The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-28
ONE LESSON o
TIE, ATE w AR.

81. by Admiral William T. Sau1ps
The value Of the naval militia move
n:aat in this country was amply a alit:.
onstrated during the late wa r With very
few exceptions the naval. olilcers ID y
gratefully acknowledged the work done
by the State sailors. Not alone e thits
they manned four auxiliary cruisers
whcfh did excellent work in the Z DOCK.
,ade. Of Cuba, but they furnished a secohou l
line of defense about our coast. rom rom
| Florida to Maine the naya! mliittas were.
used for manning harbor-defense 4vesssis
patrol boats and signal stations, sWniie
their officers, in a number OF cases, looN
the place of regular officers Of tine ma navy
in various shore details, thereby .reieasil
the forces OF the regular navy lor u s1
water service.
There we're no scandals, no co1lHEsia lbes,
no fauIt-tindi1lg, by the men OF inc ilSns.lt i
militia aboutsthe work or. treatment &c
corded tn them. They did their work IN
h,,sir,ess-lihe way, took Their snare !. OF
All tile hardslltps Of the war, sneiiea
eunpowder burned in earnest IN various
eugagem ents Off the coast OF Suoit, ana
returned to their vocfltions Wltnoltt col1-
p,aas1t or murnl,rr about tae harasnlps
Of sailors lie or o!sclPlllle ettey --au
gone through
The war demonstrated one thing. how
ever. For a second lire OF defense the
naval militia are Invaluable, but in the
estimation of naval authorities more
mobile body. is the need of the future
With this object in view movement
Eio,. q National Naval Reserve from
which the naval militia is but an out
growth has been inaugurated. This or
ranization is to consist of reserve OF
ssafaring men, engineers, plots ana
seamen, a vaiabfo upon sudden
| demand They are to be drilled once
every year, and to. receive 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 70
augment. the {personsel Of our fleet. The
trained se:aneIl. the man behind inc
| gun, demonstrated this value in thu
! stpa!p;sh war and if the Government /;
wise it will! seek to keep an auxiliary
! force of men so trained under It's contfo!.
tsearne.l, who have served in the navy.
! and officers as we'll, will be only too glad
| to ngairita'n their connection with the
I service of such an organization.
At /, very small c2s. a strong Naval
| Reserve could be maintained TO man
! the ships laid up in ordinary, as we'll
| as the auxiliary cruisers winch may De
| called into existence IN case of another
war Money spent sucih an orsaIliz1-
! ton would not be wasted, ana the men
who fought at Santiago and Manila
could be retained ready to call, even
though they quit the navy for: a more
| coneeuial life ashore
Tho Naval Reserves need not neces-
sarily be seafaring men: there are many
| positions on board ship which can con
| reniellsIy be filed VIII men W.thous
such experience provided they have
natura! appetite for the sea and are
Wiling. Ii is believed tha.t Naval Re,
zeres should be dTiilel and exercised
| as ships companies.
l,!ley would be equally efficient on
shore when needed. and would s'eaI'y
| augment the naval force when reaulret,
for that r,lrrC:c y greatly Increased
| force snould be available in time OF
| war otherwise we can never man our
! ships. The military service of al. men
| in the seacoast sts,.es should be in the
| navy.