The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-21
FOR AUXILIARY NAVY.
Aucoeisco and Sebaseodegan ssHave
Been Examined.
THEY MAY BE USED TO PATROL
THE COAST.

Have Been Looked At by Commander
Perry Who Thinks the Navy Depart
ment May Want Them-Naval Militia
May Man Them.
+ The Atlantic coast has been divided
into districts for patrol and will be each
assigned to a naval officer and the coast
of Maine, New Hampshire and Massaohu.
sets toNewport R. I. forms the first district.
This will be commanded, SO it is under.
stood, by Commander Perry, U. S. N,
who will have under his control all of the
steamers which will be utilized for patrol
ing the coast. These steamers which will
be- light of draught and of good speed
will cruise off shore for some miles and
give notice of the approach of any hostile
vessels. There will be several of these
light steamers and they will be armed
heavil y enough for their own protection,
but will not be expected to engage the
enemy but to merely give warning Of his
approach. Signal stations along the prom
inent headlands of the coast will be in
charge Of signal men and the ships at sea
and the signal stations on shore will be in
constant communication.
Two Of the light draught. speedy steam
ers have already been examined by Com
mander Perry and they may be put into
service as soon as war breaks out. These
are the Aucosisco andSebascodegan OF the
Harpswell Bay line. The steamers are
new, with good engines and will be very
useful to the navy department. They can
make twelve knots and carry twenty-five
tons of coal. These steamers may be
manned by the naval militia now form
ing in Portland and the crews of the
Aucosisco and Sebascodegan will in all
probability take service in the militia and
continue the steamers. One or two guns
board these steamers and the awning
deck and upper works will be removed.
The Harpswell Bay company will place
two other boats on their Inns Il the Auco-
sisco and Sebascodegan are taken.
The enlisting committee of the naval
militia now forming are meeting with
extremely good luck in the class of men
they are securing. Able bodied seamen,
who know what will be required of them,
bright, strong and healthy young men
who are willing to work and who will
take pride in the organization and try
and make it a success and Of some practi-
cal use to the government. This is no tin
soldier brigade which is forming in Port
land. The class of men which is being
secured are of just the right material for
real business. More engineers and ma
ohinists are wanted and there is plenty
OF room for more active young men who
have seen sea service or who know some
thing about military matters and infan-
try and artillery drill
This committee held meeting last ev-
ening and secured quite a number of fish
ermen and others who are good men and
good seamen. A large number OF high
school graduates, young men who are
trimming over with patriotism and who
know what will be asked ofssthem are ap-
plying for enlistment and are being taken
into the organization every day. The
committee will be in session again to-
night at the City building and there
should be another large turn out Satur-
day night the division already formed
will be drilled and the second division
will be organized and formed.