The herald., 1898-12-02
A WAR LESSON LEARNED
THE NEED OF A
NAVAL RESERVE
THE STATE SYSTEM Is FAULTY
Recommendation Made for Federal
Organization, Which Would Be
More Promptly Available
Associated Press Special Wire


WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-Lieutenant W.
ii. Sutherland, in charge of matters pertain
ing to the naval militia, has made report to
the Assistant Secretary OF the Navy upon
the naval militia during the war. At the be-
ginning of the year an allotment of SiS,O0O
was made to several States having naval mil
itary organizations with total OF 4445 men.
The various States mustered INTO the service
during the war follow:
California, IL officers and so men; Con-
nectcut ID officers and lSS men; Florida, 2
officers and 90 men, and IN the coast signal
service officers and 80 men; Limos, ~ OIL
ticers and ~ men; Louisiana, ~ officers and
pa men; Maryland, "a officers and 425 men I;
Massachusetts, ,3S officers and 3S4 men; Mich
igan, ii officers and 270 men; New jersey,
"A officers and 373 men; New \ ork, 40 otil-
GERS and sos men; North Carolina, 10 Off
GERS and lS9 men; Pennsylvanla, 10 officers
and "a men; Rhode Island, s officers and l4l
men; South Carolina, lo officers, mates and
1877 men; Virginia, officers and 60 men.
The report states that from the beginning
of the war efforts have been made Tor the
building up of a militia, but nothing has been
done but the formation OF few State organ
izations. The report continues:
The experience of this short war has
clearly demonstrated the imperative neces
sity tor the maintenance OF national re
serve in the organization OF which too much
Importance must not be placed upon the
merchant marine alone This experience has
shown that a considerable part OF the mer
chant marine will be drawn in the service
of the army in transport service, which oi
course materially reduces the class from
which the navy would hope to get its en-
listed men.
Although these organizations, many oi
whose members were recruited outside the
seafaring class, failed to fully meet the re-
Guirements of the case, they were all upor
which the general government had to draw
at the beginning of the war. The Navy De
partment was hampered in its efforts al
rapid mobilization by its lack of federal juris
diction over these organizations, but in the
end succeeded in obtaining a force of over
1000 officers and men.
TOO much cannot be said Of the patriotism
displayed by a majority of the members O.
the organization, many OF whom, although
they had never been to sea before the mast
knew they were to face not only the danger
of war but hardship to which they had never
been accustomed"
Lieutenant Switzerland says the classes
of naval militia should be enrolled for five
years, and in such classes should be inclld
ed those who have served in the present war
and all others who are connected with sea
service and not i'll the regular naval estab
lishment. These classes should take an an.
nual course of instruction and drill. The
enrolment of the new organization could he
conducted by the officers of the naval mill.
tia who served in the Spanish war. A naval
officer should be detailed to conduct the
drill OF the ships companies.
Officers should be commanded in the naval
reserve alter examination by a board of nava
officers. The estimate of the cost of navaI
reserve is placed at $40 per man. AT the
breaking out of the war the entire navo
reserve would be Immediately available IN
the case of the last war the State organiza
tions were rejected after a physical exam
inaton, but this would be avoided bv a prop.
er enrolment of the naval militia.
In conclusion he states: CONGRESS should
provide that all laws which apply to officers
petty officers and enlisted men of the rea,,'
lar navy should also apply to the officers
petty officers and men of the United St.,tes
Naval Reserve during the time that thev
are taking the annual course of instruction
prescribed by the Secretary of the NAVY
1T will be advisable to restrict the Sen.
eral enrolment the first year to a limit
which will come well within the appronria.
ton.
''It is considered that continuous annual
appropriations of 100000 will be sufficient +
to provide for a force of naval reserves IN
aggregate 1000 men at the end of three
years.