The Portland daily press., 1898-04-11
WAR TAEK.
The Naval Brigade Now Certain in
Maine.

What Gov. Powers Says-The Emergency
Corp> Ready for Work-What Can he
Done With Kites-The National Guard
Getting Ready.
1t may now be regarded as settled That
Maine will soon be enrolled among the
states which have created naval reserves
as a part OF their militia system. The de-
sire for the establishment Of a reserve is
Widespread in those sections of the state
which border gu the ocean and his senti-
meut has found expression III the interest
shown in the project in Portland and
bath where steps have already been taken
to perfect an organization. Elsewhere the
PRESS prints the opinions of the mayors
of number of the coast cities all OF
whom are heartily in favor OF the estat-
lishment of the reserve. In Bath the sem
timent is particularly strong. here the
naval veterans Of the late war have taken
a hand IN thu movement and offered their
services. The plan OF procedure, which
will probably be followed, is to have the
reserve organized by an act of the legisla
ture, as it is regarded as practically
certain thaJ the law makers will be con-
Yened in special session if war breaks out
and there seems now little or no ground
fer hoping Tor peace. In reply to tele-
y
asking whether the Legislature would be
convened if war was declared, Governor
Powers said: at seems to me that
should call an extra session immediate,
ly.' If the legislature is convened Dill
Will be presented for the organization OF
IL naval brigade in Maine. 1t has pePn
conelusively shown that the Governor
now has the authority to license organ
cations for the nlanning OF vessels Tor the
defence Of the coast but with the law
makers in SEES ion the best way Woul1 De
to have the naval reserve regularly au-
thorized by statute enactment IL Is prop
able that the bill which will be presented
for tine formation OF the Maine Naval
Reserve will be based On the Massachu-
setUs law. The Massachusetts reserve is
the oldest in the coUEtry and the plan
on which it is conducted has been found
to work well in practice. AS modified
to meet the req uiIenents in Maine, it
would prov ide Tor brigade to consist of
two baUallions the Eataliions to be COM
posed of IRON two to four divisions. The
brigade would be commanded by cap
tain, rank in the naval service which
corresponds 10 that of colonel in the
army Each CT the batallions would be
under the charge of a lieutenant COM
lnander, rank corresponding TO that
of major in the army. Each division
would have three officers, a lieutenant III
command, a Junior lieutenant and An
ensign. These three officers correspond
TO the captain and two lieutenants OF
military company. The strength OF
division is about SIS. The law will proba t
bly, provide for eight divisions In the |
Maine naval reserve when it is on war
roofing, four divisions 10 each battalion. |
This would be only the war footing,
however. In time of peace it is not
thought that it would be possible to
maintain eight divisions and it might not
n IA I'LL
ii the naval reserve is formed now it will
probably be On war footing, for it looks
as ii ell the men that could be obtained
would be needed. In addition to the or
ganiZation outlined the naval militia in
the several states have number of special
corps such as an engineering corps, sig
nal corps, etc., but the number and rank
of the men connected with them varies
greatly in the several states.
EMERGENCY CORPS READY.
Expects TO be Called Out During the Next
Week.
z Saturday the chiefs of the emergency |
corps which has been organized in this
city by Major HoXie the chief engineer,
received hint from that official that they
might be called upon at any time after
Monday for quick and effective work.
This means real bushes and the gentle |
men who have identified themselves with |
this corps expect to be the first people TO
be called to the assistance OF the govern |
ment from this city.
1t was reported on Saturday from a
most reliable source, although Mr.. t. W.
T. Cooling did not confirm the story, |
tt at the eI.zincer officers notified the |
marine division of this corps to get ready |
for work some time the first of the COM
iy,or Nm. has dQ6
the engineers a lighter of large size. sew.
eral row boats and n tow boat. These
will lie used right off in placing the mines
in the approaches to the harbor. Mr..
Goding WAS told that this lighter would
surely be nesded on Monday and Tuesday
and that when it was asked for it would
have to be furnished in hurry. The men
to go with 1t would also be required to be
on hand promptly as Major HoXie and his
assistants have no idea of being taken
awares here by any stray Spanish
privateer.
engineer corps from Willett's Point have
been getting the mines in readiness to go
into the harbor. They have all been |
loaded with the same material which !
made wreck of the battleship Maine and |
the lighter which the engineer officers |
tol1 MI. Cooling to have in readiness for |
instant service will be used to carry these |
are needed there. The wires and anchor |
ages have also been overhauled and are
ready for use and it will not take these |
experienced men very long to make our
city as safe from Spanish warships as is
the town Of Gorham.
The auxiliary engineer division of this
emergency corps will probably have plen-
ty of work to do along the coast of Maine
just as soon as war is declared. At the
mouth of the Kennebec sand Notifications
are to be = thrown up, at Rockland and
the other towns along the coast similar
work of this kind is to be done and these
engineers will lind their services in de-
mand. Maine is to he well taken care of,
there is no question of that and Major
Hoxie Of the regular engineers who is in
charge OF the work will make the fur fly |
when tire proper time arrives for quick |
and efficient work.
Very shortly a signal station will be
located at the end of Cape Elizabeth to
signal the approach of any suspicious
looking vessel. These stations will be in
charge Of signal officers of the United |