The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-08
NAVAL RESERVES PRAISED.
mn. Ro0sEVELT's REPORT or HIS
RECENT TOUR OF INSPECTION.

AS 1nspoFtant Experiment Proposed fer
hent Year-EHceiicnt uesuiis on the Great
Lakes New Workers Arc Coumsndes.
WARRINGTON. Aug. Assistant Secretary
Roosevelt has made AN interesting report to
Secretary Long on his recent inspection OF naval
militia organizations. Tho text OF the report
follows:
"wAsHiSGToS. Aug. 2, 1897.
"The Honorable the Secretary Of The Navy.
"SIR: In accordance with your instructions.
after visiting the War College and torpedo sta
ton at Newport, 7 went TO Macklnac and cruised
TO Detroit with the First and Third Divisions of
the Michigan State Naval Brigade. then went
TO Chicago and inspected the First Battalion Of
the Illinois naval force, meeting also the officers
Of tho Second Battalion, which Is situated along
the Mississippi River. l thence proceeded to
Sandusky to inspect and review the Ohio Naval
Militia, and closed my trip by an inspection OF
both battalions OF the New York Naval Militia
at the end OF their cruise at Gravescnd Bay,
long Island.
II spent most OF my time with the militia OF
the great lakes, because the militia OF the sea-
coast have naturally received more attention IN
the past, 30 that their capabilities arc better
known, and l not only wished 10 SEQ for myself
exactly what tho naval bodies on the great
lakes were doing. but also desired to show them
that the department appreciated their energetic
etu Anu bbtilul poE
upon the efficiency OF each separate battalion
will DO made in my annual report about Dccem-
Dor next; but there are certain matters concern
ing which ! desire to report at present.
Tho different bodies of naval militia show, of
course. very unequal development toward tho
proper standard Of proficiency. Some have been
only recently organized others. for various rca-
sons. have made less rapid progress than they
should. Nevertheless, as n whole. l was very
greatly impressed by tho progress the naval mi
litia havo made. They have displayed note
worthy zeal. energy. perscvo rance and intelli-
gence, and as a result thoy alrea dy form n body
Of mon who would play an importan part in the
defence OF the country II we were to become in
volved In war with any foreign power. or course
the backbone of this defence. 80 far as the high
seas and our coast waters are concerned. must
always DO the regular navy. Fortunately we
now have at least tho beginning Of u navy sucn
Is this country noeis In order that II may take
the position to which 1t Is entitled among the
nations OF tho earth; and, though our navy
falls far short Of what 1t should be In point OF
numbers. especially Of battleships and torpedo
boats, yet the ships VIC have are as good OF their
kind as are to DO found anywhere land this is
especially true. 1would parenthotically remark.
Of our armorl. and tho officers and men who
man them need not fear comparison with tho
officers and men OF any foreign navy.
Nevertheless, good though our ships are,
and excellently though they are handled by
their officers and crews, both ships and mon arc
too few for our needs. In men we are particu-
larry short. In the went Of war we should not
DO able to man all Of our ships. not to speak Of
manning the auxiliary cruisers which we would
desire to put In commission. The rapidity
with which modern wars are decided renders 1t
imperative to have men who can be ready for
fmnA6InfR n and anF1IIa - tha a-ulo. ,n-,
these men are only to be found in the naval mill
tia OF the various States. It Is to be hoped
that In the future we shall be able to organize a
genuine naval reserve. apart from tho naval
militia; but at present 1t is the latter who them
selves furnish the only organized reserve. and
not the least valuable Of tho services they would
perform in the event Of sudden outbreak Of war
would be acting ~ q nucleus round which i'm.
mediately to assemble the men needed.
"Wo must, Of course. beware of expecting too
much from the naval militia; but after my tour
Of inspection and after listening carefully to the
reports made to me by the naval officers best
qualified to speak, I am convinced that q good
many. persons fall into the opposite error and
expect too little; As above mentioned. the dit
1 nnsaaa nr prox m,l,ti and pt TT. Z n1osob have 9n made dc
less In evidence; There are always certain men
who enter such bodies simply with the idea
Ct Cheap as'' Personal g sip'G slo ea@'' % e aSaui ,hess s %es
predominant tho organization Is sure to
4 the officers have sought their positions before
6n Sys Leaned lea fs b patient. %thorough work their
or Slaokness. and fail in tho faithful perform,
ance of the countless and often tedious duties
necessary TO train them for men-of-war's men. /
may mention, however, that evil tendencies OF
this kind win not long exist unchecked in any
9rGsniEation, for the department will decline to
does not make It evident that It intends to do
downright hard work. and fit itself for actual
On the other hand. IL a body Of naval militia is ]
10 . graduate Of Annapolis; If it puts under him
petty officers men who have worked their way
up from grade to grade. year after year, and who
BY the zeal and the painstaking care with which
i fass h nlSsss! per nSS 4 The their duties in the
nary ,sea@eg' and soamen go t'' in resola Drd!;
70 do ~ real work tSax and to learn their
S Veil as e the sn regulars inss ABOARD Saa Re o%r war rn Tsssoi IS
As sSt shoy are really s difhoa RtrlSu,as a1 eesSGIiainF,S
could DO employed immediately and bodily in
the event Of war. Mos, OF the naval militia are
very valuable kind in what may be called the
second line OF defence. They could operate sig
Ssioer and man an'p auxiliary anaiS cGutsers. and Sia assist %iai IL
sne.,e dsf fen sSo OF points Ttsr. which VIII we're not
vanced bases which do not come under the pres
emit scheme Of army coast defence. and which
you'd have to BIO defended, at any rate during
the hrst weeks OF war. by bodies OF naval
militia; while the knowledge they get by their
incessant practice in boats on the local waters
would be Invaluable.
Furthermore. the highest and best trained
bodies could BIO used immediately on board tho
regular ships OF war; this applies to the militia
OF the lakes as well as to the militia OF the sea
ooast-and certainly no greater tribute is neces.
eary 70, pay to the lake militia. I am aware
that this statement will seem very surprising
progress that has been made by certain bat.
tallons Of the naval militia. but l am so
shan recommend that next year the exper.
small cruisers of the Bennington and Machias,
or possibly even Of tho Detroit, class. one TO q
specially selected battalion from tho coast and
pne to a specially selected battalion from Tho
lakes, for their annual sea practice. Tho Cap
tain and executive officer and navigator would
engineers would have to be kept aboard, as it
IL apparently only among the Second Illinois
Battalion, on the upper Mississippi, that any
special effort has been made to develop mHchin;
lists who could be Immediately used on board
warships. But every other position conld be
hlled we'll from certain of the naval
battalions which have been longest in exist.
ence. and which. together with length OF ser
vtna have . N thair ,ra1it tha h,a, g. - c,.,.