The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-05
The Naval Reserves.

Those who give any heed to our national
sources of millfary-naval augmentation to
meet the emergency of war recognize the
need OF a reserve force upon which the
navy may rely and may draw for its
Increase as one kindred TO the organized
militia, which is to be the ally and
the means of reinforcing the regular
army Very little is heard Of the naval
militia, and not much has hitherto been
done by the Navy Department toward
the development OF that branch of the
National Guard. We are told that It Is
made up OF intelligent, jealous. and
patriotic men, and there is no reason 70
doubt this official estimate of the In
tegrity of purpose and personal char
acteristics of the naval ml:tiamen. The
official comments. In other respects, are
interesting and important as showing 70
what little extent the naval militia under
existing conditions promises to meet the
needs OF the situation-not, it should be
added, through any fault OF the organiza-
ton
The report which has recently been
made by Commander c. c. Marsh, of the
navy, on the general subject of naval
militia operations exposes an amiaole
fiction which has evidently been lulling
the American public into a false sense of
security. One OF the pleasant traditions,
for instance, has been the faith with
which the merchant marine has been re-
garded as a source OF recruits for the
navy in time OF war. And it has been
stated repeatedly that $4,000 American
sailors will come down from the Great
Lakes" In the first place, it viii have
to be shown that the men who man
the lake vessels are, In reality. Ameri-
cans. and, then, that they are sailors.
Commander Marsh. who ought to be in
a position TO know, raises the question
and he points out. further, that we must
not overlook the fact that the needs for
the navy In the next war win be imme-
date, and that II the recruiting extend
Dfff toAS44Ei dtAt priAuu VI NittAts II
may be fatal All of which points 70 the
urgent necessity Of reserve" upon
which thesregular ESTABLISHMENT may de-
pend wltho0s. being CALLED upon In time
of war to train Eot of inexperienced
boys in the dutiesss board naval YES
sci Such situati@h 1Sust prove seri-
Gus handicap in the PresehSe of an enemy,
or in the period Of Is unknAWn. and per-
haps unknowable. approach
The navy in timk of war nay most
satisfactorily and effectively be recruited
from the naval militia, provided the or
ganization under that title avail itself
of the opportunity for drilling and general
training for which ene Navy Department
attempts TO make ample provision every
year. and which this year contempIates
the mobilization of 6. 400 naval militiamen
on battle ships OF the Atlantic feet under
the best possible auspices of association
and practical experience. The only other
source Of reliable supply is from the class
OF discharged enlisted men of the navy, Of
whom there are many, especially in view
Of the fact that a discouragingly small
percentage OF men re-snhst ana become
what is known as Continuous service
men. But even these men must keep
themselves In trim. and do so. presumably,
by joining the naval militia.
It really looks as if the navy would
have a hard time in getting experienced
recruits. or recruits with even small
amount of experience. for the regular es-
Enlistment IN time of war-and this de
spite the energetic and enterprising efforts
which have been made by the Federal au-
thorites 10 encourage capable sources of
recruitment upon which there might be
dependence