New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-24
NAVAL MHuT|A'S NIGHT
First Battalion Celebrates Its
Twentieth Anniversary.
DIX PRAISES COMMODORE
Organization Has Had Only One,
Jacob w. Miller, Who
Retires To day.

keCfreS 1O-Udy'
The Ist Battalion Naval Reserve RI'"-
lerv. S ~ Y, was mustered In as con-
stituent part of the armed forces OF inc
state Of New York on June %. 1891. ana
leading the list Of commissioned ofhccrS
was tic name Of Jacob w. Miller com
mander. Sine then the battalion has had
only one commander and Jacob w. Miller
is his name.
SO when this twentieth anniversary was
celebrated at the Hotel Astor by six hun
dred and hfty or more of New Yorks ciu-
zen sailors. last night. there was occasion
for the display of real sentiment-and u
was displayed. Commodore Miller an
nounced that he would retire from his long
service TO-DAY In accordance with section
~ Of the Military Code. II was also an
nounccd that the Arnnorv Board had passed
Yesterday a resolution to present TO the Isl
Battalion. y. ". y. Y. plot of GROUND
go nv 400 feet in West 9th street, on when
to build an armory.
Governor Dix was unable 70 be present
and his speech Of appreciation for what
Commodore Miller had accomplished Was
read by Lieutenant Commander EcKloru
c. DeKay. the Governors military secre-
tarv. The Governors speech. as delivered
by his secretary. was in part as follows;
In YOUR retirement from the naval militia
Of the State OF New York | am mnch IN
pressed by your generous act IN requeStI.Ss
OF taking the title Of rear admiral, ~
which YOU are entitled. Your depdrluIS
from the service you have long edorn 1so
leaves n vacancy difficult 10 MI LOT .io
IT.
personal element In creating Tor TINS s'dec
a naval militia which has become an eA-
ample and 4 model to the entire nauoh.
fully appreciate the motives which com
mel vou 10 relinnuish the position YOU have
iUed with so much distinction and honor
both To yourself and the state. 1el II -
with deep regret and reluctance thot, as
Governor I accept as sufficient the per
sonal reasons you urge for your retirement
from the public service. For the NAM
wears of unselfSh devotion 10 the task 81
establishing efficiency in the naval pran ii,a
OF he state militia YOU ere entitled 10 me
highest praise BY your able ana untnln5
laborv YOU have erected an eVerasuhe
monument TO the cause you maze Noul'
own, and J know the legion OF irlenos you ,,
have made will Join me in wishing You
long enjoyment of the happiness Whlch
comes from the contemplation OF service
well performed 70 your state ana 10 yo"i
nation . .
To you. Commodore Miller. l wish to
speak a word of personal praise. 10
great patriotic purpose You nave gwen
OF your personality in generous anu
large way Your enthusiasm and deVouon
have been an inspiration. and nave founn
fruition in the Organization of ne most
efficient and most useful naval mlHua Inat
exists In any state or the Cn'on. Nou
have been master OF noble ship, We'll
differed and well manned You nave
guided that ship over the shoals Of criti-
cisrn and brought II safely through me
narroWs OF discouragemept and past the
,,I,p 90 Ifc., ND a
secure anchorage in the haroor OF pubic
approval. May the evening OF your NE Dc
ennObled and enriched with the golden SLOW
Of that serene happiness which is he rich
est and highest compensation Of unseliish
service and public duty well performed.
know that as long as life lasts you will
hold a warm place in the affections OF your
friends and comrades who tonight honor
themselves by honoring you.
Commodore Miller replied amid much en-
thusasm He said:
Would that time permitted to tell the
people of New York the story. which you
crisis Of March, 1898 You had been told
what your duties were to be. and to only
| small extent was the government pro-
gramme carried out. You were asked to
| leave your homes and business as indi-
viduals; the Organization was not recog-
nized. There was no hesitation. no cavil-
ling. Within twenty-four hours you were
ready for the arduous duties on board the
Yankee the Nahant and the Jason. Your
historian has told the record IN action
and in the less exciting routine work OF
the Spanish war. At it's close you
returned to your business as civilians amid
the plaudits of your countrymen. with
written and spoken praise from the Presi-
dent of the United States and with the re-
spect Of the regular maya respect due
10 that cementing comradeship which
comes only TO those who have faced foc
wind and weather together.
.ls... - 10
will. / am sure. maintain the standard Of
an unspotted history. Although our num-
hors may not be large. your action at
critical time In the navy's development was
great. In the final analysis. even If the
republics be Ungrateful, men ard nations
are measured by their ideals.
Others NJ the guest table were william
+. Wait. ir.. Major David Wilson. Lieu
tenant Commander V. a. Kimberly. Will
tam j. Barney Commander r.. 7. FOrshew,
William C.. Muschenhelm. Colonel +. H..
Norton, w b. Franklin, Colonel Il. +.
Austin. Colonel William Morris. ". H.
Stayton. Colonel W. G. Bates. Colonel j.
\ Hull Commander r. Raynor. BeelIlan
Winthrop. IT, T.. Satterlee. Lieutenant
Commander w. L. Cronan, Brigadier Gen
cral William Verbeck W. Butler Duncan,
ir. Colonel Walter r. Hotchkin, Colonel 6.
q. Davis. Colonel Lewis ID. Coale}, Lieu
tenant Commander Il. l.. Sawyer. Major @.
T. Bridgman. Lieutenant commander L.
Y Walbridse, Captain John T. Organ and
Henry i. Montgomery.
The grand ballroom vas established as a
base Of supplies At $50 p. IN. the sturdy
mariners opened fire all along tho lire and
| shelled clans They did not lie at anchor
| all evening. \ scouting squadron attached
10 LIST company. under orders from their
! sell master lot off whoop and started 10
reconnoilrc tic ehemy They did not long
leave their base OF supplies. The 4th Com
pany and other companies stood on chairs
| aud hurled ~ lst Company their class
wells While these attacks took place the
remainder concentrated and closed IN on
/ tho Swiss cheese and cafe noir. At 10 p. III.
many we're picked M by Searchlight off
tho good ship Waterv , Don.
Put one can be twenty only once. said
= gray haired veteran. II VAS splendid
cruise.