The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-12-01
Maine Reserves Made An Excellent
Showing.
he Recommends a Ma
tional Reserve.
In Addition to the State Organ
izati0ns.

washington, November 3O--Lieutenant-
Commander W. n. southerIanu, the ON
Ger in charge Of the Naval militia. has
made report TO the navy department
upon the operations OF that organization
during the past year.
Twenty states are shown to have an or
ganized naval militia comprising In all
6s7 officers and $500 petty officers and en-
listed men. The appropriation act all.
iotted the sum Of $50, QUO for the militia
of which 1000 had been distributed
among the twenty state organizations on
January !, last. The navy department
cruises OF the militia, the Prairie on the
Atlantic coast and the Michigan on the
great lakes. Through lack OF facilities
vessel for the Pacific seaboard was not
assigned. Contin gents from Louisiana,
Georgia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
Connneotiout, Rhode Island and Maine,
took short cruises Of about weeks dura-
tion on the Prairie and the organizations
OF Ohio, Michian and Illinois made prac-
tice trips on the lakes aboard the Michi-
gan. These cruises developed q deal OF
ere:gy, ability and zeal amo G the OFF,
GERS and a like efficiency together with a
high state OF discipline among the en-
listed men.
Lieutenan Commands Southerland
sets forth an array Of facts TO make obvi-
GUS the absolute necessity OF naval re-
serve In addition to the present. militia
organizations calling particular attention
to the fact that this proposed innovation
is not suggested with any view whatever
OF dispIacing the present naval militia.
L he general government OF the United
states, says Commander Switzerland has
no direct control whatever over these
naval militia bodiee. They are state
bodies, organized under state laws and
thus in any event no member Is uncer
obligation to answer the call Of the Presi-
dent for any naval service. 1t is pointed
out that our opponent In a possible war
OF the future may pe thoroughly
equipped, first rate naval power, and
therefore 1t is desirable that the navy de-
partinent should secure some sort OF re-
served force organized under the federal
law and dire fly controlled by the navy
department ready at q moments notice
TO reinforce the regular lighting strength
OF the navy. The status or the naval re-
serve officer would he well defined. He
would hold commission In the navy,
signed by the President and his name
would be borne on the navy register. The
primary, in fact the sole object Of the
a
would be the manning Of the nset; the
overflow which would form the second
reserve could be utilized by the navy de-
partment on many kinds OF duty.
Following is the part of his report re-
lating to Maine:
Three officers, IL petty officers and 81
enlisted men took advantage OF the de-
partment's offer OF seven days cruise
on the Prairie. OF this number IL petty
officers and 25 enlisted men had seen
previous service at sea.
The professional ability OF the enlisted
force Ia good. The general physique ID
very good. The discipline Is good. The
marks assigned to the various drills are;
signals, good; pistols. o; infantry tao
tics. good; sword exercise. very good;
setting up exercise. good; great guns,
fair; navigation, good.
Captain q. II. Stockton, president OF
the naval war college, has submitted to
the navy department his annual report OF
the work Of that body during the year
ended October 80 last. Various problems
were dealt. with, including naval tactics,
naval reserve and war preparation of the
personnel. the question OF tine type Of
ship best suited for the navy. the prepar-
alton OF war CHARTS and other matters.