The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-15
Naval Reserves Swear by
Symbol of Their State.
The Rhode Island Companies
Have Battalion Drill.
Running the Guard of New York and
Connecticut Camps.
Camp Hope. Oardirers Island,
TUESDAY, July "a, 1924
Special 10 The News.

Special 10 The News.
rAt last the Rhode Island battalion of
Naval Reserves are in camp on GARDENERS
Island nestled on q level stretch or land
between the commands OF New York and
Connecticut. IL was not until Monday
morning that Camp Hope, as the Rhode
Island encampment Is commonly known,
was fully pitched, the streets cleaned
and the men ready for instructions.
Commander Little, however. took into
consideration me tagged out condition
tire men were In and no orders were
issued until after the noon mess. The
Providence, Newport and Bristol COM
panies then embarked in their small
boats, were taken aboard the Montgom-
cry, which, in company with the Cincin-
natti and Dolphin are lying of the island
and were given practical instruction in
tho handling OF the big guns.
Quartermaster *. Lincoln Lippitt on
the X. l. N. X. flagship Veltnar,
steamed TO Greenport, l.. l., where a
quantity of supplies were purchased for
the command. The Velthar is one of
the finest yachts in the bay, ana attracts
attention and admiration wherever she
goes.
Last evening the commanders OF the
three divisions dined with Assistant Sec
retary McAdoo of the Il. ;. Navy.
After tattoo sounded last night an ami
mated "running of the guard" took place
between the three commands and lasted
until midnight.
The guard running as practiced last
night brought forth the rivalry existing
among the three States. None wished
10 be outdone, still all were anxious to
slip by the sentries of one of the visiting
encampments unchallenged. As result
the calling OF the corporal ana the guard
by the sentries lasted far into the night.
Sometimes there would be heard two or
q Iwa.a lie tor hn - roI oIp IN
unison as II some of the would be guard
runners had agreed upon an united at
tack, but In all such cases the men OF
the Rhode Island battalion proved alert
and equal TO the emergency, challenging
any and every one that neared the line.
Lieutenant Moran OF the Providence Ma
val Reserve Artillery Company, as oeioer
OF the day, acquitted himself creditably
under the trying ordeal in keeping
would-be guard runners away from
Camp Hope. Ensign Taft succeeded in
running the Connecticut guard and En-
sign Burrough did likewise with the New
Yorks.
Later in the night Lieutenants Eiswald,
Lippitt and Moran and Surgeon Peckharn
endeavored to break out and through the
Rhode Island sentry lines but they were
stopped in every instance at the bayonet
point and held until recognized. This
was simply TO test the efficiency OF the
guard and proved intensely satisfactory.
The guard was, according TO officers,
we'll up in Rhode Island military circles
as near perfection as possible.
The Providence men are showing. up
well in comparison with the other two
divisions, and especially in military
etiquette do they excel their sister divi
sions. Their esprit de corps Is doing as
much for the Providence tars as their
experience In camp.
As yet IL has not been fully decided
how the men will spend their time while
away from home, bat judging from what
Commander Ieith said a reconnaissance
of the shore of Narragansett bay from
Watch Hill Will probably comprise the
latter part OF the cruise. Should such be
the case camps will be struck either
Thursday or Friday.
The first battalion drill took place this
morning and considering that The three
companies have never been In such
formation before they aid extremely we'll.
Commander Little was in command.
The water supply is still somewhat
short, but the men are not suffering from
lack of 1t, as was the case W hen camp was
first pitched.
Caterer Telhune is somewhat OF a fail
ure, and there ia considera BILE discomfort
among the men over the poor food furn-
lshed at the mess.