Category:Volunteer navy

Vol`un*teer" na"vy.

Defn: a navy of vessels fitted out and manned by volunteers who sail Under the flag of the regular navy and subject to naval discipline. Prussia in 1870, in the franco-german war, organized such a navy, Which was commanded by merchant seamen with temporary commissions, With the claim (in which england acquiesced) that it did not come Within the meaning of the term privateer.