To man our ships in time of war three means are open: voluntary enlistment, draft or impressment, or employment of men enrolled in a naval reserve. It would be unreasonable to depend altogether upon the loyal and unselfish patriotism of necessitous men serving before the mast, and there is a chance that mere enthusiasm would not induce a seaman to join the navy if employment was being offered elsewhere at increasing rates of pay. Impressment under any name is unpopular. In its common form it is illegal, and the draft is ever a last resort and always a dangerous measure. Nothing, then, remains as a certainty but to turn towards the naval reserve as the best means of manning our fleet. In time of war not only would the men enrolled come forward willingly and be immediately available, but deserters would have the machinery of the law put in motion for their apprehension, and popular feeling would be as earnest in support of their arrest as it would be opposed to all attempts which enforced the arbitrary powers of draft or impressment. No system exists abroad entirely suited to our necessities and our national instincts; but, generally speaking, that adopted in England comes nearest to what we should employ. Naturally our lake sailors, coasters, fishermen, and yachtsmen would form the main body of the reserve. These should be enrolled, divided into classes, be given each year a certain fixed sum of pay, with an increase for each day’s drill, and at stated times they should be embarked for great gun practice at sea, so they might learn something of man-of-war routine and discipline. The officers could be drawn from the merchant marine, from the graduates of the school-ships, and from former officers of the regular and volunteer services who are now in civil life. FORCED DRAFT. The subject of forced draft is of great importance, and, as a corollary of high-speed development, is being studied with keen interest. There are wide differences of opinion not only as to the proper systems, but even as to the value of the principle. The literature as yet is rather meagre, but an excellent compilation of existing material will be found in the latest publication of the Naval Intelligence Office.