Saint Mary's Beacon

Saint Mary's Beacon

A Naval Training Policy Memo.

We are indebted to W. G. Cassard, Chaplain, U. S. N., for a copy of pamphlet entitled 'A Naval Training Policy and System' by Lieut. J. H. Reid, U. S. N. Lieut. Reid's paper received honorable mention at the Naval Institute. The pamphlet is well written and bears evidence of painstaking research and careful thought. Among other things Lieut. Reid says:

If searching the whole Atlantic Coast line from Maine to Florida for a suitable location for a naval training station, it is hard to see how the claims of Chesapeake Bay can be passed over. Or how the several unequalled natural harbors in this great sheet of water can be neglected. With climate allowing out door work well into the winter months and early in the spring; with a fine market country all around; and within easy distance of Washington, Baltimore, Annapolis, and Norfolk, it is hard to imagine any more ideal site for this purpose than several to be found here.

Annapolis has been admitted to be the best place for the Naval Academy, but several better harbors along the shores of this fine bay. Among these the following may be found:

1. The Patuxent River, Md.
2. Yorktown, Va.
3. St. Mary's Md.
4. Some point on Eastern Bay.

These will suffice though others can be found at least equal in situation and far superior in climate to the bleak location of the New England and Lake regions.

Of those named the Patuxent River entrance is, for many reasons, the best. The water is deep and clean, the land is high. The local doctors claim that malaria is a rare disease; it is certainly as healthy as Annapolis.

There are a number of points near the entrance which would be suitable, but for illustration, and on account of its commanding position, Town Point has been selected in the plate.

The harbor has a clear, well lighted entrance with few shoals, is easy of access day or night, and is safe in all weathers, with fine holding ground.

The outer harbor is almost land locked, the inner one quite so, with over 100 feet of water in much of it, and deep water for miles up the river.

The south side of the outer harbor is steep to, and bold cliffs surround the whole, rising 30 to 70 feet with level plains beyond. Just outside the harbor entrance, with 3 or 4 miles the mornings, the west coast of the bay extends for miles north and south clear of shoals.

Here small vessels can safely stand close in toward the beach with 5 miles to run across the bay to the shoals on the other side. Even should she strike, the bottom is sandy, there are no rocks, and little or no damage would probably result while a safe anchorage in almost any weather can be made anywhere in the bay.

No better cruising ground for the sailing auxiliaries could be found, and there is plenty of room for the target practice of the gunnery craft.

A railroad will soon give close connection with Washington and Baltimore; a steamer now makes bi-weekly trips to and from the latter place.

Here is indeed an ideal site; there is no need for further search for the place for another station. We will soon be compelled to build more training stations, here ready to our hands is one of the places. Even while this is being written pneumonia is rioting at Newport, but this is not a surprise to those who know its exposed position, its damp fogs, and piercing winds.

And now, by way of a last word with our 'Monroe Doctrine' to uphold, it becomes day by day more apparent that we must have a great and powerful navy. We know it; the people of this great country realize it at last. Congress shows that it recognizes the fact and to day stands ready to give what is proved to be necessary. Let us lay before them the proposition that while a hundred millions will be required to build even a moderately strong navy, only two or three (the price of half a ship) will build stations and auxiliaries enough to train the real bulwark of the nation -- 'the man behind the gun' -- without him ships will be useless.