The evening times., 1899-09-26

The prevalence of yellow fever at Key
West and in New Orleans will prevent the
proposed autumn cruise Of the Naval Re-
serves of Florida, Louisiana, and Alabama.
Owing to the danger from the plague, the
Navy Department has abandoned the prof
ect The steamer Prairie, which has been
used during the summer for practical in
struction in the art of navigation and gum
merry for the naval militia, will be laid Up
for the winter This decision was reached
yesterday, and Commander Mackenzie, in
command OF the vessel at the Boston navy
yard. was notified of the action taken.
The cruises which have just closed have
developed some surprisingly good work by
the State organizations, and most cred
liable showing was made. The reports of
the board of naval officers appointed to OBJ
serve the efficiency of officers and men CT
the naval militia all indicate that the Gov
eminent has at its disposal fine material
upon which it could draw in any emer-
gency calling fer an immediate increase
in the enlisted strength OF the navy. The
experience gained during the war with
Spain by those reserves which had active
service on the auxiliary ships has rot only
served to stimulate an interest in the
naval militia, but has benefited TO an ap
preciable extent the personnel OF the pres
ent organization.
The growth of the various State bodies
and the. keen interest displayed by both
officers and men were demonstrated in the
recent cruises. The percentage OF men
aboard the Pairie was far larger than tie
naval officials had any reason to expect.
Not only the material found to be
excellent, but the officers and men showed
a practical knowledge OF their duties.
Congress now appropriates annually $780,
coo for distribution among the reserves,
and under q rule of the Navy Department
this sum will be allotted in accordance
with the number of men from each State
who took part in the recent practice
cruises This insures larger fund for the
! District naval militia in proportion 10 its
! strength than TO any in the country, while
Maryland comes next and the Western re-
serves are third.
The fine showing made this year and the
! interest displayed by the States in their or
ganiZations may result in Congress in
creasing to 100000 the sum available for
/ disposal by the Navy Department. 1t is
said that. the growth of the naval militia
organizations and the Importance which
! they have now assumed, as well as their
( value to the Government, justiies more
J liberal policy in the way of appropriations
! by Congress, so that more complete equip
ment can be provided for officers and men.
! The large number of vessels bought for the
war with Spain and the fact that the navy
has little use now for the yachts and mer-
chant ships purchased by the Government
! will enable the Navy Department to fur
! nish the naval militia with suitable vessels
/ for practical work. Heretofore they have
! had only old monitors, receiving ships, and
huks representing vessels with past rec
ords
Each State is now provided. or soon will
| be supplied, with a vessel in every way
! adapted for the work of teaching the crews
| the art OF navigation, gun practice and all
that pertains to the duties required of sea-
men, petty officers, and all classes OF men
that serve the navy. The Naval Militia of
| Maryland has a ship said TO be suited in
every way for the work while the organi-
cations of New York and other States are
equally well fitted out.
RequisitiOns are now being made for ad-
! ditional vessels by the larger organizations
! cn account OF their increase III member
! ship Maryland and Virginia are among
the States making such requests, bat the
/ Navy Department finds il is impracticabIe
| new TO loan additional ships
All possible assistance is given by the
Navy Department to State organizations
il the way OF supplying books, charts,
small boats, ordnance. and other equip
ment The appropriation that is allowed
each State for the support of its men is so
small that they in a great measure have
| to depend upon the National Government.
As the National Government benefits by
an efficient body of naval militia IN time
of emergency, ii is contended by naval men
| that the reserves should receive not only
| Government appropriations, but that the
! system should be under the general control
and direction of the National Government
For purely local defence the naval militia
will probably never play an important.
part. Riots and interstate troubles can be
! better handled, il is claimed by the State
! troops than by naval militia organizations,
which should be held solely for work on
| the seas.
A bill has been drawn for presentation
! at the approaching session of Congress
! for a national reserve under the control
of the Government, upon which the navy
may draw for men in time of war. This
bill. if passed, would tend to place the