The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-25
NAVAL BATTALION IS OFF.
BEGINS a WEEKS CRUISE ON TIE
TEXAS IND MASSAOHUsBTTS.

VIII DO Instructed IN Reguiatious, worting
the Guns. Torpeao Practice on the Ericsson,
Target Firing, usinG sh,ps' Boats. signal
lag. ana Battle and shipwreck Drill.
Tho First Battalion Of the Naval Militia
started yesterday for n weeks cruise and In
struction aboard the United States men Of war
Massachusetts and Texas. Long before the
hour of tho general assembly the old warship
New Hampshire, ct tho foot Of East Twenty
eighth street, was alive with amateur tars. bus
Ting about in suits Of duck. Kits were packed,
rolled hammocks brought forth, and all tho
equipment for q weeks voyage got ready, from
the quadrant and compass Of tho navigating
officer to the 1aes Of the signal corps. The
mess detail, with moss cooks, provisions, and
utensils, was the FIRST body ready to leave, and
at IL o'clock they loaded themselves and their
dunnaRo aboard q Government tug and were
started of for tho two big ships.
By noon the spar dock Of the old New Hamp-
shire was alive with men sorting out
from the waist bunkers and gearing them
selves up with knapsacks and pouches. Each
man wore q round blue watch cap. Those who
had already caught the manner of the old salts
tipped the cnp to starboard, and trimmed ship
with q Guild Of tobacco slowed to port. Every
man wore q blue sailor neckerchief tied In o
true square knot.
At 1890 O'Clock, which In naval parlance 10
ono bell, tho officer Of the deck: ordered the
boatswain on duty to make it." and the strik-
ing of the big bell was followed at once by the
bugle call for the assembly. While the divis-
ions wore forming a considerable number Of
visitors gathered on the ship and pier and
waited to bid the lads good-by. At ! o'clock
all was ready, and tho whole outfit marched
forth to the big Government: tug Nina, which
lay beside the pier and went aboard. Nearly
| OHn y,ar, oil Ella haI ranartal Tor duty Thnv
Allied the tug fore and aft, and their white uni
forms contrasted strongly with the dead black
OF the tugs hull. They were under way at
kinsvilie, 8. l., whore the Massachusetts and
Texas .wero waiting for them with steam up
Aboard the ships the men take tho place Of
an equal number Of the regular crew, who wero
sent ashore, to await the end Of the naval bat
Commander Duncan and his STAG vent
aboard the Massachusetts, and with them
the Texas went, Lieut.; C3mmander Kent and
sSsn drum rum corps saI s'fi As H soon f as the n,enS' %eTe N ali
island, just of the mouth of New London
morning watch today. The work Sunday will
consist of Instructions regarding the naval rogu-
vico and the men will be allowed to go ashore
for the afternoon On Monday the programme
Ing the ,of me sefsShs an" and o %orfinF of the b biss and
little guns Of the ships. A special detail Of
men will be taken aboard the torpedo boat
Ericsson and taught the use Of torpedoes. The
Ericsson will be attached to the expedition
thropRhout the cruise, and each man Of the
naval battalion will have a chance to learn
how her devices are worked.
On Tuesday the ships nre expected to go TO
sea for target practice and on Wednesday there
Is to be practice in the ships boats under both
sail and oar. On Thursday, AL the drill OF |.
with. The naval battalion men will clear the
ship for action" arm and away" with the
boats and finish with the general drill OF aban-
donipg the ship. All this time tho signal mel,
orders back and forth FROM ship to ship. The
ships viii be on their way back during. THE
part of the exercises and the signalling will BIO
Continued during tho night run home.
On Friday morning the ships are expected to
be Inspected, probably BY Assistant: Secretary
OF the Navy Roosevelt and the Adjutant-G EN-.
eral, and In the afternoon they will land at Fort
Hamilton and be reviewed by the rame officers.
After breakfast on Saturday tho command will
be returned to tho New Hampshire and will
disporso.