New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-27
TRYING TO FORu A BATTALION
FRIENDS OF THE BROOKLYN NAVAL RE-
SERVE HOLD a MEETING IN THE
POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
CHAPEL.

Friends Of the % Naval Battalion. which
recently partially organized In Brooklyn,
gathered in generous numbers last night In the
Polytechnic Institute Chapel 10 listen 10 addresses
looking TO the securing Of additional recruits for
The battalion before it is too late 10 take action
General william G. Wallace presided at the meet
ing He said that no city had better reason for
wanting a naval battalion than Brooklyn, with It's
large waterfront and rs young men inspired with
patriotic sentiments. lie said the material was
here for q battalion superior to the one in New
York Action must be taken at once, he declared
as there remained only about two days in which to
recruit the desired number so as 10 secure a per-
maneht organization Of the battalion.
I4ward Barr read letters Of regret from Professor
Calm. Commander j. H. Miller Of the New-YorlI
Battalion. and Provisional Commander George II.
Church. Of Brooklyn. Captain Howard Patterson,
the navigator of the Provisional Battalion. made an
young for joining the battalion He said that il
offered uneXcelled opportunities for athletic
cIsCS along the line Of swimming. rowing and fenc-
ing and then he gave scientific lecture on some
OF the technical features Of navigation, describing
the history Of the compass.
4. W. G. yelling. Of the New-York Naval Bat
lie said that tn ssamen were generally believed 10
% the arduous work. but this idea was erroneous.
m ali he rnay bard w9rk ,e 4'i1 inc oct b
navy he said j. done through blanks and reouisi-
are written from one officer to another indorsed
hy every one who reads them ana then referred TO
some else. until they have the rounds of all
Cbineee nuzzIes when hanke~ are dist bmi5 a. r.
+ III and Smith, who is a personal friend takes his
blanket for him. when the paymdster counts UP his
receipts he finds that he Is short. He then
writes letter making report Of the matter 70 his
superlofs. Il takes perhaps five weeks before the
letter comes back, having been noted by every off,
Ger and then search y made for Jones. and II IS
found that hc has been transferred 70 another dvi-
sion. whom the lettcr-Nrting starts afresh
General Stewart L. WOodfOrd was then introduced
and received a generous round OF applause General
Noodford said that there was way In which a
Young man could better express his patriotic spirit
than by learning the duty OF sailor and qualify
ing himself for the duties OF war should IL ever
come Brains controlled fighting forces
The time must come" he declared when the
protection OF citizens and the security OF our ner-
chant marine shall compel TO measure strength
with the great nations Of the world There Is mo-
such security against var there is in the devel-
opmcnt OF your young manhood for the security
OF citizenship and the country" '''
las, speaker. He said that about ninety men were
enlisted in the "a Battalion, and that i5S must bo
enlisted before the State Will assume charge ~ 1,
He said that number Of applications had been
made and he urged the young men to come forward
and join the battalion ~
number OF applications were received