The evening times., 1899-11-14

Charles II. Allen, Assistant Secretary OF
the Navy said today that soon after Con-
gress meets the department will have a
bill introduced in the House providing for
the establishment of national naval re-
serve. II will be somewhat different from
the bill presented to the Fifty-fifth Con-
gress having the same general object in
view. which failed Of enactment. and it
will contain some notifications and some
additional features.
THE BILL the Assistant Secretary said,
will not in any way interfere with the
present State organizations of naval re-
serve, and its object will be entirely sep
arate and distinct from ii. 1t will simply
make provision for regularly enlisted
naval reserve to act as an auxiliary, and
from which the Navy Department may
draw men in case of need, such as the
outbreak of war.
Mr.. Allen points out that the experience
of the past year has suggested the changes
from the original bill, and that the de-
partment will be guided by its newly ac-
guired knowledge of the wants TO be sup
piled.
The legislation 10 be asked for Will pro-
vide that the term of enlistment shall tie
four years, and that provision Will De
made so that the naval reserve officer
may be promoted in war times with the
regular officer with whom he holds COM
mission of the same date.
The men whom the Assistant Secretary
desires to have in this national reserve are
to be obtained principally from nsnermeh'
oystermen and others of that class VINO
are familiar from childhood with the dan
gers and hardships OF the sea, and rom
the employees of the lighthouse and me
saving stations.
There are several thousand OF these em-
ployes along the coast, and the majority
of them are young and sturdy men, who
know nothing of fear and who spend most
of their lives in battling with the elements
in saving life and property. 1t Is believed
that A naval reserve formed by such men
would be an invaluable acquisition TO the
navy.
For the purposes fog which these men
would he ne sdsd, this could be prepared
easily the Department believes, by lew
drills each year, the appropriation ior
which would be small. Should the Dill oe-
come a law a retired naval ofhcer WILL
probably. be placed in command OF tne
national reserve in eacn lighthouse uisulct
There l. plenty ol pdidphei man" IA ''AS "
ferent navy yards 10 equip the reserve. and
in case of war the entire force could be put
i'm working order in less than thirty-siX
hours.
These men could also. the department
claims. be organized into permanent
coast signal service which in time OF war
would be an imperative necessity. No one
so well as the members OF the life-savlng
service and the hardy fishermen whose dai-
ly life is passed upon the shore OF the
ocean can perform the duties of such a
signal system.
Each enlisted man shall under the provi-
slons of the proposed bill receive an annual
salary of about $50 in time OF peace. Their
active services will not be required by the
Government except in a time OF war. and
believed by the Department that there will
be no difficulty in obtaining all the men OF
tbs class desired.
The $50 year to some of the hard work.
ing fishermen would be very acceptable,
and their families would appreciate it.
TO have such a brave body Of men to
draw from in the cass of war" concluded
Mr. Allen. would be of inestimable SER
vice to the navy and would in a great
measure do away with the embarrassment
the Navy Department experienced at the
outbreak of the Spanish American war in
its effort to man the war ships.
THE proposed bill will be handed to the
Committee on Naval Affairs as soon as pos
sible after Congress meets, and the COM
mittee will be urged 10 secure its pas