The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-03
NAVAL RESERVES READY
TWO NEW BATTALIONS NOW
BEING ORGANIZED.
= NANTUCKET" PREPARED FOR A fight
Commander Morton Wires The Aojutant 6ener-
al for more Recruiting Blanks
Fourth Regiment in Fight
ing trim.

ing trIm'
The Adiutant General yesterday
morning received telegram from Com
mander George l.. Morton. of the Naval
Reserves, Wilmington, asking for re-
cruiting blanks. that he may, in accord
ance with orders from the Navy Depart
nlelrt. recruit each one of the seven bat
talions in North Carolina to GA men
its maximum strength.
The naval reserves are now on wait
ing orders. They were last Monday
notified to prepare to be called out ut
any time. Friday commanders in all
the States were ordered through the
governors. to Immediately proceed to
put the naval militia in thorough con-
dition to meet any sudden call for their
services by the President of the United
States. Each division was ordered re.
crllited TO its full strength and thor.
oughly drilled Careful inspection has
been made of all vessels in the ports IF
each State which can be utilized for
the mosquito fleet.
Tie Naval battalion of North Caroline
now consists of five divisions, at the fol
lowing places: Wilmington. Newbern,
Elizabeth City. Kinston and Southport.
Another division is being formed at
Newbern and one at Washington, y. G.
Besides the two new divisions the Nh.
val battalion now consists of 1856 men.
rank and file. If they are called ont
for service they will probably patrol
from Point Lookout to Hatteras.
Vf,,t4 tod
the training ship of the Naval battalion
at Wilmington, lies opposite the city.
She has been put in order and has al
ready, the Messenger says, been sup
Piled with sufficient ammunition to put
up nasty fight.
The colonel of the Fourth regiment of.
the State Guards has perfected all ar
rangements TO have 1,200 men in his
regiment IN "a hours.
1t is understood that if call for
the guard is made the force will III
stantly be modified in Raleigh an adj
ditional battalion added to each reg-
ment and the strength recruited up to
100 per company. The section of ar
tillery will DE increased to battery of
200. Arms. equipment and clothing for
the additional men viii be requisitioncd
for immediately. There are tents in
the arsenal for about 1000 men.
There are many applications received
at the Adjutant Generals office in this
city to organize reserve militia and
home guards in the event of war, and the
Adjutant General authorizes the News
and Observer to say that it is worse
than useless for persons to send IN
such applications. as only troops pre-
pared for service in the field will be
accepted at this time.
1t can be positively stated that all
OF the volunteer companies which are
forming at the present time in the hone
Of being drafted into active service in
ease of war, will have to go through the
channel of the national guard. The rea
son Tor this decision on the part of |
The war department is, according to the |
Washington Post, that it is not thought |
faT to the men who have gone into |
the national guard, and served for years. |
perhaps, to be deprived of their priv |
lege. If it may be called privilege. of !
going to the front first.
Another important reason for this de- |
cision. continues The Post. comes from
the fact that many Of the officers who
are organizing companies are not cana
Die OF holding the positions in the reg
MAR guard that they hold in the com |
panles 1t is not looked upon as fair
TO he men who have served long and
faithfully III the regular guard and work |
ed themselves up to the rank of cor |
porai or lieutenant to have men come
IN from outside companies with LITTLE OK |
perience and rank as captain II will
be. therefore, necessary for any com |
panles of men who wish to see active
service in case of hostilities TO ioin tho
guard as privates and work their way nm |
as the other men have done.
The men in the guard have looked
upon the forming Of these volunteer
companies with a good deal of appre |
henSion. and they are anxious to he
to have the first opportunity
at any active service that the govern
dneht may offer to its auxiliary troops.
ney think that they are entitled to
TINS privilege also, on account of the
years of tedious drilling and routine
work they have done in times of peace
III ordef TO prepare themselves for ac-
i've service. They claim that the thing
ioi me men 10 do who want to see ac-
'NANF't IL 10 come into the 01IarI
ana work their way up from the ranks.
as All OF the National Guard officers
have done.
lhefe can hardly be anv ouarroling
WIN such policy as this. During
lhe past nfteen or twenty years eorn,st
ana patriotic men have devotod t;,a
and energy and money to tho tra;,,;n ,,n -
troops for just such as emeraa,,n,, :,
now seems to be at hand. The goyars,
meht, IN a short sighted and ins,,fe;a;a',4
way, and the various States ,y;tt, ,. 'ei'l
or less Eberality and corresnond;na, aio'e
ltles or good sense, have been +n mH.i
TO 90 fhe same thing. As y rosnIt s
all these expenditures we have tba ~
tiohal Guard,a thoroughly effective So
of about 10000 men, while tbon 80
a sufhcient number of those who -
served at least one enlistment i, IL
National Guard to swell the total mith In
ihfee or four days To something like baIs
a million. ing nail
me National Guard and IFS rosorro
Would be IN good condition for actiuo
service within Il very short norind
possibly two or three weeks of encamn