The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-10

although their drills and exercises must
take place on fresh water.
The state of Washington prides itself
on being in the forefront of every patrf-
otto movement. 1t furnished the finest
regiment of volunteers that saw service
in the Philippines. But with all the en-
ergy and rustic and patriotism of the
people of Puget sound. Washington re-
mains without a naval militia organiza-
ton, while every other sea coast state
on the Atlantic and Pacific has one II
cannot be that our state Is poorer or has
less patriotism than Oregon, North Caro-
lin or Florida.
ington should have a naval militia which
do not apply to the states on the Atlantic
or in the Mississippi valley.
The Pacific ocean is certain to. have
the greatest commercial and naval acfiv-
tiles OF the future. Puget sound is the
nearest point with shipping and naval
facilities to Japan, China and the Philip
pines. The defense Of Puget sound must
be a combined military and naval one.
owing to the width OF the entrance depth
OF water. strength of tidal currents, etc.
So important Is this defense considered
that a large part OF this years course at
the naval war college at Newport, r. J.,
was devoted TO calculating plans for IT,
or course these plans will remain in the
secret archives of the navy department
The naval militia of Puget sound. in
the event of foreign war, would prob
ably be given service in the monitors.
torpedo boats and submarine boats en-
pioyed in the defense Of their own homes.
The annual cruise would probably be
on Puget sound, with target practice at
Port Angeles.
There are a-large number Of young
men In the different cities who are thor
"a. xs-{tl tlxD tar
their boating and yachting experiences.
The annual cruise on a man-of-war en-
tails no great hardships and makes
healthful outing for clerks and business
men with sedentary occupations
The fact that we are to have large
navy yard at Port Orchard, and that all
of the vessels OF the navy laid up in
ordinary in the Pacific win be moored
In the fresh water basins of Lakes Union
and Washington. will give unusual facii-
tiles to our naval militia for drills and
acquiring a thorough knowledge OF the
different kinds OF men-of-war, their arm
aments, machinery. etc.
The government has provided California
with two old wooden vessels. the Marion
at San Francisco and the Pinta at San
Diego. to be used as driil ships and arm
cries. No doubt Old corvettes like the
Nipsic could be obtained for both Seattle
and Tacoma. The government also fur
nishes the equipments and distributes to
the different states the annual congress
sional appropriation In proportion 10 the
number OF militia who make the annual
cruise
The naval militia are armed and drilled
as infantry, in addition to their naval
exercises, and they are therefore Just as
efficient as the land militia In suppress
ing riots mobs, ETC., on shore.
The wonderful results OF the Spanish
war have created a great deal of en-
thusiasm for the navy. therefore feel
sure that the naval militia would be
popular organization on Puget sound.
A public sentiment should be worked
up. and perhaps preliminary organiza-
lions formed, 50 that the next legisla-
ture would promptly pass the necessary
laws and the arms and equipments be
secured from the navy department. Then
the different divisions of naval militia
would be In shape to take advantage
next summer Of the annual cruise on
~S A. b. wYCKoFT.