The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-11-12
NAVAL RESERVE RECOMMENDED
Admiral Sampson Outlines Plan for
an Emergency.

an Emergency.
| New Yory, Nov. 10.-Admiral William
| I. Sampson writes in the World as fol-
lows:
The value Of the naval militia in this
| country was amply demonstrated dur
ing the late war With very few excep-
| tons, the naval officers have gratefully &C
| knowledge the work done by the state
sailors. Not alone have they manned four
auxiliary cruisers, which did excellent
work in the blockade of Cuba, but they
| fusnished- a second line of defense about
our coast From Florida to Maine the
naval militia were used for manning har-
oor-defense vessels, patrol boats, and sig
nal stations, while their officers in num-
Der of cases, took the place of regular
officers of the navy in various shore de-
tails, thereby releasing the forces of the
regular navy for deep-water service.
There were no scandals, no complaints,
no fault-f1nding by the men of the naval
militia about the work or treatment ac-
corded to them. They did their work in
business-like way, took their share of
all hardships of the war, smelIed gun
powder burned in earnest in various en-
gagements off the coast Of Cuba, and re-
turned to their vocations without com
plant or murmer about the hardships of
a sailors life or discipline they had gone
through.
The war demonstrated one thing. how
ever For a second line of defense the
naval militia are invaluable. but in the
estimation of naval authorities a more
mobile body is the need of the future
With this object in view a movement
for National Naval Reserve, from which
the naval militia is but an outgrowth
has been inaugurated. This organization
is to consist of a reserve of seafaring
men, engineers, pilots and seamen, avail
able upon sudden demand. They are
to be drilled once every year, and to re-
ceive compensation for the time occupied.
They are to be directly under the orders
of the Naval Department and subject to
any demands that may arise for crews
and officers to augments the personnel of
our feet. The trained seaman, the man
behind the gun, demonstrated his value
in the Spanish war and if theGovernment
is wise it will seek to keep an auxiliary
force of men so trained under it's control
Seamen who have served in the navy,
to maintain their connection with the
service of such an organization.
AT a small cost a strong Naval Reserve
could be maintained to man the ships
laid up in ordinary, as well as the aux
Hilary cruisers which may be called into
existence in case Of another war. Money
spent on such an organization would not
be wasted, and the men who fought at
Santiago and Manila could be retained
ready for call, even though they quit the
navy for a more congenial life ashore.
The Naval Reserve need not necessarily
be seafaring men: there are many posi-
tons on board ship which can convenient
ly be filed with men without such ex-
perience, provided they have a natural
aptitude for the sea and are willing. 1t
is believed that Naval Reserves should
be drilled and exercised as ships COM
panies. They would be equally efficient
on shore when needed, and would great
ly augment the naval force when re-
quired for that purpose. a greatly in
creased force should be available in time
of war, otherwise we can never man our
ships. The military service of all men
in the seacoast States should be in the
navy.