Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-19
General Board of Officers Au.
thorized by Congress Con-
venes in This City.
PAYS VISIT OF COURTESY
TO SECRETARY DANIELS
Object Is to Increase Efficiency Of
Organizations as Second Line
Of Country's Defense.

Looking to increasing the efficiency
of the naval militia of the United
States as a second line of defense for
the navy, the naval militia general
board. appointed under the naval mi
litia act of last February. met at the
Navy Department this morning. Be-
fore converting the members of the
board and several officers of the naval
militia who are not members of the
board called upon Secretary Daniels of
the navy to pay their respects and to
receive any instructions of commune
cations which he had for them. They
were introduced to the Secretary by
Commander Frederic B. Bassett, jr..
U. S. N, in charge of the naval militia
division Of the Navy Department.
Secretary Daniels told the members
of the board that he would be pleased
to receive from them any recommended
tons developed as a result of their
deliberations here during the week
which would increase the efficiency of
the naval militia. He particularly told
them to go at length into the question
of sending the naval militia of the
country through the Panama canal to
San Francisco when that waterway Is
formally opened by the passage of the
international warshfp feet through it.
He requested them to figure out the
cost per man. and the effect the cruise
would have on the ef1clency OF tne
naval militia to determine whether the
results which would be obtained would
Members Of the Board.
The naval militia board is composed
of Capt. E. A. Evers, commanding the
naval militia of Chicago. who is also
81; a.,in
ton of the United States; Capt c. ID.
Bradham. commanding the North Caro-
lima naval militia; Commander r. r:
ForsheW of the New York naval
militia; Commander J. NJ. Nicholson.
retired. naval militia of Pennsylvania.
former commander of that organiza-
ton, and Lieut.. J. 7. Mcmillan of the
naval militia of California, with head
quarters at San Francisco. Other Of
f1cers present were: Commander Guy
A. Eaton, commanding the naval militia
of Minnesota: Commander A. b Frye OF
the naval militia of New York and
Lieut.. Commander c. L. Poor. also OK
New York.
The military general board, as stated.
was provided for by the act of last
February, and corresponds to some ex-
tent to the general board of the navy
in directing the naval efficiency and
naval plans. It is likely the board at
suggestions for improving the naval
militia of the country. 1t is the first
meeting Of the board since 1t was ap-
pointed by Secretary Daniels several
months ago.
Among the questions which will have
to be considered will be that Of exami-
nations of naval militia officers.
The board is required to formulate q
standard of examinations to be taken
by officers of the naval militia which
would determine their fitness to be i'm
mediately ushered into the regular
naval service. without further exam
nation. in time of an international
emergency. The naval militia officers
are given three years from the passage
OF the act to take these examinations,
and unless they do pass they cannot
participate in the federal distribution
Of funds on the account OF the naval
militia.
Vessels for Practice Work.
Another matter which probably will
receive consideration at the hands of
the naval militia board will be the
question of vessels for practice work
of the naval militia. The navy is using
practically every vessel it has except
a few obsolete converted yachts
which have been turned over to the ma
val militia for practice purposes. The
navy is very short of small vessels of
the gunboat type. and is compelled to
use every one of them in South and
Central American police work; thus
there are no vessels of this type. con-
sidered the best for naval militia train
ing, to turn over to the reserve forces.
1t has been the idea of the Navy De-
partment that if Congress would pro-
vide funds for the construction of
number of small gunboats for the Pan
American work, quite few of the
older gunboats would be released for
use of the naval militia. There are
others who would have Congress pro-
vide a special type for the naval mill
tia. built along gunboat lines. but with
wooden hulls sheathed in copper-these
to be turned over to the naval militia
The whole question like
ly will receive much consideration OF
the board, which will be in session
here during the entire week.