The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-11-26

me only auultional Trained men
available were the officers and mon of the
naval miiitias of the several States.
which, under appropl iations from Con.
gress, had been armed and equipped and
given q certain amount of training in the
line of preparation for the defense OF the
shores and harbors of their several States.
In the absence of authority for calling
these men into service, the governors of
these States patriotically granted them
leavs OF absence or permitted them to
resign from the State organizations In
order to enlist in the Navy. During the
war about 400 officers and men were
added to tine enlisted force of the Navy in
this manner, and were assigned to duty
in the Auxiliary Naval Force, the Coast
Signal Service, and especially on board OF
cruising ships, some OF which, the Yam.
kee, L4xie, Prairie, and Yosemite, were
entirely Differed and manned by them
with the exception of the commanding,
executive, and navigating officers.
These organizations were largely re-
cruited outside Of the seafaring class. and
lacked the experience in gunnery, naviga-
ton, and the habits oil the sea which are
essential TO immediate efficient service in
the Navy. On the other hand, they were
men of high standard of education and
Intelligence, and rapidly acquired while
on shlpboard the knowledge necessary for
their efficiency. Considering their lack
of experience the services rendered by
them were SO valuable that the country
has been amply repaid for the money ex.
pended in their instruction and training,
THE UNITED STATES AUXILIARY
FORCE.
This force was organized for SERVES in
the war with Spain under the terms of a
joint resolution of Congress approved
May s6, and its provisions were i'm.
mediately applied in the preparations fol-
coast defense which had been progressing
since March rs.
The personnel of the force was almost
entirely contributed by the Naval Militia
organizations of the various states. A
merchant marine. Ten OF tbs old mont
tors which had been laid up for many
years were put in commission and
otficered and manned by the Naval
Militia Many of these vessels eruised
from port to port and went to sea for
target practice, which gave the officers
and men valuable training. In sddition,
this servica afforded a sense Of protection
to the peopla long our entire coast line.
Ten yachts. and tive tugs were pur-
chased ou. of the appropriation OF So, U00,-
QUO carried by the joint resolution, their
cost aggrega ting $685., 000 At the me OF
it's maximum strength the fleet of the
Auxiliary Naval Force Included Al vessels
in commission. These were distributed
st various Important ports and strategic
points on tine coast, which, for the pur,
dose of administration, was divided
into districts, 6 on the Atlantic, on
the Gulf, and on the Pacific coast.
The duty of protecting mine fields and
of maintaining quarantine regulations
was performed by fleet of converted
yachts, 10 converted tugs and side-wheel
steamer. all differed and manned by men
from fthe naval militia. and by revenue
cutters, with their regular officers and
crews. which were stationed on the Pa
ciic coast.
The officers and men Of the force dis
played special aptitude for the work con
nected with patrol duty, owing to theil
intimate knowledge of home waters anc
their acquaintance with the harbors, baseI
of supply, and local prevailing weather
conditions.