Evening star., 1898-03-18
ExclTES INTEREST
.lt.1
Movement for Organization org4n Of a Naval
Battalion.
AWAITS RECOGNITION OF CONGRESS
House Expected to Pass Senate
Measure at Once.
UTILITY OF THE FORCE
AWAITS RECOGNITION OF CONGRESS
UTILITY OF TIE FORCE

Great interest attaches just now to the
naval militia battalion Of the District, the
bill for the organization of which was
passed by the Senate yesterday. The text
of this measure was, published in The Star
of yesterday A-biA Of somewhat different
construction was before Congress at the
last session and passed one Of the branches.
There was not time enough to push 1t
through the other, SO 1t came up this year
In amended form. 1t Is considered source
Of consratulation that the bill has been
passal by. the Senate, as it is understood
there will be little or no difficulty in put
ting the bill through tine House. Many of
the members have expressed themselves as
being in favor Of it, Speaker Reed, it is
said, unqualihedly approved of it,
Mr.. Robert p. Hams, commander of the
battalion, by whose efforts it was organ
lied, says that what the battalion needs at
present is simply recognition from Con-
eress. OF course. it will be entitled to its
share of the $4,000 appropriated by Con-
gress annually for the militia battalions
throughout the country. The share to
which 1t will be entitled will amount to
between 5000 and $4,000. What the bat
talon hopes for. Commander Hams thinks
Is an added inducement to the men to con-
tinue membership, such as provision for
uniforms, arms for drilling and other es-
seEttals in this line.
The boat house at the navy yard has
been rendered to the battalion, to be used
by its officers and members for their needs.
It Is explained, however, that the mere
"setting-up" drill Of the men is hardly a
sufficient incentive to attract them to the
organization. About fifty Of them have
rniforms-furnished by themselves-which
pl owes, at least, that they are earnest in
their endeavors for the continuance and
prosperity OF the battalion. Drills have
yard and on the lawn, but there has been
none lately.
There are about 15O men belonging to the
battalion.
The Battalion Omcers.
The officers are: Commander, Robert r.
Hams; lieutenant commander. William A.
Megrath; lieutenant, Jas. H. Coiwell in
charge of division 1; lieutenant, W. T.
Gray, in charge OF division 2; lieutenant,
e. T. Kimball. in charge of division 3; ad-
jutant. 8. G. Hopkins; paymaster. Sidney
Bieber: assistant engineer, J. NJ. Ober.
OF the above Messrs Hams, Meerath. Col
well. Gray and Kimbell sare Graduates Of
the United States Naval Academy.
A majority of the men have seen service
in the navy. Someii of9 them are High
School cadets. and allI are men who have
There are about seventeen different naval
militia organizations ir as many different
states, and Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Roosevelt is greatly interested in them.
Major General Harries of the District
militia heartily approves Of the recognition
here of the naval battalion as 1t would
form a. strong adjunct toe the land forces.
The mission Of the battalion, In case Of war
with Spain, or any other country would be
to assist in the defense of the capital. pri-
marily. It's duties would be to signal and
prevent the approach Of an enemy by
blockade and the laying Of mines and tor.
pedoes. The broad system of defense in
this regard is made into two divisions.
One Of these lines Of defense is the ships
the one outside. and the coast and harbor
defenses. 80 ia {.
stated by those who are agitating the.
movement Of the recognition Of the bat
talon, has nothing to do with it, as the
matter has been strenuously advocated
from the first. ~ 'a5
Views OF Man-Of-War's Man.
An ex-nan-o'-wars man. in speaking Of
the matter. said to Star reporter:
"The District should have a naval battal-
ion by all means. In case Of war the Dis
trict Of Columbia could turn out over 500
men Of naval experience. A majority have
served their apprenticeship in both the old
and modern cruisers. These men have seen
served In the navy from five to twelve
years, the majority being comparatively
young men. A great many hold govern
gnent positions including those on the fire
school ship Saratoga, which was here re-
cruiting boys in 1879, when Fighting Bob
Evans was the executive officer. took
out full complement of Washington
and Baltimore boys. These boys turned
out to be some of the finest sailormen in
the service. Those OF them who are still
In the service are either warrant officers
or chief petty officers.
Washington has always been recruit
ing station for boys and young men, until
the last three years. The navy was well
represented from this section, from Balti-
more and cities further south, but since the
department has done away with the re-
cruiting station here Washington and
vicinity are poorly represented. Ninety per
cent OF the enlistments here were native
born Americans and the Navy Department
esy Or sesSnf IN s
Franklin b the only ship of its kind south.
Ship Crews in New York.
IAN ships going into commission have to
send to New York for their crews, tina.
point being the head recruiting station on
the Atlantic coast Ships from ell parts of
the world come to New York. and e5 per
cent Of those who ship there to tofn the
service are foreigners. They join because
they get better ray and treatment than in
the merchant service. The regulations re-
Quire mnn to be a citizen Of the. e.cuuntry
or to get hir intention papers out when he
presents himself on the receiving ship Ver-
ncnt for enlistment. In the latter class
are the majority who apply for re-enlist-
ment.
1T IL nine chances out of ten after they
have once been enlisted that they do not
take out their fnil citizensfaip papers. for
they neyer bother about It. There arr to-
are not citisens OF afhS country. At the
present time there il sat battalion organized
in tho District with ovekd000 men and ON
be recognised by coSffess. The majority
OF these are ex-sailors. and the officers OF
the battalion are ex-1la1&l Academy grad