The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-08-12


, H. :, f.noss Tor actual sor-
Woih ana pe ~ n.iv'' ~, ,bo other
wee III tli'tS III "n,, ,niIitia l. Ill
hahu' II p",! " va, Grgtlcia.s man
u Se! "t ~ h,"' ,'nn,oI; r. II
VINO Is Grauui!r W IN
PIE Pc ul'url I'M ,rt;mn,s mon ,,ho have
olhCerS anu pe.l! oI".riH go, "mo n -
WOIkcu men w, wa! ,oor and V,ho have fiji.
grade; year aIlcr Ht"L, "'ii " ~ u"
ted themselves Tor tGe nignef posit ,rit :
ny We H I "nn ,,. ~, dirfnr,"oI tIo;r dutins
Whlch ih'E nav, P'iii'I r. tL ti,J,,,a,,
III IN" loNcI p,n,tH ",, Dthmr an,nonn ro IN
Ordinary Sc"IiiI" "nI I'M ,,.,l nnh :" Io,rm
Trs9ln'fN W Wv 49, tI,nv cnn norforn
!,l'iI uu' Nm W., H., ,n~,,I,rs do ohonrd
mem ~ Mui 80 +,I,in', ,7riJn in tbeir Nor.
our NhI N' ,''',,,i;,'ri, thov orn ronllv
I ,!sa nofo'nn'7is ,a,,;,nti', ,ciiI in
ulinc,li' w., az Ill ", ,nimt where II
co,iL1o W ,, a,,i i,"n"dintnIy and bod-
r ~ pI '"'r nIt 81 m,.,r
h!, III Wv, ,,'a n,,aI niI,;, oro uow in
c,nJitinn IN render Immediate services Of
coil'l.loh ~ iI,,'' .;,d ~ ,,.hot mnv Inc
n,ti'J' tl,n ""n"nd i;nn If defense. they
I'LL Ill ,n ,o s;mn,i stotinns helm handle
, p D and mines officer and man aux
~; ~ prloH ";,' AMI ,.,ist In Tho Lnfnnsc
mary ts", 'i " r,,r, nnt cnycrcd Inv the
", 49, ,rhorn ara numhcrs of advanced
hIaiiS' ,,.l,inh lo not come undrr The pres-
ant schcmo NJ army coast dcfcnScs and
Ell, S',r .a,,IJ u h,rn to Inc defended ot any
,,,i l',;m,, tho 6ryt wccks of war by
IaIi,., " m,vni militio while thc knowi-
''I,,n ,i,n,, act hv thnir nyncriencr and
,,r,,,,icn in heats an tho local waters
I,"n,ld ho ;nvnlmnhle.
E,rt bormnrn thn highest and hest
t.ninnd hndins could he used on board the
rnomI,r sbins Of war This applics 10
,he militin If thc lakes as well ms of
Tho militin If the const-and certainly
mn prnntcr tribute is necessary to pay
tn ,hn lake miIitin. | am aware that
ibis statement will seem very surprising
I'm those who are unacumntcd with the
nropross made with the naval militia.
but | am 50 thoroughly convinced of its
truth that | shall recommend that next
vcnr the experiment he made of giving
"A cOlIplc of small cruisers of the Ben
ninptnn and MnchaiS. or probably even
of the Detroit class. to II specially selected
battalion from the lakes for their annual
sea practicc.
The captain and executive Of naviga-
ton would he kept on board. II might
also he that the engineers would have
To be- kept on board. rs il is apparently
ONLY among the Second battalion on the
upper Mississippi that any special effort
has been made to develop machinists who
could be Immediately used on board war
ships.
But every other position could he filled
from the naval battalions which have
been long in existence and which. together
with the length of service, have to their
credit the best use of opportunities
These ships could be sent. say from
New York 10 Hampton Roads and back.
stopping for target practice and the like.
From such Il cruise it would he possible
TO learn exactly the capacity of the naval
militia. OF course, only the very best
lnttnlions could he considered in cOnncc-
ton with ii. for no battalion would he
sent on such cruise until long and faith
ful training had fitted il To do the work
and until its members had repeatedly
shown themselves in the opinion of the
naval officers who have been with them
on their annual cruises competent for this
trial
Many of these naval battalions are