The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-01
NAVAL RESERVE CRUISE
THE AUXILIARY CRUISER PRAI-
RTE ASSIGNED TO DUTY.

NepuEt RCSPtCtlnE Ine
Georgia MISUNDERSTANDING and
CarOIinians May Go Together.
The Prairie Due Here on May IL,
and at Charleston the Next Day.
Washington March S0.-(Special) 1.-The
Secretary of the Navy has called upon
the Governors of South Carolina and Geor-
gia to ascertain whether the naval militia
of those two states are going to partIci-
pate in the practice cruise which is now
being arranged for the benefit of the naval
reserves of the various states along the
Atlantic coast. The secretary's letter was
sent to Cows. Gambler and Ellerbe more
thar TWO. weeks ago. but at this writing
nothing has been heard from the executive
Offices of these two states.
If the naval reserves of Georgia and
South Carolina are anxious to derive their
share of the annual appropriation for the
general equipment of the petty officers
and men of those organizations, they will
be required to participate in the practice
cruise contemplated and the allotment
will be made according TO the number of
petty officers and enlisted men represent
ed during the cruise.
A Fine Practice Ship.
The United States steamship Prairie,
one of the handsomest of the Morgan Lin
ers, converted into a naval cruiser during
the war with Spain, has been designated
by the Secretary of the Navy for the
practice cruise of the naval reserves of the
various states. A regular schedule has
been arranged, so that each state will
have its naval militia al sea for eight
days. The various states must avail them
selves of the dates set aside for them,
otherwise they will be shut out of the
cruise, for the time allowed for cruising
is filled to the limit.
The Prairie is the only ship that can be
spared for this work. and she is to be
used by all OF the states from Florida to
Maine. Heretofore the Secretary of the
Navy has not been able to furnish a ship
for this purpose, or at least not such a
well adapted vessel as is the Prairie. Lieut..
Sutherland in charge of the naval mill
tia division of the navy, in conjunction
with Assistant Secretary Allen, has finally
secured permission from Secretary Long
10 use this magnificent ship for the pur-
pose named. She is now being fitted out at
the League Island navy yard, near Phil
adelphia and she will be ready for SER
vice in a few weeks.
The Prairie is one of the best built and
fastest of the auxiliary cruisers. secured
for naval purposes, during the recent war
with Spain. She figured conspicuously in
Cuban waters and made a splendid record
In every instance. She has a capacity for
berthing comfortably 800 men. Her arma-
ment consists of eight 6-inch. rapid fire
guns, nifty calibre in length; six Founders
rapid fire and two Colts machine guns
She will carry a skeleton crew of officers
and men from the regular navy, for in
structors so that ample opportunity will
be afforded the naval reserves to derive
the benefit of instruction from experienced
teachers.
To Come to Savannah.
According to the programme the Cow
ernor OF Georgia has been notified that the
Prairie is due to arrive at Savannah Nav
II, to take on board the naval militia of
the state of Georgia for practice cruise
and drill of eight days In view of the
TACT that the capacity of the Prairie is
Tor 800 men, it is proposed that the naval
reserves of Georgia and South Carolina
shall receive instruction at the same time
The following day, May u, the Prairie will
proceed to Charleston and take on board
the South Carolina naval MALTA.
Ihese organizations must be ready to go
aboard ship the dates given, one day in
port a each city being allowed for organi-
cation, berthing, messing, etc. Then the
vessel will put out to sea, and the first
-FOUR days will be devoted to instruction in
seamanship and man-of-war routine. Two
days will then be given to actual target
practice with the modern guns and small
arms The state organizations may furnish
their own rations, or the United States
will furnish them al the rate of not ex-
ceedfng 80 cents per day for each man, the
expense to be paid by the state
1t is stipulated in the letters to the Gov
errors that the allotment of the annual
appropriation for The naval reserves of the
various states viii be disbursed in ac-
cordance with the number of petty officers
and men who avail themselves of this OPP
portunity to- become familiar with some
of the requirements of the naval service
In case of an emergency.
The Georgia Reserves.
Gov. Gambler has reported that the
Georgia naval militia numbers 1872 men,
but he does not state whether they will
take the cruise on the Prairie. Gov. Ell
lerhee has made no return whatever to
the secretary's letter of inquiry.
Similar letters were sent to the Govern
ors of North Carolina, Virginia and Mary
land, to which satisfactory replies have
been received. 1t is the desire of the Sec
rotary of the Navy that Georgia and South
carolina may avail themselves of this op-
portunity to revive interest in the naval
reserves in those states. In commenting
upon the subject to-day a prominent naval
ofhcer, whose home is in the Southland,
depiored the fact that the Georgia naval
reserves did not furnish a single naval
recruit in the war with Spain
Ihere is an impression in the navy de-
partment to the effect that the state au-
therities of Georgia and South Carolina
ere not in sympathy with the naval militia
organization, and for that reason there is
an apparent lack of interest in the SUBJ
)ect. 1t is not fair to those young men
VINO are anxious to build up a credtabN
naval militia that they should be held