New-York tribune., 1902-09-14
WORK OF NAVAL RESERVE
VIEW. JERSEY MEN WILL HA We
TARGET PRACTICE THIS
WEEK IT SEA GIRT.
WHAT THE FIRST BATTALION HAS AC-
roNPuSHED on THE OLD SAIL
ING WARSHIP PORTSMOUTH
NEED OF THE FORCE.

still tanned by the and wind and rain of their
o--rglt's cruise last month. the New-Jersey Naval
reserve VIII enoamp at Sea Girt next Wednesday
,s Thursday for a thorough drill in target prac-
tee
The bovs Of the Naval Reserve believe that the
zs+ -=av 10 put to silence those members Of the
legislature who are advocating the abolition of the
.re arm of the State militia is to show their ex
silence as rnarksmen as well seamen They say
not necessary to point back to their record in
- spanfsh war TO show the utility Of their. or
r,,ation in case OF All they ask is for those
Who criticise them to watch them at Sea Girt this
iu,eek where they intend TO show as high a STAN
GARD as soldiers they did sailors on their re-
cent cruise
II was a sail picturesque it was warlike that
the naval militia made from July IS to August 10
on hoard the old battleship Portsmouth The
cruise along Long Island Sound 10 Newport
and a return voyage over nearly the same route
with stops at jamestown, r. L; Fishers Island
and Herpstead Harbor Long Island The Ports
mouth, which when mOored AT its wharf at Ho-
bokea constitutes the armory of the Naval Re
serve is an old fashioned frisate. which is full
reged and which makes one who sees il think OF
the times of Commodore Perry.
Bu+ II was o.. this sailing vessel that the Naval
7eserve had its cruise. and as Commander Wash
,,gton Irving said on returning: We sailed her,
ans tell you il was as good practice as a seaman
could ask With the full ship rig there an
opportun1y to learn every detail OF sailing such a
vessel"
In answer to those naval experts who say that
:. Is time thrown away 10 learn how to handle an
old fashioned frgate. Commander Irving said:
"A handy seaman is good for any kind of naval
service. II is magnificent apprenticeship"
The Portsmouth has indeed had d career. Built
IN 1873 she was in the battle Of Vera Cruz OF the
MEXICAN War: the Barrier Fort battle. off the coast
of China some years later: the mancuyres of
Admiral Farragut. Al the mouth Of the Mississippi
in the Civil War, and training ship in the late
Spanish War. But perhaps the closest it came TO
annihiIation al the time OF the great Hoboken
fire The vessel VAS moored between the piers OF
the North German Lloyd and the Holiand-America
lines and Rad the wind been from the south the
historic frigate would have been licked up in the
path Of the great confagraton. As il her sides
we're badly blistered and warped.
The CID ship rocks gently at her moorings
sa the rear Of dusty plaster mill. whose machinery
throws up cloud OF fine whiJish powder which
filters into almost every corner Of the vessel II
will be than year. however, before the North
German Lloyd wllarves viii be complete and ii can
lie towed back 20 its ole home between the big
steamship piers TO be gazed at before by thou
sands Of enigrants and longshoremen-
While officers Of the reserve don't care 10 discuss
The real or fanced criticisms Of the organization.
they one and ali stand ready TO defend vaantIy the
value Of the Naval Reserve as necessary adjunct
beth Of the State and the national forces. Re
iply.ng to the charge that the Naval Reserve was
only an expense to the State, Commander Irving.
of the Battalion said yesterday in his quarters
sbosrc the Portsmouth
The national government furnishes the ships and
equipment The State maintains them. Compared
with the land militia. which involves the cost of
srmories. camp grounds, etc, the Naval Reserve
fa- less for II does not need these accessories
'The Naval Reserve has been organized over
xsren years. Il is trained both for land and sea
service as our drill Sea Girt this week will
show. I thus be used ashore infantry, ar
1llery, signal corpE and in other branches OF the
service, which are also performed by the land
forces
Almost all of the eaboard and lakeboaTd States
maintain naval reserves and their utility has been
frequently demonstrated. Their service in the
Spanish war is too well known TO need comment
THE 1sr Battalion of NeW-Jersey transferred 2u5
men from the Portsmouth 10 the Badger furnishing
rhe entire complement for that vessel. both deck
and engine room force. and their service in Cuban
waters was with credit to their State and them
selves.
Officers and men serve without pay except When
ordered out on duty. There are no salaried posi-
lions except those Of the snip keepers who are per
rnsnently employed 10 keep the ship clean and In
good condition. There no sinecuTes ana no
saug berths: the organization IS a practical work
ing fact and has been reported officially many