Middletown transcript., 1915-09-11
BIG MOVE FOR
NATIONAL DEFENSE
Navy Proposes Reserve Of
$4,000 Men.
CHANCE FOR AMATEURS
Asks Garrison and Daniels To Out
line Definite Programs To Pre-
pare For Congressional
Action.

Neutrality-suspicious. for the organiza-
tion of national naval reserve of 5O,-
900 officers and men, upon which the
navy can draw for help in an hour of
need, were announced at the Navy De-
partment.
The plan involves the organization
Of the retired officers and former en-
listed men Of the navy SO that they
may be ready for service in an emerg-
ency; the organization of and training
OF the Coast Guard for naval service,
and the training of volunteer civilians
whose work acquaints them with the
handling of boats.
The Navy Departments statement
on the plan is as follows:
I'm addition to the regular navy and
state naval militias, the plan of organ
ization contemplates a national naval
reserve to be constituted as follows
Retired officers and Former En-
listed Men of the Navy-The organiEa-
tion of retired officers already exists,
and step toward securing a reserve
of former enlisted men was taken last
spring by Congress. While the results
of this legislation have not been large
during the two months it has been in
effect, ITO men having been enrolled up
to September 1, 1915, it is believed that
an increasing number of men, whose
enlistments expire, will take advantage
of the opportunity offered; and it is al
ready having the effect of increasing
the number Of re-enlistments.
"Other Branches of the Federal and
State Governments-This means the
coordination of the Coast Guard; that
is, the revenue cutter and life-saving
services; the lighthouse service, the
coast survey, the State Nautical Train
ing Schools, the harbor police, in such
manner as to At readily into the naval
service at short notice. Little legisla-
tion is necessary to accomplish this,
and the organization of this work is
already under way.
Volunteer Civilians-It is believed
that the reserve of personnel should
total $4,000 officers and men. What is
particularly desired is not merely
numbers, but individuals who will be
capable of doing the highly specialized
service which exists in modern navies.
For instance, in war time the navy
would need the services of possibly
1000 additional radio operators; it
would require local pilots for inside
waters, help men, gunners, gasoline
motor experts, signalmen, besides, of
course, frst-class seamen. The depart
ment has had many letters asking
whether an opportunity could be given
to individuals to take courses of train
ing in these specialties. If the general
plan is approved it is hoped that next
summer courses of instructions can be
started, using reserves or other avail
able ships, and giving to these who de-
sire three or four weeks of training
SO that they could become of some
definite use if called upon.
ANY amateur radio operator, any
yachtsman or motorboat enthusiast;
in fact, any citizen with intelligence
and application could learn how to fit
into some place where he might be
needed. Possibly some form Of certi-
icates could be given at the close OF
instruction, showing exactly what serv-
ices the individual is capable of per-
forming, the holder to be under no fur
tner obligation than to keep the Navy
Department at stated periods informed
of his address,"