Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-03-09
Interesting Matter Relative 10
This Branch Of Service.
State Assessors Commit Insurance
Taxes TO Treasurer.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Next Meeting Of Governor and Council
Wednesday, March 80, at 10 A. M.

ing of the Naval Reserve, permits an
increase in the Ships Company Naval
Reserve from two divisions to seen
and there are already on file two petit
lions asking for the organization OF
an additional division. One comes
from Portland, where the present divi-
sion is located, and the other from
Rockland, where there has been no
military or naval rganiZation since
the disarmament of Co. RI. First In
fantry, in 1908.
lowing TO the resignation of Lieut.
Heseltine the Reserve is now without
a commanding officer but Lieut.. CT.
ca Guy NJ. Weymouth of Portland has
been elected commanding afficer and
APPEARED before the board OF eXami-
nation at Portland Tuesday. and in the
event Of his passing the examination
the question of organizing additional
divisions will he given further con-
J. eideration."
Continuing. Gen. Dill said:
"Thea annual report of Commander
C. c. Marsh of the United States Navy
I on the operations Of the Naval Militia
for the years 1903 and 1903, which is
strongly in favor of the organization,
contains the following recommends
tons as to legislation"
There is imperative necessity for ac-
ton by Congress. The one great need
is that law Of Congress should make
OF the intelligent, Jealous, patriotic
body now known as the Naval Militia
4 and organized National Guard, similar
Il in its relations to the national gov
eminent to that now occupied by their
h brothers in the Land Militia.
go A review of the results accomplished
by the War Department in one year
with the Land Militia since the pas
Il sage Of the bill known generally as
\ the Dick bill, forces the conclusion
that no greater benefit could be con-
( ferred on the navy, the Naval Mill
tia and the country than by adapting
the main features of the Dick bill to
the Naval Militia.
There is appended the rough draft
of bill prepared by the general board
of the Naval Militia. This general
board was appointed by the National
Naval Militia Association at it's annu-
al meeting in Washington in Februa-
ry, 1893. II IT meets with the APPROX
al Of the Navy Department there will
be an earnest effort made to secure
its passage by Congress. There have
been so many efforts made to secure
for the navy in time Of war an organ
ICED reserve" that this subject de-
serves great consideration. 1t seems
to nc that the country and the navy
regarding the problems. These are:
Ia That the navy can be recruited
In time of war from the merchant ma
rine, depleted though that be.
:(b) That it should be recruited
from that source.
One hears, for instance, of the 30,
900 American sailors that will come
down from the Great Lakes. Regard
Ing this source. it must be shown that
the men who man the Lake vessels
are American, and, second, that they
IRE sailors. 1t is very questionable
whether either of those assumptions
: Is correct. In any case it must be
clearly kept in mind that the needs for
the navy in the next war will be i'm
mediate If the recruiting must ex-
tend over a considerable period Of
= time, il may be fatal. The need is n
"reservc" that is available immediate
".
Then there is the important point as
tonwhether the requirements of the
by the merchant sailor The records
of the Bureau of Navigation, target
practice division, show that the Won
derlu shooting in the navy is done ny
very young men. the average age of
the gun pointers being about 81 years.
and that these gun pointers are train
ed from recruits i'm some few weeks.
Basing conclusions then on these facts
instead of on the hoary tradition that
our salvation lies in the merchant
marine man. we see in the Naval Mill
tia, properly developed along intelli-
gent and systematic lines. that re
serve" the navy so much needs.
(c) There is one other source or
supply. the value of which cannot be
overestimated. That is the discharged
man-of- wars man. But to get from
him the maximum benefit he too must
he enrolled in a reserve" provisions
Tor which must be made in the act of
Congress organizing an Organized Ma
tional Guard, Naval Militia Branch.
The problem is. then, to develop the
force that lies available in the present
naval militia organization. 1t is little
appreciated either in the navy or the
country. These organizations are pro-
Vided with naval vessels; their ar
mories are being equipped with appar-
atus for training: they have made
many cruises in vessels of the navy or
several classes, eliminating this sum-
mer Q909) in a cruise with the bat
tie ships OF the Atlantic Fleet. 1t is
impossible to read the reports of the
commanding officers of the battle
ships on which the Naval Militia were
embarked without realizing the value
or the force. There is no difference OF
opinion as to the intelligence, zeal, and
enthusiasm of the officers and men of
the Naval Militia. That they were
unfamiliar with the life and mechan-
ism OF modern battle ship goes with
out saying. as it was their first trip on
such type. These important facts
stand out in connection with the Ma
val Militia. They were all well illus
trated in the cruise on the battle ships
this summer.
: l. The Naval Militia arrives on
BOARD ship fully equipped as to cloth
Ing. bag. hammock otC