The evening times., 1898-12-01
CONDUCT OF NAVAL
RESERVES TN THE WAR
A Patriotic and Valuable Ad-
iunct TO the Service.
THE OFFICIAL REPORT
Necessity for the Maintenance of
an ocean Militi,.
The Organization Perfected i'm the
District OF Columbia 10 share in
the Next Allotment.

The operations of the naval militia dur
ing the war with Spain are set forth in
a report just submitted TO the Navy De-
partment by Lieut. w. H. II. Souther.and,
After quoting the act of March }, 1881,
providing for the arming and equipping
of the naval militia, and agpropriaung
$50, ,0aO for that purpose, the report gives
the allotment 10 the several States with
the numbers of petty officers and en-
listed men of each.
IT is then stated that Florida and Viz
ginia each reported a naval militia or
ganization mustered in. and are included
for the frst time in the annual allotment.
The District OF Columbia has protected
an organization, and viii share in the
next allotment.
When war was declared the enlisted
force OF the navy amounted to only l3.-
$50 men and apprentices, and an imme-
diate large increase OF this number be
came necessary.
One of the most important questions
since the inception of the new navy"
has been that of rapid mobilization of a
sufficient effective enlisted force TO man
the Increased number of vessels which
would naturally be placed in commits
sion at once. During the few years after
the keels OF the first four vessels Of the
new navy, the Chicago, Boston, Atlanta
and Dolphin were laid, the attention OF
Congress was called to This subject and
efforts made 10 form volunteer nation
al reserve. These effor.s Were fostered
and encourag ged by the Navy Depart
ment but TO no avail. nothing being done
In this direction beyond the formation of
State organizati ions, the principal train
ing Of which has since been in the line
OF preparation for the coast defense of
the shores and harbors Of individual
States.
Although these organizations, many Of
whose members were recruited outside
the seafaring class failed TO fully meet
The requirements Of the case, they were
ali upon which the General Government
had 10 draw at the beginning Of the war.
a majority Of these. through CO-opera-
tion on the part Of the governors of their
Si3tes answered the call of the Govern
mtut and were mustered into the sery-
ice for duty on cruising ships in the Unit
&c States auxiliary naval force and in The
Coast Signal Service. The Navy DeDait-
ment was hampered ia lis efforts at rapid
mobilization by its lack Of Federal juris-
dicuon over these OF ganiZations. but in
The end succeeded i'm obtaining a force Of
over $3.50 officers ana men,
bravery OF Naval Reserves
Too much cannot be said OF thu pa riot
ism displayed 10y majority OF the N M
bers Of these organizations, many Of
whom. although they had never been 10
Sea before the mast, knew that they were
TO face not only the dangers OF war but
haTdships to which they had never been
accustomed.
OF a total force Of p I22 enlisted men
employed in the navy during this war,
42l6 were mustered in from naval militia
organizations, OF which number about
2.ot0 served in the regular navy, the
malEder in the auxiliary naval force and
Coast Signal Service. As a rule. they had
not been sufficiently trained IN 4 prac-
teal knowledge Of the modern implements
OF war, Of the ships organization and the
requirements of a sea life TO make them
OF much actual value for some time af-
ter joining a vessel; but possessing \
high average of education ard intel igence,
they picked up theiS duties quickly, es-
pecialy In those cases where they were
surrounded by trained men-of-war'S men,
and when the war ended We're becoming
quite efficient in their various grades and
rates.
The experience OF this short war has
clearly demonstrated the Imperative ne
cessity for the maintenance of a national
Naval Reserve in the organization Of
which too much reliance must not be
placed upon the merchant marine alone.
This experience has shown that a con-
siderable part of the merchant marine will
be drawn into the service of the army in
transport duty, which, of course, material
ly reduces the class from which the navy
would hope to get its enlisted men.
The consideration of this subject from q
practical standpoint leads TO the belief
that as many as possible of the classes in
the United States which have 10 do with
the sea, and with vessels and the appur-
tenances thereof, should be enrolled for a
period Of not less than five years in a
United States Naval Reserve, and that
fn such classes should be included all
graduates OF the United States Naval
Academy not on the active list, all eX-
officers and former enlisted men Of the
Naval Militia now authorized by the laws
OF The various States who have seen ser
vice during the present war all eX-ofi-
GERS and former tniis ~ men Of the Rev
enue Cutter, Life Saving. Light House
and Coast Signal Services; all graduates
OF State nautical schools; all masters,
mates engineers, pilots, and all officers
and men serving in the merchant marine,
with the owners, officers, aud crews of
yachts enrolled in any regularly incor-
porated yacht club. and all other persons
whose principal occupation is on the high
seas, sounds, bays, rivers, and other navi-
gable waters of the United States. or in
the construction and repair of marine en-
gines, or In the construction and repair
OF electrical engines or the parts thereof.
Material for AmateEr JaciSIes.
These classes are moro numerous than
would at first appear. The numerous
bays. sounds, and rivers on our coasts
are bordered by many thousands of peo-
pie who obtain their living thereon. In
many localities ii is believed that at those
seasons of the year when work is the
slackest 1t would not prove difficult TO in
duce many Of these classes 10 take an
annual course of instruction and drill. 1t
is also believed that this periodical as
sociation with the enlisted men of the
navy would induce frequent enlistments
from this class of men when fits members
once realize the kindly treatment, the ex-
cellent fare, and the wholesome life led
by our men-of-waT's men.
In this manner force - .-rii who
support themselves in civil life could be
enrolled and properly trained for imme-
date service on the outbreak of war. al
a comparatively small annual expense "a
the Government
A special time. selected with refer
enee TO the period of siackest work
should be devoted by The ships conDan-
fes of each State annually to a period OF
instruction and drill OF not less than two
weeks Duration In fhaSe States A.,