The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-01
100000 A YEAR
Is Wanted to Keep Up Naval Re-
serve Force of 1000.

Washington, Dec Lieutenant W.
H. Sutherland, in charge of the mat
ters pertaining to the naval militia has
made a report to the assistant secretary
of the navy upon the naval militia
during the war. At the beginning OF
the year an allotment of $4S,0 900 was
made to several states having naval
militia organizations with a total OF
l, AS men. The states were California.
Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois,
Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts.
Michigan, New Jersey, New York,
North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, South Carolina and Vir-
gfnia. The District of Columbia has
since mustered in an organization. The
various states mustered into the SER
vice during the war the following: CAL
ifornia 10 officers and so men, COnnect1-
cut Is officers and 1873 men, Florida, 2
officers and So men and in the coast sig
nal service 4 officers and 35 men, Him
OILS 10 officers and 709 men, Louisiana 10
, officers and PA men, Maryland "a Off
GERS and 425 men, Massachusetts SO Of
fcers and 1884 men, Michigan IL officers
and 270 men, New Jersey "a officers and
373 men, New York 49 officers and 805
men, North Carolina 9 officers and 189
men, Pennsylvania Is officers and 81
men, Rhode Island 8 officers and lat
men, South Carolina IS officers, 6 mates
and 1877 men, Virginia 2 officers and 81
men.
The report states that from the be-
ginning of the building of the new navy
efforts have been made to organize a
navel militia, but nothing has been
done beyond the formation of a few
state organizations. The principal
training has been in line of coast de-
tense. The report then states: 1.-THE
experience of this short war has clearly
demonstrated the imperative necessity
for the maintenance of a national re-
serve in the organization of which too
much reliance must not be placed up
on the merchant marine alone. This
experience has shown that a considera-
BILE part of the merchant marine with
be drawn into the service of the army
in transport duty which of course ma
terially reduces the class from which the
navy would hope to get its enlisted men.
Although these organizations, many
of whose members were recruited out
side the seafaring class, failed to fully
meet the requirements of the case, they
were all upon which the general gov
eminent had to draw at the beginnine
of the war. A majority of these through
cooperation on the part of the govern
orS of their states answered the call OF
the government and were mustered in
to the service for duty on cruising ships
In the United States auxiliary naval
force and in the coast signal service.
The navy department was hampered in
its efforts at rapid mobilization by. its
lack of federal jurisdiction over these
organizations, but in the end succeeded
in obtaining force of over 1000 officers
and men.
| patriotism displayed by a. majority of
! the members of these organizations,
many of whom although they had new
| er been to sea before the mast, knew
| that they were to face not only the
| dangers of war but hardships to which
/ they had never been accustomed"
| Lieut. Sutherland says the classes of
naval militia should be enrolled for five
years and in such classes should be in
! cluded those who have served in the
! present war and all others, who are
| connected with sea service and not in
I the regular naval establishment These
| classes should take an annual course of
| instruction and drill. The enrolment of
/ the new organization could be conduct
! ed by the officers of the naval militia
who served in the Spanish war A ma
val officer should be detailed to conduct
/ the drill of the ships companies. Off
GERS should be commissioned in the ma
| val reserve after an examination by a
| board of naval officers. The estimate
1 of the cost of a naval reserve is placed
at $40 per man. Upon the breaking out
! of the war the entire naval reserve
/ would be Immediately aVaila BILE In the
| case of the last war many in the state
! physical eXaminatiOn but this would be
! avoided by a proper enrolment of the
| naval militia. In conclusion he states:
/ THE congress should provide that all
| laws which apply to officers, petty Off
/ GERS and enlisted men of the. regular
/ navy should also apply to the officers,
/ petty officers and men of the United
! States naval reserves during the time
! that they are taking the annual course
! of instruction and drill prescribed by
/ the secretary of the navy. 1t will be
! advisable to restrict the general en-
! rollment the first year to a limit which
/ will come we'll within the appropria-
| ton.
TT is considered that a continuous