The sun., 1897-11-29
TIE orrIzEN sAl1nns
Some Comments on tho Reccnt I,cnort or Csu,-
wnudcr nIrAtua

"hnucr bichtna.
To THE Eprroh OF THE suS--Sir: In answer
TO tho report OF Commander Francis w, Dickins
U. g. NJ, part Of which was published in your
issue OF 21st inst. under the hcndinr of A Dig
at tho Naval Militia" would say Tint IL isa
source OF regret 10 many that this officer should
see SO little OF value to State or Government in
that organization.
Before any vessels wcrc loaned to the naval
militia, in accordance with an act OF Congress.
IL was the custom to detail one or two oven as
many four, navy ships to assist in the train.
ing of the naval militia of tho first two States
having an organized force for Two weeks in July.
The men who devote one night in the week, at
least. almost the entire year for the purpose OF
attending drills and instruction find summer
the only time when their employers arc willing to
let them off for their vacations, half OF which
most of them arc willing to give gladly to this
work. Itseems hardly possible that 1t can embar-
rass tho department to any extent to detail ves-
sells for this duty from our present large North
Atlantic squadron, and glance at tho move
mcnts OF the squadron the past two or three
years will show that this is hardly so.
Tho question as to which Is the better policy
for our country the training Of naval militia,
or the training of our national naval forces, can
hardly be taken seriously. as put by Com.
mander Dckns, for IL carried to a conclusion,
ing Congress to increase tho number OF seamen
in our navy. as we would have volunteers serv.
ing without pay; and as for State naval forces
| becoming dominant over our navy. to tho dis.
organization of tho same, 1t is enough to say
that the States have no vessels.
In regard to the connection Of the naval
militia with tho land militia, as to training and
| service In time of war, as recommended by
| Commander Dickins, the naval militia is more
Of a naval than military adjunct, for where
can it receive instructions in boats. improvising
| torpedoes, making torpedo attacks in small
boats or large, laying submarine mines, and
general nautical work along shore. except from
the navy. or from following in it's linesl
Such being the case 1t would appear better tc
| have an organized force In the coast Sta. es
made up as far as possible from some of the
same classes of men Commander Dickins recon-
mends. who can devote, say one evening week
! for the drill and instruction needed.
| In regard to using the old ships loaned to th,
naval militia as clubhousos. to a certain extent
1t may be so, but not any more 30 than Is tn,
case with State armories, to which they ar,
analogous. They are used as living quarters
for some officers and men, and the weekly drillI
are held on these ships besides constant in
struction being given in boat drills. infantry
sctting-up exercises, artillery, torpedo. signal
| and engineering work, and even in great-guI
| drill, so far as the armament of the vessels will
| permit. The experience gained by the mer
from being quartcred on these vessels is o
value. for they become familiar with the Gus
extent, and these cannot be taught in armories
Commander Dickns says: IF Furthermore,
am constrained to admit that in ny opinion
have no place and would not exist on our ma
tonal vessels" In reply to that it is onl!
Presidents of the Naval War College, who be
licve that the naval militia have place ant
this admission he differs also from other Off
GERS of the navy. who consider that many OF tn,
mon would be valuable accessions to any ship't
company fitting out for service, they woulc
readily fall into their places on board ship. ant
be a credit to the nation and State. The oiial
commands through the emergencies Of the occa
sion and the necessity of providing crews upol
As to giving commissions to officers in tn
naval militia; the idea OF state commission
being accepted in the national service is quit
ords. of the civil war to allay his fears, Think o
the jealousy aroused in an officer of the regula
sofa, Portsmouth, Nipsic. Dale. Passaic. Ajax
&c going into actual service commanded b
these are good examples Of those to be domi
nant State navies.
In regard to the retired officer in tho nava
itia. 1t is difficult to see how tho fact of hi
holding such a commission can In any way EN-
barrafs ira IS the Department. or the officer himself
at any time, and when commissioned in an
| orders.
That the detailing of naval vessels to assist Il
the training Of the naval militia seems to bc i
harmony with tho views of the department Il
regard to the future is shown by the PROPOSE
to have vessels detailed or built for this puI
pose only. This II carried out, will demonstrat
the efficiency of the naval militia In a marke
degree. The detailing of officers Of the servic
10 inspect and instruct the naval militia of tn
various States should prove of value in bring
ing the work and instruction in the differen
States into similar lines.
A FRIEND OF NAVAL MILITIA.
Boston. Nov. 26.