The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-02-10
OF WAR ETIQUETTE
How the Naval Reserves Ad-
dress Their 0nicers-Cap-
tain Dahlgren's Work.

ON of the oldest things about the
Naval Reserve to those who are familiar
with only military affairs. il the ETH
quette. The officers. Lieutenant Com
mander, Commander and Captain, are all
addressed as Captain. All other officers,
such as lieutenants. ensigns, ETC.. are
given bit the civilian courtesy of a
Mr. This Mr." is the dividing line
between officers and enlisted men. The
latter are given but their last name
without a handle of any kind. This
rule relates to personal address. In
writing to a captain or ensign his title
Is used. 1he surgeon is addressed as
DR." the payplaster as such, or alb
breviated to Pay the Chief Engineer
Chief" and the other engineers as
Mr." The Chaplain is always given
his title. The Battalion Of the West
consists Of fourteen officers and ISL men.
Captain Dahlgren Of Trenton has been in
command, and 1t is to his efforts that
the credit is due for the splendid condi-
ton to which the Reserves have been
brought. It is due to Captain Dahlgren
to say that it was by his action that
the Battalion of the West secured the
monitor Ajax, a vessel that will be able
to run by her own steam. AT the pres
ent time the Chief Engineer of the Unit
ed Startes Navy is having repaired and
put in frst-class condition her engines
and boilers, SO that She will be ready for
service at any time.
The Ajax cannot compare with the
Portsmouth, the vessel assigned to the
sailors of the upper part of the State.
Tre latter is one Of the old Sailors. roomy,
commodious and comfortable. With her
three decks and two batteries of big guns
and her auxiliary battery of gattlings
she is thoroughly equipped for drills in
~seamanship and gunnery.
The Ajax is anchored at a wharf in
Camden, furnished by the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company. She is in charge of
J. G. johnson, State Ship Keeper, and
three men detailed by the United States
government from the navy. Johnson is
an old seaman, having spent So years of
his life on the water, 40 of which he
served in the United States Navy.
The present Commander is Lieutenant
Commander E.. s. Davis, of Trenton,
Battalion of the West. The other officers
are Lieutenant Frank H. Turner, of
Haddonfield. Executive Officer; Lieuten-
ant F. F.. c. Woodward, Commander of
the Trenton Division, who also serves as
Inspector of Infantry Drills; Lieutenant
Charles r.. Braddock, Commander of the
Haddonfeld Division and Acting Artil-
lery Officer; Ensign Norman p. Stahl,
Signal and Intelligence Officer; Ensign
w; n. Casperson, Camden, Inspector of
Rifle Practice.
The Battalion of. the West has been
furnished by the Navy Department with
charts and Instructions for the navlga-
ton Of the Delaware river from Phila-
delphia to Cape May.
The Navy Department has offered the
privilege to he New Jersey Naval Re-
serves to send officers to the Government
War College at Newport. The term here
They may also take the torpedo course,
winch last for fourteen working days.
Albert P. NIblack, who has been de-
n 5allea from OF the Navy, will deliver a
serves, one OF which will be given in
The camden Division has its head
quarters on the vessel. The Haddontield
Division go down for big gun drill once
or twice a week. Trenton is too far
away aer&ayod from ah the vessel to have it Of much
her brought to Burlington for the benefit
of the Trenton Division.
line AJAX mas a gun with a 15-inch
bore and about Is or Is feet in length.
Ihe whole battalion is anxious to take
her for a cruise and be under naval
case of wal would be to defend the coast
and harbors of New Jersey, yet the
Governor can send them, at the request
OF the President, anywhere, even to
putting them under the of the
United States Navy officers.
The Trenton division headquarters is
IN Taylor Hall Assembly rooms. The
drill-night is on Wednesday of each
week. The member go through the reg
ular infantry drill and practice the sword
drill, using sticks instead of swords. They
also practice signalling, by means of
flags, in which line they nave become