The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-05
NAVAL FORCE.
r,pr BARTLETr REPORTS ON TTS
nprRATIoNs DURING TIE VAR

nr0anfTntiOnH InnN hGTNGu IN Nn0 aux
nIary Force-Tho Prompt Response to
az. Call to Furnish Crews for Ships.
U,sH1SoroS, Nov. Capt. John II. Bart
~, II. s. N. tretired). has submitted a com-
n,.b.nsiye report on the operations OF the
yroi,ed states auxiliary naval force. OF which
on, nnrtiett was chioi, In the war with Spain.
m limo q. forty-four days Sfter the Joint reso-
intion OF Congress declaring that a state Of war
visited had been signed. Capt. Bartlett was
Nod in charge OF the auxiliary force. Ho
ia NOT find things to his liking. and thus de-
s.,ibos the con dltions that confronted hin and
Tint he did to improve matters:
""Thc submarine mines were receiving occa-
.,onoI damage, owing to the lack Of proper
sso,oc,ion. Tho officers who had been COM
rissloned, and tho 1900 men who had been
sr,isted. we're waiting on the various receiving
rims for assignment TO active duty. The con-
s"r,od vessels at the navy yards were without
.omnlements, and there was need Of small
Sosno,cb boats and tugs. The naval militia.
which had recruited up to Its legal strength at
,ho request Of the department, was not fulfill
,rc tho part which had been assigned to It In
n,se n, war: It's officers and men were becom-
Inc restless ut the inactivity, It's facilities were
not being fully employed. and the navy
-os still short OF men for Its seaRoinG
,blps. The department was overwhelmed
rith requests for active service and the
wrstering In OF organizations which had
h.en recruited for the war. The situation was
rrcsnt and prompt action was necessary. I
,ornd nj once that no use had been made of
Tho services OF the commanding officers OF the
naval brigades Of Massachusetts, and New York.
Moth Of whom were ex-oficers Of the United
states Navy. and had been studying for years
the duties Of their forces In the naval patrol
.,d defence OF the seacoast OF their respective
states. They were Immediately examined.
vocom mended for appointment. commits
sIoped, and substituted for the lighthouse
In.nectors in charge of the districts in
which they were located. As rapidly as
nossible the other lighthouse inspectors were.
in succession. relieved OF the extra duties
which had been imposed upon them in connec-
tlon with the auxiliary naval force. and the
senior officers mot already afloat) OF the State
naval militia were ordered to- duty as my as
slstants In the various districts. In the mean
fine the naval officers commanding the moni-
tors were detached and assigned to other duty.
md the command OF these vessels was intrust-
ed TO competent officers of the force who came
from the naval militia.
within forty-eight hours from the time OF
Assuming COnlnduu L was 0ubOlOu W BeJ IWo
Of the converted yachts at New York on duty
patrollinG the mine fields. and on July IL they
were Joined bv a third. In rapid succession
the various yachts and the tugs were furnished
with officers and crews. put in commission and
assigned to active duty. After filling the com-
plements OF these vessels those monitors which
were still being fitted out at the navy yards
we're supplied. and an effort was made to
send all the men remaining on the receiv-
Ing ships to the front. To this end y draft
Of men was sent from the Pensacola
yard to the naval station at Key West,
and otherfdratts were forwarded from reoeiv-
ing ships on the Atlantic coast to the Norfolk
Navy Yard for transportation South by the FIRST
public conveyance. This was done. not only to
fSe bnvsl f mfl| Rdiansb St the To oSPiate tSs n rST g SsiRg
Several hundred men enlisted from the naval
West and distributed. among the vessels Of the
Hrst and second squadrons ofthe North Atlantic
feet, where they saw actual warfare at Santt-
ion OF Admiral Ceryere's squadron
Capt. Bartlett is highly complimentary to the
'ay3 militia a u 40 org oIcs !Ft = tha at served %srsiv n p ths
Of guard and patrol duty that the
naval militia has been. of service to the depart:
officers and men Of the navy haye cause for
thankfulness that the naval militia ex-
listed during the war with Spain. It's officers
dured the m%onotonous and often uninteresting
duties connected With shore stations and the
SGass f defence sirb They Sy,tPD qs aside Ssye wh hat CT
inS5s i 'aIlsd many nsnS1'f humble me and d'0a ardu sas
sSips, and M e1 sns in R tRs ofi Sesa q the on dep as9tals,nte
In this way many officers and men Of the SER
were freed from these employments and
aCtual warfare. an experience which every. OH
Ger and man who enters the service covets. no
matter from what source he entered II.
from the naval militia was performed in
, thorough and efficient manner.; but our
ssSen 81 e xopE wSic Sh fSSs thaS fhe not Is sa a certain
DIDO, Their anxiety to see active service and
to get away from receiving ships led many
n other ratings which they were not physically
competent to fill This. OF course. was quickly
discovered and easily remedied without mishap.
themselves. In some cases, too while
eommissions were being given without exam
i%pationsl. officers undertook duties for which
quick TO realize their mistake and were as
signed to duty which they were found compe-
Ient 70 perform after going before examining
Capt; Bartlett makes an appeal for the forma-
Ilon OF a United States naval reserve. which he
believes can be organized on the foundation OF
me present naval militia system.
Cause for congratulating, the naval militia Is
lGund by Capt; Bartlett in the manner in which
me organizations responded to the call to fur |
vvish crews for the Yankee. Dixie. Prairie; and
With, which tho call was met" he says, THE
contingent from the First Naval Battalion.
New York. reported. uniformed. armed.
,quipn1ed. and ready for duty. In six hours after
,scelyi1g notice. and the contingent from the
massachusetts, Naval Brigade. which was noti-
Y isd If at | o'clock on Saturday afternoon. arrived
service on the Prairie. at o o'clock the next
For the first time In. the history OF
Of leisure and Of the highest education
brought into the W ratings, and from
me reports. which have come incidentally to
ny notice i appears, that the served with
great Intelligence and enthusiasm and after a |
,hqrt experience made good m~en-of-warsmen.
nIhoqgh they had had little or no training as
'eagoing sailors and exhibited some OF the
OF knowledge Of the care Of, property and
'hSmselyes that is common to all volunteers"
tSapt bartlett makes several references to
,m.t Gi6Ihty displayed In organizing and con-
herbert X. Sstterlee. naval militia aid to the
s,,U ~ Of New York, who was Capt. Bart
S'1s ohief OF Stan and principal assistant.