Evening star., 1915-03-07

while the military idea has prevail
ed to an extent in both old services. it
becomes more pronounced in the new.
for it is realized that promptneSS of
action and efficiency in emergencies
can best he secured under military dis
ipline. The fact is to be emphasized
that the coast guard is essentially
military in its organization and dlsci-
cIpllnt.. 1t is the only military orga MIA
tion ever formed by any government
purely for huma nitarian purposes.
The new service is the beginning of
a potent naval reserve to be used in
the national defense should the oc-
caSlon ever arise. The old revenue
cutter service. always "rganized on a
military basis. contains thirty-siN
cruising vessels and nineteen smaller
vessels, patrolling all the coasts of the
United States. from Maine to Florida,
the gulf. the entire west coast in
cluding Alaska. and Porto Rico and
Hawaii. The personnel is made up of
1900 officers and men. Officers for the
service are trained ut the revenue cut
ter academy at New London. Corn.
The old life saving service consists of
go stations on the Atlantic, gulf and
Pacific coasts and Oh the great lakes, the
most northerly station being at Nome,
Alaska. The personnel contains 2,2o0
officers and men.
THE combination of these two gives Il
naval reserve Of 400, of whom 80 are
highly trained officers. In time of war,
drilled, trained and instructed in military
duties. the entire force would be of great
value to the country.
1.-The life-saving stations now form
line of communication all along the
coasts On the Atlantic, in that region
irip
three to six miles apart, and are connect
ed bv telephone. Their military value can
readily be appreciated. The force al
these stations, as the need ARISES couiu
be expanded with ease.
.In the reorganization of the service the
coast line is separated into divisions, each
division in command OF an ofilcef. Edch
division. in turn, is subdivided into dis
tricts, with a superintendent In charge Oh
all the coast guard stations in his dis
trict while the division commander Is re-
snonsible for the efficiency of all coast
guard cutters in his DIVISION Pafentheu-
cally. | may state that hereafter the yes
sells are to be known as coast guard cut
terS and the ola Ile-sdNihs St"'toiiS tlS
coast guard stations.
Zach cutter reports ITS position each
day to the division commander or head
aua rters and as the coast guard stations
are connected by telephone and all cutters
arr. equipped with radio apparatus. com
munication with all parts of the orgaui-
cation is rapid and complete. This in
sures remarkable mobility in operation.
For the present it is probable that We
will maintain only four divisions. two on
each coast.
NO radical changes are contemplated
since the past organization of the two
services, both under the Secretary Of the
treasury, lend themselves to easy ANAL
eamation.
NEARLY every existing coast guard sta
ton is equipped with a motor-driven surf
boat and wherever the station is situated
on an inlet it has strong. able, thirty
six-foot power boat. self fbailing and self
rghting. These, being found at intervals
ali along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts,
can be used for enforcing the motor boat
laws and regulations, for which duty they
heretofore have not been available.
Right now a committee is working out
all the details of the reorganization. 1t
consists Of Capt u. T.. Foley. District