The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-05-03
SAILORS WILL FIGHT
Naval Reserves Signify
Their Intention to Vol
unteer in the Reg
ular Navy.
WILL MAN THE BADGER
Rules and Regulations of the Ser
vice Read 10 Them on
Board the U. s. $.
Portsmouth.
WILL MAN THE BADGER

IL SlliztilS u NEW JCIScy HcSN Adft
no fear that their sailors will not heart
lily respond to the call of the President
to serve their country in whatever ca
pacity they may be called upon. That
much was settled last night by the Bat
talon of the East on board the United
States steamship Portsmouth, at the foot
of Fourth street, Hoboken.
Although the, regular drill season is
over, almost the entire battalion was
aboard discussing their prospects of see
ing active service. Captain Irving had
the men mustered around the capstan
and read to them again the Navy De-
partment's order, directing all those mem
bers of the Naval Reserve whe wished
to go to the war to resign from the re-
serve and enlist in the regular service.
He then requested all those who wanted
to volunteer to hand in their names to
him. He also explained that those who
had families or relatives dependent upon
them were not urged to join the move
ment.
Lieutenant Commander Mclean, the
popular executive officer of the ship, sug-
gested to Captain Irving that before the
men enlist he read to them the require
n6nIS dHQ T6SuldllbaS VI lLC CAiitCS
States Navy SO that the men might thor
oughly understand what would be re-
quired of them. The Captain assented.
and Mr.. Mclean read the regulations.
They have often been read on the Ports
mouth since the vessel has been manned
by the battalion, but by the large humble
of new recruits aboard they were heard
for the first time. AS they listened to the
severe penalties for the infraction of
some apparently trivial regulation, the
men screwed up their faces.
When Mr.. Mclean had finished, the
Captain repeated his request for volun-
teers and fully eighty-ive per cent of the
entire battalion present signified their
intention of enlisting unreservedly and
going wherever the Government should
see fit to send them. The proportion in
the Jersey City Division was even great
er thar that. Very few of the men of
that division expressed an intention of
remaining behind. Not all Of the fifteen
per cent. which did not respond to the
Captains invitation thereby meant to
imply that they definitely declined to
volunteer. They wanted more time to
consider the matter and see If they could
arrange their business affairs. Most Of
those who did not volunteer gave suffi-
cient family reasons why. they should re-
main at home. Under all the circum-
stances the showing was a good one, and
New Jerseys reserves, when the time
comes, will be found shoulder to shoul-
der with those of other States in the
service of their country.
The order of the Government which re-
quires every member of the Reserve,
whatever his rank. below that of a COM
missioned officer, to enlist as a landsman,
with no guarantee that he will be given
his rating, beyond a qualified promise that
that will be done as far as the exigency
of the service will permit. The pay of a
landsman is SIG per month in the regular
navy, while that of the petty and chief
petty officers range form $50 to $40 per
month. A matter of much Importance to
the man who leaves a family behind him.
Nevertheless, with but a very few ex-
ceptions, all the petty and chief petty
officers signified their intention of going
to sea as landsmen, with perfect faith in
the intention of the State and National
authorities to do them justice.
Out of the men who expressed a willing
ness TO volunteer last llSIl the uttdil VI
1856 men and petty officers asked for by
the Government to man the auxiliary
cruiser Badger will be selected. Then an
other ordeal awaits them. 1t is an
ncunced that none but men perfectly
sound physically will be taken. In time
of war the Government n afford to
take to sea a man who is sick or liable
to become disabled under the strain and
comparative hardships of a man-of-war's
life. This examination will probably weed
out a few. but there will be no difficulty
in getting the crew, as the Battalion is
composed of as hardy and sound a set
of young men as can be found in any
similar organization.
Some one started the rumor aboard the
Portsmouth last night hat the Badger
would not be assigned to do patrol duty,
but would be used as a transport to carry
troops between Tampa and Cuba. No
foundation for the rumor could be had
last night. The genius who started the
rumor ounde his story on the fact that
the Badge formerly the Yumuri of the
Ward line would nave a much heavy ar
mament than the vessels which had been
assigned to the New York, Massachusetts
and other Reserves, which were patrolling
the coast. She will be armed with five six
inch rifles and a complete battery of one,
two, three and six pound rapid-fire guns.
The fact, however, that she is not to be
armored completely dispels the fond illu-
sion that she is to do any severe fighting.
PA M-