The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1899-08-24
The Naval Militia.

Good Work Done in Training Amateur S all
ors. They win Form the Nucleus of the
Great Naval Reserve.
The recent visit Of the auxiliary cruiser
Prairie to this port with The Massachn-
e5ts naval militia on board lends addi-
tional interest to the following extracts
from recent article in the Washington,
d. c., Evening Star:
That capable officers and men may be
secured for service in the United States
navy in time of need 5000 American citi-
zens are receiving this summer instruc-
ton in the duties of man-O' war s. men all
the way up and down from the humble
coal passer to the commanding officer and
back again.
These young men form the Naval Mill
tia OF the United States and will be the
nucleus of the great naval reserve which
the Navy Department proposes organic
ing Immediately after the passage of the
bill which will be resubmitted to Con-
gress early in the coming session. AL
though expecting the adoption of the
proposed measure, by which larger
draft can be Lad in case of war, the
department is still doing its best with the
into fine shape the present organizations
of the States bordering on the Atlantic
and gulf coast, the great lakes and the
Pacific seaboard. Three vessels of the
navy have been assigned to training duty
during the present summer--the auxiliary
cruiser Prairie, which is now taking the
Atlantic coast militia on their annual
cruise; the U. S. S. Michigan, which is
cruising with the organizations of the
great lakes, and the auxiliary cruiser
Badger, now on her way to San Francisco
for similar duty as training ship for the
militia of the Pacific coast.
ORGANIZED FOR BUSINESS.
Those who regard the cruises of the
naval militiamen as a vacation will Ger
tanly find themselves at fault if they tai k
with any member of the service that has
been to sea in one of the three ships
named. Contrary to a general belief
which prevails, the organizations are not
clubs, though many number among their
members young men of wealth and social
position. The department has endeavored
and has succeeded in impressing upon the
several militias the fact that they are or
ganized to perfect themselves in seaman
ship and gunnery that they may be sutfi-
GENTLY trained to serve on board a regular
man. of war in time of hostilities. So
satisfactory was the result obtained from
following this method prior to the Span
lSh war that when the moment came the
department was able to secure the services
of large number of officers and men of
the naval militia to ill up vacancies which
existed on board the service ships.
PRACTICE IN GUN DRILL.
Approaching that the naval militiamen
are especially deficient in gun drill on ac-
count of lack Of weapons and ammuni-
ton, the department has endeavored to
have most OF their cruise devoted to target
practice. To each organization the de-
partment has allotted the following sup
plies of ammunition: Six rounds for
each Ginch rapid fire gun, making forty
eight aboard the Prairie; fifty rounds
each for the ix-pounders, making 300 in
all, and! sub caliber ammunition in the
discretion of the commanding officer
which means practically without stint.
The Pacific coast organizations will be
allowed six rounds for each of the Bad
GER 5-inch guns, fifty rounds for each of
her three Founders and the same unllmit-
ed supply for ub-caliber practice. The
Michigan ha, the same allotment for he1
heavy guns and for her sub caliber prac-
tice.
The weeks gun work is thus set out in
the official program from the department,
ROUTINE OF \ WEEK.
First day-9:30 to 1915, muster and
stations at guns; Instructions about train.
ing, elevating and sighting. 1O45 to
II 10, aiming drill; l 30 to 2 30, taking
apart breech mechanism instruction con
corning parts; cleaning and returning
same. 3 30, after finishing above continue
aiming drill till each man has made a
target.
Second day-9 80 to 1915, having sent
men who We're at six-inch to the six
Founders and vice versa, carry out exact
ly the same routine as first day.
Third day-9:3O muster at stations
sub caliber practice; crews drilled as if
| firing regularly, but each gun acts indie
| Pendenently; each man fires ten shots,
then ''shift stations.' / 30, same as
forenoon.
Fourth day-9:3O to 1915, muster at
stations; sub caliber practice; first and
second gun captains fire; commence firing
and cease firing by buge, as in regular
divisional drill 1915, aiming drill, l 80
TO 2:3O, same as forenoon; after complet-
ing gun practice finish aiming drill, each
man making target.
| Fifth day-Muster at stations: each gun
fires six rounds at target; guns fire in sue
cession. l:30, continue morning work.
Sixth day-9:30, muster at stations
complete work of fifth day and when
completed the naval militia will be ex-
amined in all drills, signals, etc. 1:30,
continue forenoon work till finished.
DUTIES OF A SAILOR.
In addition to these exercises, which
will put the militiamen through very
radical course of instructions, they are
given lessons in seamanship and all the
other routine duties of a regular man-o-
war S. man. In the middle of the night
they are called to quarters for fire drill
they man the boats; aid in the fire and
engine rooms; scrub decks and polish
bright work, and 60 through the complete
rounds of Jacks work till they are
eager, indeed, for the wholesome fare of
the mess.
The instruction of the officers goes
along with that of the seamen save where
their duties differ, and they are held up to
to the same requirements of department
and discipline that are exacted of regu-
lar officer 1t is a serious matter treated
seriously, and the returning militiamen
are full of an added sense of their respon.
sibilities and their growing attainments,