The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-10-16
WILL ORGANIZE
NAVAL RESERVES
Bill Will Be Presented at the
January Session of the State
Legislature.
TO BE PART OF THE MILITIA.
Body Would Be Available in
Times of Flood-Provision
for Battalion of 800 Men
Will Be Asked.

Missouri will have a battalion of Naval
Reserves soon. A bill providing for such
an organization to be presented before the
Legislature at the session which meets
early in January. 1906. is passed.
II measure provides for a Naval Re
serve of four divisions OF not less than
forty nor more than eighty men each, TO
be a part OF the National Guard OF Mis-
souri, and subject to duty as such. either
as infantry or artillery on land or as sea-
men afoat- The drill prescribed will in
clude infantry. light artillery and sea-
manship. n the reserves will be subject
to call for duty in any of these branches.
twenty-five Of the States already have
organizations OF this kind and all of the
seacoast States are included Illinois has
an organization OF more than 800 men.
with river divisions at Quincy and Alton.
The United States Government, by a
special appropriation. provides for these
organizations and last year $50. G0 was set
aside for this branch of the State mill
tary complement The Navy Department
has been authorized by Congress-. by an
act passed in 1894. to loan to regular or
CARNATIONS Of Naval Reserves, q training
ship.
These ships are taken from the auxiliary
pdlllcSuipS GlQ tlQ-SIyI6 CRUISERS, WHICH
are unfit for actual service, but can be
used to advantage as training ships. Their
are intact and thirty-five of
them are now distributed among the vari-
ous States for this purpose
AVAILABLE IN FLOODS.
Besides its utility as infantry In such
instances as strikes. mob violence and dis
order. a naval reserve would be of the
utmost service in case Of floods such a
hRdu NJ M <vatra5 H. ,aa-a-nLE- .-l
the use of boats. would be effective in pa
trolling and guarding the levees. in the
saving OF life, and for the protection OF
property.
There are in this city to-day many ex-
perienced navy and marine officers. grad
yates of Annapolis, and discharged sail
ors. whose services could easily be Sc
cured At present there is a Naval Re
servo in st. Louis. supported by private in
~dividuais. and comprising a body of fifty
men, under the command OF Lieutenant
w. 81 Roberts.
Mr.. Roberts has been untiring in his
Efforts to secure to the State Of Missouri
a military organization which will en-
brace all OF these features, and he stated
yesterday that he had the assurance Of
several prominent men. whose names for
the present he wished not to divulge, who
give the movement the heartiest support.
He said, I'VE have the energy and de-
termination to make g. success Of this
matter, and We feel that. We are entitled
TO the ful recognition support of the
people OF our city and Of hes State Of Ms
souri,. for the benefit We may be at any
time in the protection Of life and prop
erty In the State"
The officers Of the organization are to
consist OF q Commander. with the rank Of
Colonel in the land forces: Lieutenant
Commanders, to rank as Majors; Lieuten-
ants. as Captains; Lieutenant, Junior
grade. as First Lieutenant, and Ensigns, to
rank as Second Leutenants.
Tx divisions are to consist Of three line
bodies. and one engineer body. The bat
talon Will consist Of 800 men.