The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-13
REPORT ON NAVAL RESERVE.
BRUNSWICK DOES NOT APPRECI-
ATE THE PAsSAIC.


ell With the Success OF the Man
OeuVers-BrunswIcIS Boys Mildly
Roasted.
Washington, Aug. 12-Commander c. c.
Todd. commanding the United States
steamship Wilmington, in his report to the
| Secretary of the Navy relative to the in
| spection of the naval militia of Georgia,
near Brunswick, Ca, commends in a gen.
eral way the efficiency of the naval re-
| serves from Savannah and Brunswick. He
| says while the physical stand as given
is fair, it will probably be better stated
that about 60 per cent. of the personnel
would pass the navy requirements. APP
parent.y the desire to ill the required quota
has caused many of Indifferent physique
to be enrolled. In my opinion this mat
ter calls for attention. The present lack
of harmony in this naval militia organiza-
tion calls for careful consideration by the
department. 1t is deplorable, but exists
TO a marked degree, and so long as pres
I ent conditions exist, the efficiency as a
whole cannot be attained and even the
minor organizations must suffer.
THE members of the organization as a
whole, seemed to highly appreciate what
the department had done for them in send
ing the Wilmington for their instruction,
and expressed their appreciation of the ef-
| forts of the members of the board, but
they could not put out of sight, even for
the time being, their chickering's, and con-
sequently the existence of such feeling was
evident to all who closely observed their
work"
The board referred to by Commander
Todd consisted of Lieut.. w. G. Cutler,
| Lieut. L. C. Bertolette, Ensigns H. s. Rit-
| Ter, and c. Bailey.
The report of the board Is dated on
board the United States steamer Whining
ton at Jacksonville, Fla. July 26. 1t states
| that the Wilmington anchored off st.
| Simons' Island July Is, the militia coming
| down from Brunswick on the steamer
| Catlin at the same time. During the af-
! ternoon thirteen officers of the militia were
| on board and we're conducted over the
| ship b ythe officers composing the board.
| Each officer was furnished with a copy
of a description of the ship, detailed de-
scription of ordnance, and detailed drill
| with guns.
1t was ordered that the drill should be-
gin the following morning at $50 o'clock
| yet It was $3.50 before the militia were on
| board ready for action; strength eight
| officers, siXty-seVen men. The four divis-
ions were then stationed and drilled at
the batteries of the Wilmington at and
at their duties in general quarters.
AT 11:30 the militia were sent ashore.
Their tents having arrived, they were
! given the afternoon to establish their
| camp Lieut. Bartolette taking with him
Sergt. O'Rourke of the marine corps TO as
sist in establishing the camp routine and
| instruction as to guard duty.
TVnru frak Of FNlfNenN
and twelve men of the Savannah contin-
gent started in the Wllmington's Island
| cutter on a reconnaissance of st. Simons
| Island. AT the same time a detail of two
| officers and twelve men from the Bruins
wick contingent started on similar duty to
Jeky Island.
sunday, July 49, Capt. o. ]. Brown, u.
s. A., acting adjutant general OF Georgia,
visited the ship
The following Monday morning, when
the militia reported for duty, the changes
| In the personel of the Brunswick contn-
| gent were such that 1t was necessary to
| go over much of the detailed Instructions
| of the previous Friday. Went to general
quarters and fired the 4-inch, 6-pound guns
| at a target 1900 yards, each gun captain
| two shots. The 6-pounder shooting was
| good, the 4-inch shooting was poor, owing
to the smoke and unfamiliarity with the
| telescope sight
Tuesday the Savannah contingent were
exercised at boat drills n obedience to sig
nails from the ship. Later they were exer-
cised In firing at target from First and
! Second cutters. using 1-pOund HOtchkiss
rifle, at 1000 yards and pulling towards the
| target. The same afternoon the Bruns-
wick contingent reported for similar prac-
| tice. but their numbers were not sufficient
| to man the ships boats, hence boat drill
was omitted
The board, In estimating the condition
| and efficiency of the Georgia reserves
| SAYS II consists OF four divisions. Of sixty
men and four officers each; total 2iO men
and l6 officers AT present there Is no
battalion organization. There are two di-
| visions al Brunswick and two at Savan-
nah. The local feeling Is 50 strong that
they have been unable to unite on officers
for a battalion organization. Division off,
GERS are originally elected by the men,
then commissioned by the governor. Bat
| TALON officers are 10 be elected when there
Is sufficient harmony among the division
officers to reach such n result.
| The board makes a long report OF the
/ condition OF the monitor Passaic. loaned
to the state OF Georgia by the govern
/ ment. Since being turned over 20 the
| state OF Georgia the Passaic has been In
| the custody OF the Brunswick contingent
| Of the naval militia, the commander OF
/ which is also the senior naval militia OFF,
| Ger OF the state. Little or no use has
/
ton. No station bin OF any kind IL In
operation: she rs not used as an arm)ry,
/ her guns have never been run out nor
has her turret been moved. Her boats are
| dirty and neglected Hammoeks, haYer-
/ sacks. canteens. white bags ana a supply
/ OF 5O-calbcr ammunition were found litter
/ ed about the berth deck and state rooms.
| II h lust TO state that the main engines
had been turned as recently as April, 1897,
and that the boilers were hlled with fresh
I water The report says: I'VE find no evil
dence Of any drills having taken place on
board the monitor. and the Brunswick con-
| tlngent has never been aboard Of her az
body Her chief use seems 60 have been
as an occasional lodging house. We fail
10 see that the general government has
received any return whatever for its loan
/ Of the PaHsaic
"rha Savannah divisions have no honts.
Tho Brunswick divisions have the Passaic'n
boats A. rule the men are interested.
| willing aud anxious 90 learn. on board
/ rhlD they performed their duty with intel
igonce ana spirit The officers did not
display aa much spirit and snap aa their
ia Hsa u