the rank given in the Naval Militia Is state
affair and in no way concerns the Navy. a man
may be a most excellent Naval Militia commander
without necessarily being At 10 command man-of-
war. In time of war the demand for ofhcers ana
men will be such that the actual supply from all
sources will be entirely inadequate that no offi-
Ger holding a commission In the Navy need fear
favor OF laval Militia officers OF less experiences.
necessary step In this question will be furnished
with the enactment OF laws establishing a true
reserve of officers and men for the Navy.