The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-03-17
Hancock Department
CAMP Align FOR
NEW MEMBERS
SPECIAL EFFORT BEING MADE
TO REVIVE THE HANCOCK
NAVAL RESERVE Asso.
CATION.

Interest In the work of the Hancock
division of the Naval Reserves is be-
ing awakened by a campaign for men,
bers for the Civic association that has
been inaugurated. The Civic associa-
ton was formed shortly after the es-
tablishing of the local division for the
purpose of relieving the naval mill
tiamen of the burden of financial re-
sponsibility, and large number of
business men became honorary MEM
bers, through the payment of a mem
bership fee of ten dollars per annum.
For the past two years the interest of
the civic association has been allowed
to anguish, with the result that the
officers and enlisted men had to
shoulder the responsibility for raising
money for needed improvements to the
armory, the funds for the recently add
ed lockers, rifle racks, chairs and furn-
ishings being raised through private
subscription. The work of erecting the
new fixtures, painting, and other de-
tails was done by the enlisted men and
officers without remuneration.
The fact that Hancock has the best
! naval reserve division in the state
one that has received the praises and
concentrations of United States naval
inspecting officers and of the officers
of the various ships of the twentieth
squadron or great lakes naval reserve
fleet, has frequently been brought to
the attention of the public, but finan-
cial support has been slow in material
izing. Recently movement was start
ed, however, to revive the civic asso-
citation and campaign for members
founded. Business. men who have
been called upon have admitted the
advantages accruing to the city's pres
tige as the result of the city having
an efficient and enthusiastic naval re-
serve division, and are responding lib
orally to requests that they join the
association, with bright prospects of
a lively awakening of interest in the
corps of citizen sailors stationed here.
In the u. S. S. Yantic the division
has a ship equal to that possessed by
any naval reserve division or battal-
ion on the Great Lakes. and its summer
cruises have made this city known In
every city on the lakes from Duluth
to Buffalo. The local officers have
been faithful and painstaking in in
structing the enlisted men in seaman
ship and maritime duties, devoting
much time and patience without COM
pensation from the state. Not only are
the officers obliged TO attend the regu-
lar drills. on Monday night of each
week, but often put I'm three nights
out of seven in attending to business
matters of the division and promoting
the social interests of the enlisted
men. The division has a membership
at present of about sixtyfive, and is
composed of earnest young men of
Hancock and Houghton, who show an
eagerness to learn the duties of sea-
manship and who never fail when on
the annual cruises to do credit to
themselves, their officers, their ship
and their home port. These facts are
recognized by all the more public
spirited business men of the COM
munity and now that their attention
and interest is being actively sought
they may be depended upon, it is as
sumed, to do their share financially to-
wards making the division more sue
cessful and efficient.
It was announced this week that
word had been received that Captain
Fred Standish, commander of the
Michigan Naval Brigade, would visit
Hancock early this spring for an in
spection of the division and the train
ing ship Yantic.