The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-14
NEW YORK'SNAVALM MILITIA
HIGH PRAISE ny THE BoARD THAI
INSPECTED THEIR WORK.
For Efficiency, Equipment. and Practical
knowledge or Their Duties They Have Ne
superiors In tho Naval Rcserve-The signal
Corpa ReceIHes aneclnl Commanantlon

For Efficiency, Equipment. and Practical
knowledge or Their Duties They Have Ne
superiors in tho Naval Rcserve-The Signal
Corps Receives Special Commeneation.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 13.-For efficiency, equip
ment, and practical knowledge OF their duties,
the men of tho New York City Naval Militia
are reported to have no supcriors In the organ
izations along the seaboard which were exors
cised on ships of the navy during tho plst sum
mer. Tho report OF the board which inspected
tho work of tho New Workers. finds that they
are a capable body, well drilled, and would
provo a most useful adjunct to tho regular nae
val service in time of war. The BOARD recon-
mcnds that militia organizations be drilled here
after on cruisers set aside for this purpose. The
report Is as follows:
During the whole week that this battalion
was on board tho Massachusetts, the men per
formed their duties with intelligence, zeal, and
creditablc spirit. They seem to be OF good
physique, and no sickness OF any kind occurred.
The uniform very closely conforms to the navy
pattern, the white sweater. however, being
worn under the blue shirt. when clean this
produces q natty appearance, but, being conspio-
uous, materially detracts from the appearance
of the men when soiled. 1t is not adapted to
use on board ship. Tho uniform OF the petty
officers is nearly the same as the naval uniform.
The rating badges and corps badges are diff
ferent. In the handling OF boats under oars and
sails the men did remarkably well and showed
good training. The sub-calibre practice was
fair. considering the number of new men in the
battalion and the limited amount of practices
they had.
Tho signal corps OF this battalion deserves
special commendation. They sent and received
messages with rapidity and precision, and are
familiar in u high degree with all methods Of
signalling. The signal officer, Lieut.. Anderson.
is an expert and an enthusiast. and has reached
a remarkably high decree OF proficiency i1 the
THE target practice could only DO estimated
with the eye, as no shots were recorded or
plotted. The smoke interfered in a measure
with good practice. Taking all things into con.
sideration; the practice was fair, some shots be-
The officers. OF the battalion are well posted
with the routine of a war vessel and able to
carry It out. The men, notwithstanding the
limited opportunities for adapting themselves
to ship life, its duties and routine, would be of
better adapted for service in hnrbor defence
vessels than for active life on board q seag ing
The organization of this battalion of the
New York militia being that OF a ships COM
S would BE- be- xF Saatiiy" advanced a%S p # L we're q possible ss1tRsd e
allow them the use OF a vessel OF the cruiser
Battalion iGr c tpuid Be See EMBARKED SadiHti together ~nDm 'ni II such
a cruiser be available. only a small part of the
regular crew should be kept on board and the
AhAtAA u ~ was NhA NV
side of tho engine room. The officers OF
the battalion should be assigned to regular
watches, and required to manage a ship and
carry out the routine so far as safety and rea.
sonable care OF Government property will allow.
The regular officers OF the watch should only
take charge In an emergency, and should act az
advisers and instructors, Under the present.
system the officers OF the militia are too much
afraid OF giving trouble or interfering with
the routine or upsctting some custom to
make the watch duty OF any gr' at
value. They should be furnished with
the routine. and made to carry 1t out. even II
mistakes are made. Such a cruise. IL even for o
week, would be OF far greater value to them
from a professional standpoint than double the
time spent under present conditions. Battle
ships. with their heavy guns and hydraulic and
other mounts. which require experts even in
the regular service, are not adapted for tho du-
ties OF the militia. They have too little berth
ing space and require the battalions and divis-
ions of the militia to be split up and separated
from their own officers, as was the case this
cruise of the Massachusetts.
well as those, of the Massachusetts militia, still
speak of the benefit derived from a week spene
on board the San Francisco some years ago.
Such n cruiser is ordinarily adapted for the purs
pose of instruction. The naval militia should
have more torpedo work IL possible. II the de-
partment could allow them the use Of one OF tho
torpedo boats for a day at a time at intervals 10
would be of great benefit to them"
The strength of the battalion is given as $40
officers and men.