The evening times., 1898-09-14
NATIONAL VhLRESERVE
Sea Militia of the States TO
Be United.
PROMOTERS OF THE PLAN
A Meeting Mny BE Held at New York
Within a Few Days for the For
mai Discussion of the Project-En-
thusiastic Reception of the Idea.
The Men on the Dixie.

Baltimore. Sept 1.-THE Maryland ma
val militia and their receiving ship Dale.
which for several months have been in
the service of the Government, will be
turned over this morning by Lieut.. Isaac
L. Emerson TO the care Of the State. Or
ders were received to that effect yester-
day from Washington.
Iieut. Com Edwin Geer will be placed
i'm command Of the naval militia, and the
men who have been mustered out VIII
again form a part OF the State forces.
Those mustered out are l3O men, com
prising all the members Of the Mary and
naval militia who were on the Ajax. Rest
less. Lancaster, Minneapolis and Dale du-
ring the war Lieut. Emerson has been
requested by the department 10 remain
in the national service until Congress
meets TO assist in creating a national ma
val reserve The movement was started
several DAYS ago in the Illinois naval MI
litia and has been enthusiastically taken
up bv Lieut.. Com. John NJ. Hawley. head
nj the recruiting department Of the
United States navy.
I5eut. Emerson has received letter
from Capt Bartlett, chief Of the auNll-
iarv naval force. asking him to remain In
the service and explain upon what basis
the national naval reserve would be es-
tablished. II is proposed 10 start the
rolls with the names of the officers and
men who served the Government in its
war with Spain. Lieut.. Emerson has ac-
cepted the commission and agreed TO
continue in the service of the Government
for the present. He expressed himself
as much in favor of the idea, and stated
that he believed it would considerably
strengthen the organization here.
The MARYLAND Naval Militia will be Of
fcered by practically the same men, the
only difference being that they will look
10 the Government for their approprla-
tions and be entirely separate from and
independent of the State. Every State will
be upon an equal basis regarding its ma
val militia, which is not the case at pres
ent. The equipment and furnishings will
lie better provided, and it is probable that
greater enthusiasm and interest will be
instiiled into the work.
1t has been suggested 10 Capt. Bart
lett by Lieut.. Emerson that q meeting
be held next week in New York, where
the matter may be discussed and steps
taken TO put the plan on working ba-
sis Lieut. Emerson said that If the
plans EuIceQ he Will duNbNdlt al Ten udsS
cruise for the reserves in the summer as
an annual institution.
Another good thing about the plan for
making a national organization of the
Naval Militia. he said, is the fact that to
q great extent politics would be eliminat-
ed from II and there would be less politi-
cal influence exerted in its management
all over the country. No definite steps
have yet been taken toward the change.
a.. = ffzW.
ent sections of the country are being
made and favorable results have so far
been found. II is probable that Lieut..
Emerson's suggestion for the meeting
next week will be acted upon.
The men of the Dixie are getting very
anxious as 10 when they are to be mus
tered out Of service. Some of the mer
wish to remain in the service, and are
willing TO stick to the Dixie, but the
great majority Of the crew have no desire
hut 10 get off as soon as possible, and
come back to Baltimore. 1t has beer
suggested that the Navy Department be.
cause OF the good work done by the Dixie
and her Maryland crew, may be desiroui
OF retaining them in the service. OF tn.
440 members of the Maryland Naval Mi
htia who were mustered in early in tn,
war lS9 have been mustered out. Thes,
comprise the crews of the Ajax and tn,
Dale and a few men from the Restless
the Lancaster and the Minneapolis Thi
leaves 30l men, who are on board tn,
Dixie and Apache. Lieut. Emerson saic
yesterday that he had no doubt that tn,
Dixie and Apache boys would be mus
tered out in the course of a month.
The Navy Department" he said, doe
not wish 10 sell the Dixie because she 4
too good a boat, but will keep her in serv
ice But i do not think our men will b.
kept on board of her. Her sister ships
Yankee, Yosemite and Prairie, which wer
manned by militiamen, have all been re