The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-09-24
IL DAILY TELEGRAM
The Naval Reserve
BY Frederic j. Haskin

l8 LIE NAVE
IH By Frederi.
The navy department has Just
completed Its arrangements for the
Development Of reserve Of men who
have had service and upon whom
It may fall back In time OF war.
Within few weeks an active cam
fpaign will be inaugurated which. 1t
Il expected. will result in from D.
600 to 10000 men who have sailed
the seas on American battleships
signing up with the department that
they may be subject to call II the
great emergency should present 1T
self.
Legislation that makes this pos
sible was passed at the last session
OF Congress. For six months now
the man who retires from the navy
has had the opportunity OF joining
the reserves, and receiving q long
line Of benefits. But only a hundred
men have come forward.
Admiral Victor Blue, chief Of the
Bureau Of Navigation Of the Navy. is
IN charge OF the upbuilding Of the
naval reserve, and has recently set
about finding out why it is not
growing more rapidly. With $4,000
eligible former navy men scattered
about the country, and with nearly a
thousand Of them retiring from the
service every month, there must be
some reason for the failure Of the
reserve to develop into handsome
proportions. Admiral Blue has been
looking for that reason. has foundt It,
and fs supplying the remedy.
Asstumbl ng Block.
The law which Congress passed
creating the naval reserve provided
that members Of 1t may In time Of
peace be required to perform a month
OF service each year. The law said
may" and not must" This left
the matter of such service at the
discretion Of the navy department.
When the department sought for
the reason Of the non-enlistment OF
retiring men in the reserve 1t found
that they were averse tostying them
selves up SO they might be required
at any time to leave their civilian
Jobs. and render q period Of service.
That might mean the loss OF their
positions. This stumbling block is
to be remed1ed by a ruling Of the
department. It is soon to announce
that reserves will be called upon
only in time of war.
| OF all those youngsters who have
passed through one or two enlist
lments and have then left the service.
the department has the address OF
lSbut a handful. When they left
their ships they gave addresses to
which mail should be sent, but those
addresses were usually temporary.
When the department wrote them
that Congress had created naval
reserve which offered them regular
stipends Of money. and chance for
active service in case of war, nearly
all Of the letters came back. Uncle
Sam had taken no pains to keep in
touch With his efficient and we'll
trained fighting men.
So the department. sas se. about
It's double task Of correcting the i'm
preston that reserves may be taken
away from their tasks in time Of
peace. and Of finding those who have
left the service. Admiral Blue has
In course of preparation a letter
winch Is to be handed each man
with his honorable discharge. 1t
VIII set forth the many advantages
or becoming a member Of the re-
serves. He Is arranging a publicity
campaign which will seek to ac-
quaint the men already out OF the
service with the adyisability Of
joining the reserves.
Inducements Many.
Inc inducements offered by the
regulations are many, and tho dis
advantages few. In the first place,
there is the regular stipend which
tne member Of the naval reserves
VIII receive from the government,
Ihis varies with the length Of the
time he has served The man who
mas been in the navy for four years
Will, as a member Of the naval re-
serves, receive $50 year. payable
quarterly. II he has had eight
years service, he will receive SEQ
q year. II he has had twelve years
service, he will receive 500 a year.
II he has served sixteen years SER
in the navy. he may retire on half
pay, still being q member Of the naval
reserve. II he has had twenty years
IN the navy, he may retire on two
thirds pay. The advantage Of these
iong-term men is particularly great
for the reason that their navy pay.
after serving this length Of time,
gives all the advantages derived from
continuous service, and will prob
ably amount to something like SIS
or 800 month. 80
To secure these regular payments.
but one thing is necessary on the
part Of the men who have seen SER
vice in the navy and have been honor
ably discharged. they must, IL thew
live in cities where there are naval
stations, report at those stations
stations once in each three months.
sign the pay roll and leave their ad.
! nraG3oQ If sln ~.