Milford chronicle., 1915-07-23
UNITED STATES
NAVAL RESERVES

HStess created law Whicl
O mas more farreaching effects ol
the efficiency of the navy thai
any legislation enacted within th,
memory of any one who may chanc,
to re d these lines.
By this is meant the clause in tb,
Naval Appropriation Bill creating {
naval reserve and making provision
Tor the qualification of its members.
1t has been customary or the people
OF our country to measure the strength
OF the navy by the number of Dread
noughts, destroyers, submarines and
other fighting craft. They either take
for granted that the most necessary
part Of the navy-a traineu personnel
already exists or that it will be forth.
coming from somewhere when the
alarm of war is sounded.
Trained Men Necessary.
1t is true now as ever in the history
of this country that there would be no
lack o. patriotic men to respond TO a
call in defense of its institutions. but
without training in di ipline and with
cut previous experience with and an
intimate and accurate knowledge Of
the mechanical appliances so essential
in the operation of the guns, the tor
pedoes and the mines, as well as the
motive machinery of the modern war
ship, they would simply be offering
themselves as a sacrifice upon the al
tar of the cOuntry's honor.
For many years the navy has been
graduating into civil life annually from
5000 to 1000 well trained and well dis
ciplined men-men experienced in ev-
cry mechanical art made use Of in the
modern man-of-war. This is no doubt
a valuable contribution that the navy
makes to the economic development Of
the country. At the same time these
men represent a great potential value
for the nations defense If properly re-
claimed and organized. They are scat
tered throughout the length and breadth
Of the land. Many of them are follow
ing the same trades they learned in
the navy, and it may well be said that
there is no mechanical art applicable
to civil pursuits that may not be learn
ed on modern man-Of-war.
A Twofold Purpose.
1t was for the purpose of making
these men an asset in the nations de- |
fense account that the Navy Depart /
ment proposed and Congress passed !
the bill creating a naval reserve. The /
operation of the law is twOfold in its
benefits to the navy and the country. |
By offering substantial inducements
FOR reclaiming into organizations these
well trained men who have
already left the navy to engage in civil
pursuits. as well as those who will do
so in futuTe. the law automatically Op-
,rates to encourage these same men to
'etur to the regular service and those
yho are still in the service to remain
or longer periods.
This is accomplished by basing the
,ay of the reserves on a sliding scale
Increasing with length of service in the
lavy.
In additi II. the Iew places a sub
tantial value upon honorable, efficient
nd faithful service. for no one unless
ntitled to honorable discharge upon the
OmplehOn of a period Of enlistment
an partake of its benefits.
Under the operation of the law a
nan with an honorable record has the
ption of remaining in the regular serv-
,e or of entering the reserve at stated
His Only Duty.
While in the reserve he is free to en- t
age in any occupation and live where I
e chooses within the United States. (
-e only Obligates himself to be amena- G
e to the navy regulations and re- T
pond to a call for active service in v
me of war While active service in a
me of peace is entirely voluntary on L
le part of the members of the reserve, q
e government encourages them to r
,rform a limited amount by making 6
70 months of such service a requisite n
r re-enlistment for a subsequent four /,
ar period l. the reserve. This re- o
lirement is made in order that the n
serves may keep in touch with the Il
tiles Of the regular service. They Fl
az select any time to perform this ii
luntary service that will suit their II
nvenience and while so engaged will II
ceive the full pay Of their rating in o,
dition to their pay in the reserve as N
III as travelling expenses and sub nj
tence to and from home. o,
A Reservist's Compensation.
The compensation given members Of b,
: reserve is, for those who go in the ly
icrve within four months after leav- ii
|. the regular service-S30 a year for it
N who have had four years expert O
,e. $50 a year for those who have OF
1 eight and 500 a year for those OF DC
elve years experience. All that Is tn
,essary for a member of the re- In
,o 20 do IN order TO Obtain this pay -