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

The suggestion made by Lieut. A. B.
wyckoff that the young men Of this
city should organize battalion Of naval
militia IL one which should meet a
hearty response. II is a reproach to the
state Of Washington that II alone, of
tire states which have seacoast TO de-
fend. has no organization Of the char
acter. and II Is high time that this r@-
proach should be wiped out. The trou-
hle at present Is the absence of state
legislation on the subject. Two sue
cessive attempts have been made 20
organize here a battalion of naval mill
tia. but each failed for the reason that
there was no manner In which the or
gahizations could be officially recoy-
nized as portion Of the state military
force. and could be armed and equipped
under the act Of congress authorizing
the creation Of such corps. All Of the
proceedings relative to the creation Of
organised bodies OF the naval militia
officials. and the navy department IL
not authorized to recognize. equip or
drill independent organizations whose
existence Is not officially recognized
by the state authorities.
There is an abundance Of material
out OF which frst-class naval militia
could be organized; there are among
the residents of the city . number Of
men who have had naval education.
or who have seen active service in the
navy. and who are qualified to act as
commissioned officers OF such body:
and there Ia certainly a need here, such
as exists nowhere else. for such re-
serve force for the navy. In case the
country should ever become involved in
war with power which has any naval
force.
The government IL extremely anxious
that such bodies be organized in each
OF the seacoast states; congress has
teen fairly liberal in making appropria-
tions therefore. and win doubtless dis
rlay still more liberality In the future.
There are vessels now available in the
navy which the department would be
more than willing to assign to the state
for use of a naval militia IL such force
shouid be organized; and It Is always
glad to detail an officer or Officers 20
act as instructors, during any season
when II Is possible to assemble tire
whole command. II Is the practice. In
most Of the states. 10 take the whole
available body OF the naval militia on
practice cruises In vessels of the regular
navy, assigning them to duty with the
members of the regular crew. and thus
famiiiarizing them with the actual al
ties Of man-of-war's man.
Puget sound 10 an ideal place for the
practice drills. and the summer cruises
~ body OF nsvli militia: and such a
cruise could take the place OF the regu-
AR annual outing which most OF
tie young men OF this country are
In the habit OF taking There
v ould be all the advantages
and not SO many hardships as
accompany the cruises which the
yachtsmen Of the cities OF the Sound
make every summer In addition 10
this. the young men OF the city wopli
qualify themselves for the grave duty
which they VIII gladly take upon them
selves should the occasion arise.
IL Is true that in the absence az Legs
iatlve authorization there can be no Eff
tectise organization Of naval militia:
hat n volunteer bodies are organized.
oFffeered and drilled with equipment now
available they can make such an APP
peal 10 the legislature as win render
certain the necessary Legislation There
Is no legislative opposition to the naval
militia the absence Of statutory aa-
thorsSatlon Is due TO neglect. not M
WI. and tina; neglect can be remediai
u the coming session.
in the meantime, there still exists the
nucleus Of the last organization whish
was effected at the time 81 the war
with Spain, bat which came TO nothing
because 1t could secure no official recos-
rit'on. Would It not be well 10 attempt
TO revive st. and have the organization
ia shape to take advantage Of the leg
isiation which can be secured. IL an
effort is made and Of the present pro-
visions Of the federal ststu;esg The
reproach that Seattle, which aspire& 20
stand among the first commercial clt!ss