The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-09-23
UNCLE SAM AND SPAIN
Statement Made by Assistant
Secretary Roosevelt.
VIZ ARE on THE VERGE OF WAR.

conference az washington with some Oi
the Commanders of the Naval Militia
Plans Are Laid in Detail IF Trouble
Breaks Out Between the Two Countries
twenty-five Merchantmen VIII BE Put
In Government service.
New York. Sept. 23-"This country
is on the verge Of a war with Spain ."
These are the words Of Assistant Secre-
tary of the Navy Roosevelt He used
them at a conference with some Of the
commanders Of the naval militia. whom
he had summoned to Washington to
learn Of the state of their commands
and the number of men that can be
depended on 20 complete the compile
ment Of the warshps and the auxiliary
navy
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt eau
toned the gentlemen who had been
called into the conference not TO un-
derestimate the gravity Of the situa-
ton The navy department is prepar-
ing TO use every available man of the
naval militia. The commanders Of this
reserve who have been called TO Wash
ington during the last few days have
aad the Importance OF getting their di-
visions in such shape that a sudden
call will find them in readiness impressed
upon them
Chance for the Young Men.
II is for just such a crisis as that
which now seems imminent that the
naval reserve will be established and
maintained. and the young men who
have been playing al being marines
are very likely TO be called upon to
enact their parts in real earnest Among
the naval militia commanders called
upon by the navy department were
Commanders William n Stayton and
w. Butler Duncan. These gentlemen
command, respectively the Brooklyn
and New York battalcns.
1t is believed that at the conference
al the navy department. within the last
few days, the question was put as 10
how many men the commanders of the
New York and Brooklyn battalions
would undertake to report as available
for three months war service COM
mander Stayton is reported TO have an
swered that he would guarantee 275
men out Of his battalion. w Butler
Duncan's estimate is said TO have beer
325
Merchantmen for Warships.
Mr.. Roosevelt then asked Commander
Stayton his views as to the most de-
sirable line of duty to give the naval
militiamen.
I'VE are prepared" the assistant sec
retary is further quoted as saying. Ito
convert a large fleet Of merchantmen
into warships The question arises 5
10 whether the naval militia would do
better work on the improvised cruisers
or on board the regular ships of war
Commander Stayton declared il g be
his belief that the proper place for the
naval militia was on board Of the reg
ular ships. The facilities were better
on the latter craft for new men. This
is the view which has now been adopt
ed by the navy department. and the
war plans in the naval intelligence
bureau have been changed TO accord
with them
Naval Militia Numbers Five Thousand.
In al! there are about 5000 naval
in the United States The
are scattered all along the
Atlantic coast from Boston 10 Charles
ton. New York has three organizations.
one each in Brooklyn. New York and
Rochester On the great lakes there are
at Cleveland, Detroit. |
Chicago and Milwaukee
The largest battalion in the country
is al San Francisco. Organizations on
the Pacific exist at San Diego, Los !
San Francisco, Portland and |
Olympia. The navy departments esti- |
mate is that 1000 men will be needed |
for the twenty-five merchant cruisers |
OF this number 5000 will come from the (
regular warships. The places of the |
regular men-of-war men will be taken !
by the naval militia
Proportion of Naval Militia.
The proportion of naval militia to a
regular warship will be about % per |
cent. of the crew. On the cruiser New
York. carrying $50 men, l25 Of her COM
Dlement would be naval militiamen. Or
board of the battleships seventy-five
men of the war crews would be naval
militia. OF course. when Assistant Sec
retary Roosevelt made his sensational. |
statement to the naval militia command
srs he did not expect to be quoted
The significance of his remark. joined
With the assembling Of the militia COM
nanders at Washington. and the bunch
ng of the warships and the maneuvers
# the torpedo fleet is very great The
naval department OF the United States.
At least. is satisfied that trouble with
Spain is brewing Every preparation |
hat would be made for actual war is
under way.
PLAYING LOSING GAME.
pains Resources Have Been Almost Ex.