The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-05-02
Arms and the Men,

have settled its differences with Spain
the United States will proceed to con-
struct an adequate navy is assured,
ate its complicated new warships?
Obviously not from the existing naval
militia, which instructs it's civilian
members at leisure moments only in a
few of the minor duties of sailorng
In the nature of things three-million-
dollar battleships cannot be left to
rust at dock until war gives urgency
to their use nor can they be manipu-
lated with success by men who are not
trained and dedicated to that busi-
ness. But if we cannot get full regu-
lar crews for the few warships we
now have, Notwithstanding that the
pay and food of the American navy
are the best in the world, how can we
hope to man the trebly larger navy
that is sure to be?
Rear Admiral Selfridge in the Wash
ingtOn Post makes Il suggestion. He
proposes a permanent naval reserve
drafted partly from the enlisted naval
force and partly from the crews Of
our coastwise trade, yachts, and fish
ermen. The total strength, he thinks,
should be placed at 1000 men, This
would be sufficient to man twelve bat
tleshps and a number of torpedo de-
stroyers and torpedo boats. OF this
number 5000 could be composed of men
who had served at least three years in
the navy, and 1000 from the merchant
class. constituting a first and second
reserve. The admiral adds:
The crews of our ships are now
composed of men enlisted for three
years and apprentices bound to serve
until twenty-one. IT is proposed that
congress shall enact a law that men
enlisting in the naval service shall bind
themselves for three years in active
service and five years in the reserve.
A. second continuous enlistment shall
be equivalent to the five years in the
reserve. That apprentices upon enter
ing shall bind themselves to five years
in the reserve after reaching twenty
one. But a second re-enlistment shall
be equivalent to the five years in the
reserve. That the pay of all men in
the first reserve shall be s. a month.
That for one month in each year they
shall be called upon for active service,
during which they shall receive the
pay of their rating as if belonging to
the active navy. That they shall be
provided with transportation from and
to their homes. That the Navy de-
partment shall keep the address of
every man of the reserve; that crews
for the battleships shall be stationed
and kept filled, and each man notified
of his rating and the ship of whose
complement he will form a part. That
eight battleships shall be kept in semi
commission with small crews, mostly
of the artificer class, by whom all
necessary repairs will be made and the
highest efficiency maintained by fire.
| quent inspections. One battleship
would be permanently stationed at the
ports of Portland, Boston, Philadel-
phia, and Port Royal, and two each at
| New York and at Hampton Roads OF
Norfolk; one at San Francisco and
one in Puget Sound. This would
| constitute a force of eight battleships
on the Atlantic coast and two on the
| Pacific This reserve of 1000 men
would be drafted from the merchant
service. This latter class would enlist
to serve for five years In the reserve
only. The pay would be SO a month
| and they would be required to serve
but fourteen days annually on the bat.
tleship nearest their residence. The
second reserve would be called upor
to man the second line of mobilizet
battleships, strengthened with a liberia
addition of disciplined men from the
first reserves. Further the law should
provide that failure to present them
selves would render them liable tC
Imprisonment and fine in the United
States District court nearest their resi-
dence."
Admiral Selfridge estimates that IN,
total annual expense of such an ar
|
100000, a small premium on the ma
tional insurance 1t would give, Fur
ther, this proposed reserve could alsC
be open to voluntary enlistment by
men who had served for three years il
the regular navy and been honorably
discharged. Volunteer reserve officer,
could be made to serve as regular,
for two weeks or n month each year
thus giving them experience and self
confidence. And thus the problem
would be solved with hardly an appre
clable addition of expense. 1t certain
ly is to be hoped that congress, afte
it's recent lesson as TO the expensive
ness of negligence, win not authoriz
the building of new ships Of war with
out taking steps which viii lead to tn,
furnishing of the necessary men.