The sun., 1898-12-27
TIVE xxrAL nrrIrIA.
A Defence of IL with Demand for the Pres
srvation OF It's Iptegrity.

! Defence OF 1t with n Demnndfor the Pres
srvation OF IT'S IpteErity.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: As ma
| val Reserve said in your issue OF Dec. II. II
certainly is surprising to read in the various re-
ports Of the heads Of the Department Of the Navy
that the work of mobilizinR the naval militia
was attended with many difficulties. and that
the men of the organizations wero not In the
control OF che department and we're lacking In
efficiency because they had not the habit OF
the sea-" But the most surprising thing Is
that the majority OF the officials OF the
department cannot SEQ that the fault lies
primarily and principally with them and
not with the States or the various or
CARNATIONS OF naval militia. Tho various
organizations have been IN existence. the older
ones at least. for about eight years. having
been alternately encouraged and discouraged
by those naval officers whom the Navy Depart
mont saw flt to assign to the naval militia with
out consulting its wishes or as to whether these
different Gcntlemon We're favorably or unfaror-
ably disposed toward the different organlza-
tions. They have had Schoetze. Niblack. Glib
bons and others. and now Sutherland. All are.
OF course. excellent gentlemen. and as might
be expected. have most excellent. though widely
different, ideas.
Finally. after changing. simmering. boiling.
1t was decided that the proper field for the ma
val militia was the second line Of defence. look
ing after its own home waters. and thus allow
ing the navy proper free scope. so rs not TO be
hampered by any defensive operations. Then
the naval militia is to spend time and money In
work, piictase oi The bays and f harbors. + % sSnal
mines, and IA fact everything in the
enemy should slip past the nav navy G and get % tS
Sort one snS the
department needs men and asks the different
defence bas aso suHnrg nnS
,SsI eSnsmy's waters. i asks for the men and gets
as body. not as a body which has asked any
promises that its organization, be preserved.
It. certain officers assigned to It. but as
men mel, Mho enlist voluntarily for service in the
and how the department wishes them. oi
cotrse they were not perfect, but thev were
ne eare pest 6 ne dspatt%eRt m could get and they
Now the Navy Department, recognizing the |
tSs% fs1e SdfH 81 these ,mSsp wants them and wants
any recognition given to the organization that !
brought them up and helped make them what |
meeting Of the IssoeiSton q Naval Miiitias III las
Ne Ne want "a national naval reserve. The Navy
militia You have got 70 give asy up mSe fbe naya
militia and 20 into the national reserve or we
are Where does the Navy W DepartmenR Der IT wm2
from Seop is npproprStss SsGStsff by ths
Psepe sh5 th5oHgh their II Com
of tie stnte o 9fe New sent
other States. say that the naval militia shall be
sustain and supported, and money appro-
tary Of the Navy and his assistants wi will he d.
seeted re to disbprse that money as the people see
York ike it Il their REPRESENTATIVES, pre- % w NeM a.
saSe sas msssng sssE ana 9f s,6 The naval ,S militia had
Which s9 rns fbis rss
arst to see foreign service when after that
and healthy after engaging in half dozen or
n more engagements without even a suspicion
Sf he Snd
are rem, no } g92d the naval militia Is no good: you
,iovernment can demand your services at any
lime and at the nominal nav, whether In war
SqG viii put vou ont OF existence"
have talked with dozen mon who served
war and Who say that while they'll Serve I IN the the
pa nd SS they
peace. but would gladly volunteer their heirs ser. ~
iiSes Il again to the Government in case Of need.
ne naval militia OF New York State is as much |
| part Of the State forces as its National Guard |
md what would the State say II the War
department should say. You can't have
my more National Guard. You have got to
De all volunteers-of course not active VOL
lnteers serving with. pay. but Just included
n the regular reserve force OF the regular army.
10 that We can have you any time" or course |
ye al! want the national naval reserve. We
want 1t badly. hut it must come not at the ex-
'ense OF the State naval militia. but with its
lid and assistance. A great many men will |
erve in the naval militia who will not serve in |
lines OF peace In national reserve and one |
will have to help the other. but we are not go
ng to get national reserve bv abolishing the |
laval militia. as Is practically the scheme now |
,eiore Congress. and even II the Government |
hould decide 70 Withdraw its support from |
ne naval militia as a body. entirely, the |
tate OF New York can well afford to sup
ort as many naval militia organizations
| naval milita battalion is lust as valuable to
he State as a National Guard battalion in fact |
more so, because its members ire everything hut |
In other words the State naval
lilitiaman Is trained in infantry. light ARTILLERY.
eayy artillery, signalling and hospital corps
'ork and must know those things which are |
AIKEN up by three or four distinct organ izations |
\ the land forces. and II he never tried to !
cquire the habit Of the sea he would be inst |
$ useful for local defence to the State as nny
the land forces: Gan any other organization |
how the record Of doubling it's strength
ally armed. fully equipped and uniformed with |
total 81 5I Officers and 800 men. serving in
ne United stntes forces, and coming back with
ork State did? Ex-YASKEE""
WILMINGTON. Dec 96 |