New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-08
THE NAVAL MILITIA.
A REPORT FROM ASSISTANT SECRETARY
ROOSEVELT.

ROTH EAST AND wEsT-THEIa DISCIPLINE
AND EFFICIENCY COMMENDED
MORE LIBERAL ApPRoPRrA-
TONS URGED.
washington. Aug 7.-Assstant Secretary Roosc-
..,, has submitted the following report to Secre-
..rv Long on the condition and efficiency OF the
Naval Militia. which he recently inspected:
TIL. Hon the Secretary OF the Navy.
Sir In accordance with your instrnctions, after
Ns sns 'nf vent to Mscknac and cruised 10
rot with the First and Third divisions ,s OF the
Chicago and Inspected the lst Battalion OF the IN.
nos naval force meeting also the ocers Q, she
spp River. thence proceeded to Sandusky 10 IN,
spec and review the Ohio Naval Militia and closed SEQ
New-York Naval Militia to the end OF their cruise
al Gravesend Bay Long Island Idb the militia of the
great lakes. because the militia OF me seacoast
have t ,ber capabiiities are better known and
no: only wished to see for myself exactly what inc
also desired TO show them that the Department APP
preciated their energetic and disinterested service
course very unequal development toward the
proper standard OF proficiency Some have been a
sons have made less rapid progress than they
should Nevertheless as whole was wa N VERY sfe real
made They have displayed noteworthy zeal
suIt ,hsy already form body Of men who would
av an important part in the defence Of the coun-
Htyyaisn Power OF course the backbone Of this de-
fence so far the high seas and our coast Ma.as
are concerned. must always be by the regular
or fortunately we now have at least the be
Timing Of a navy such this country needs IN
entitled among the nations OF the earth and
though our navy falls far short OF what IL snSuDu
- i've no,nt OF numbers, especially OF battle-ships
and torpedo boats yet the ships we nave are as
good Of their kline as are to be iT narentheeay
remark Of armor and the officers ana ana men men
who man them need not fear compares" VIII" INC
ofacers and men OF any foreign navy. - 80
Nevertheless good though our ships are ana sX-
ee cen crews both ships and too few for our
needs In We are particularly snor. nan al of
e eve ships Gr not to speak manning the auxiars
which We would ae5r md 5G PH' IN
eided renders 1t imperative TO have men wh9 td h
ready for en re any TO Be FOUND in
The Naval Militia OF the various Sta1es 81 ahs is , 10
Naval Militia but az present II Is me rsserve and
not the least valuable of the services they wouir
per,S T,' NJ acting as nucleus round which immed
steiy TO assemble the men needed
MUST BE READY FOR HARD WORK.
We must. OF course beware OF expecting too much
from the Naval Militia; but, after my tour OF IN
spection. and after listening carefully 10 the re-
ports made 10 me by the naval oficers pest quar-
fed 70 speak l am convinced that a good many
persons fall into the opposite error and expect 100
little As above mentioned. the different naval militia
have made unequal ane e
always certain men who enter such pooes siHIPis
some wtpn cheap personal glory Where these pre-
dominate the organization Is sure 70 pc pooi ~
have Sought their positions before having learned
by patient thorough work their duties ana Il sli
in the faithful performance Of the countless and
often tedious 61,es msy mention however that
evil tendencies of this kind will not long exist un
will decline to lend its aid to any body OF MAYA
Militia which does not make IL evident that u IN
tends TO do downright hard work and Mt itself TOT
on the other hand. If body OF Naval Militia Is
graduate Of Annapolis If 1t puts under pd MN net as
Seers men who have worked their way up from
grade TO grade. year after year ana who nave
Hes sfa and he With Which they have
performed their duties in the lower places and II
resoe do real work and TO saIn ,he ,Se dqss
50 that they can Tess ehe taxing pride In their
performance accordingly as they are really dificut
reach point where IL could be employed mmedi-
atey and bodily in the event OF war
IN CONDITION FOR GOOD SERVICE.
Most of the Naval Militia are in condition
TO render immediate service OF very valuable
kind in what may be called the second line of de-
fence They could operate signal stations help
handle torpedoes and mines officer and man aux
Hilary cruise-s and assist In the defence Of points
which we're not covered by the Army. There are
numbers of advanced bases which do not come
under the present scheme Of Army coast defence,
and which would have TO be defended at any rate
during the first weeks OF war. by bodies Of naval
militia; while the knowledge they get by their IN,
cessant practice in boats on the local waters would
Fnrthermors the highest and best-traned bodies
sbips of war: this applies the militia Of the
lakes well as TO the militia of the seacoastmaI ID
the lake militia. / am aware that this statement
VII n b SO h@ has been
by certain battaoDs Of the Naval Militia out
shall recomme nd that next year the experiment be
made Of giving couple of our small cruisers OF
the Detroit class one to a specially selected bat
Talon from the seS @ hT ocsr s ssa
would be Kept 6 On bsS To- e T Fss on a bSard
battalion on the upper Mississippi that any special
could be Immediately used on board warships But
every other position could be hlled well from GER
tain OF the naval battalons which have been long
est in existence. and which. together with length
OF service have to their credit the best use OF op
THESE ships would be sent, say. from New York
practice and the iiks From such a cruise it wouli
Be possible learn exactly the capacities OF the
taIions could be considered in connection with It.
for no battalion would be sent on such such cruise
the work and until its members had repeatedly
fswn S6 baye been Win Rm on her
cruises competent for the trial
MANY OF these naval battalons arc composed OF
men who would not enlist in time OF peace. hui who.
under the spur of war. would serve IN any pace
for the frs few most importan, months i Is
worth noting that the annual cruise. when these
lar crews on the bate-shps and cruisers they have
hitherto ALWAYS borne themselves in such way as
10 win the hearty goodwill OF the remaining blue
jackets. and have shown both eagerness ana ca
paci,y TO learn what can only be learned anoaldd
ship while they have already thoroughly prepared
themselves 10 do any duty which be learned on
shore.
THE WESTERN BATTALIONS
The Ohio Naval Brigade has Just begun its exist
ence The men showed a most praseworthy spirit