The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-03-20
THE STORY
OF THE
VOLUNTEER NAVY
How It Achieved Success In q
Few Years -
STRENGTH ALONG COAST
The Plan of Enrolment Much
Like That Of Great Britain.
STRENGTH ALONG COAST

(By an Oficer OF the Naval Volunteers,
II Is not generally known that thi
development OF manufactures and the
increase Of population is steadily work.
ing a change in national policy OF thai
In connection with the growth ane
multiplication OF patriotic societies
the rejection Of plausible foreign al
liances, and the abiding conviction
that our safety as 4 nation depends on
our securing outposts like Cuba and
Hawaii. we are also quietly organizing
battalions OF fighting Jack Barry's.
This Is to be expected. There is no use
In having a splendid navy II we have
not trained sailors to man the ships
and men who will fight like Perry or
Farragut
Accordingly the volunteer sailors
has become the natural accompani-
ment Of the Volunteer National Guard
He Is now in evidence in nearly a
score OF states. The seaboard. and the
great lake states have led in this new
national movement. but IL Is expected
in others there will also be the same
intelligent and well-trained citizens
who In any emergency will be ready TO
defend the coasts and be at once pre-
pared either to recruit in the regular
navy or to cooperate with II In case
of danger. II Is believed TO be mainly
the work OF Admiral Porter and Com
modore Walker, but the putative par
ent OF the Idea so far as the records
tell. was Senator Whittborne or Ten
tell. was Senator whittborne OF Ten
providing for the establishment OF
naval reserve. In making his oficial
report the same year Secretary Whit
ney suggested that the conditions were
rife for such an organization and In
private letter TO the maritime inter
ests OF the country and the governors
OF states he made out a strong case
for special activity upon the question.
The bill OF Senator Whittborne was
not expected TO pass. but its purpose
was well served by arousing public ir-
terest in the subject OF a naval re-
| serve: and which was still further
stimulated by a second bill introduced
in Congress last year. Secretary b. +.
Tracy had previously brought the mat
ter to the attention OF the Congress
OF 1891 when n clause was added to the
general appropriation bill providing
SIS. 900 for the purposes OF organiEa-
ton and equipment. The appropria-
tion has been renewed every year
since 1891. and is likely 10 be largely
| augmented now. the idea being mani
testify in harmony with the growing
requirements OF our people. and the
comparatively defenceless coast line Of
7,543 miles.
Massachusetts, had. true 10 her
many patriotic precedents. introduced
a bill as early as 1883 upon the subject
but IL remained a dead letter until the
end of 1890. Since then Massachuse' e
has been specially active and leads
the list OF states in organizing what Is
now a well established though com
paratively novel and unknown move
ment of American Naval Volunteers.
The order is growing year BY year.
The plan OF enrolment Is modelled
upon the methods employed In a like
case by Great Britain. superseded Mon
ltors being loaned by the Navy for
training ships. Upon these vessels
about 5000 men now practice firing