Evening star., 1898-12-01
THE NAVAL RESERVE
Lieut.. Southerland's Scheme for Its
Organization.
BASED ON PRESENT NAVAL MILITIA
Will Be Annually Drilled, but Called
Out Only in Time of War.
p E REJECTED IN DISTRICT

Lieut.. Switzerland of the navy has made
a report to the Secretary Of the Navy in
regard 10 the naval militia of the several
states. He says that the District of co.
lumhia has perfected an organization and
viii share in the next allotment lie sub
mits general scheme for the enrolment
and organization of a United States naval
reserve of which the main features are ss
follows:
Based on Naval Militia
AT the beginning OF the next fiscal year
those of the petty officers and enlisted man
of the present naval militia organizations
between the ages Of Is and ~ years who
served In the navy during the present war,
and who may elect. will be enrolled in a
United States naval reserve in the same
grades and rates held by them when nus
tered out OF the naval service, without eN-
animation; provided, that any one who has
served as warrant officer, mate or chief
petty officer may If he so elect stand an
examination for the grade of ensign. and
that any enlisted man or petty officer my
stand an examination for the next higher
rate.
The same privilege will be granted TO
each volunteer Officer and one-year's man
VINO served in the navy during the late
war. and TO any naval officer or graduate
of the United States Naval Academy who
Is not now on the active list of the navy
Either a regular officer or the senior ce-
serve lire officer thus enrolled in each state
will at once assume charge Of the entire
reserve force and organize IL as one ar
more ships companies.
As soon as this organization is perfected
a general enrolment will be opened I'm
each state to all able-bodied men, between
the ages of IL and A. who are pN-offiCers
and formerly enlisted men i'm the United
States navy or the marine corps. ex-officers
ana formerly enlisted men Of the naval
militia, etc.
The grades and rahngs shall corresp md
TO those existing in tire United States navy
at the time and the enrolment shall. for
petty officers and enlisted men, bc for q
period Of five years, provided that, except
ing those holding higher commits siOns in
the navy during the war and eX-sraduates
of the United States Naval Academy, 10
officer shall be commissioned in the naval
reserve TO a grade higher than that of lie1-
tenant.
Active Service Only in War Times.
The officers shall be duly commissioned
in the naval reserve by the President TN
der such conditions and for such periods
as he may prescribe. and shall be borne
upon the navy register as United states
naval reserves, and the petty officers and
enlisted men thereof shall have stated on
their enrolment papers their physical and
professional ability. the length Of their pre-
vlous nautical service. their place and Ga tie
of birth. and their occupation. They saall
not be called into active service IN time
of peace but shall perform such annual
drills, exercises or instructions as the Sec
retary of the Navy may direct, in which
case they shall perform the same duties,
have corresponding grades and ratin-s be
subject to the same laws, articles. rules
and regulations, and receive the same pay
and allowances the officers and men Of
the navy; but no such pay and allowances
shall be I'm excess Of those for the period
of duty actually performed 10y such officers
and All the enrolled United STATES
naval reserves may be called into active
service by the President in time Of war, or
when the danger of war is imminent, and
shall obey such call under the pain and
penalty Of desertion.
Promotions. discharges and all assign
merits in the United States naval reserve
shall be conducted under regulations es-
Ia abiished by the Secretary OF the Navy.
which shall accord, as nearly possible,
with those in operation in the regular navy.
The uniform shall be that of the navy,
with such exceptions, to indicate the char
acter Of the organization, as the Secretary
OF the navy shall prescribe.
Officers shall provide their own uniforms,
ana each petty officer and enlisted man
shall be supplied with one complete uniform
OF blue and one working suit, at govern
ment expense.
\ period Of drill and instruction Of not
less than two weeks in each year shall be
prescribed by the Secretary OF the Navy.
Such period for each ships company Will
be selected at that season when work is
slackest with the men of that particular
locality. The expenses of officers aud men
to and from the drill ship Will be betrayed
by the government. and officers and men
viii receive the same rate of pay for the
time under instruction as do corresponding
grades and rates I'm the navy.
The Congress should provide that all laws
which apply TO officers, petty officers, and
enlisted men Of the regular navy should
also apply to the officers, petty officers, and
men of the United States naval reserves
during the time that they are taking the
annual course of instruction and drill pre-
scribed by the Secretary of the Navy.
1t will be advisable to restrict the gen oral
enrolment the first year to a limit which
will come well within the appropriation.
1t is believed that the benefit to the 7 avail
service and to the country from a measure
such as is outlined above will soon become
so apparent as to induce the Congress to
grant a pecuniary reward for additional
length of service in the naval res erVe.
1t is considered that a continuous annual
appropriation of S2oooo0 will be sufficient
to provide for force of naval reserves TO
aggregate 1000 men at the end of three
years.