Evening star., 1899-04-03
THE NAVAL MILITIA
Will Drill on the Prairie for Eight
Days in June.
WILL EMBARK At PINEY POINT
To Be Taken Down the River on
the Fern.
LETTER TO GENERAL HARRIES

Acting Secretary Allen of the Navy De-
partment, who has personal and direct
charge of all matters pertaining to the
naval militia of the United States has
written letter to Brigadier General Har-
ries, commanding the District of Columbia
Militia, notifying him that the T. s. s.
Prairie has been assigned to duty for the
annual drill and instruction of the naval
militia organizations of the Atlantic and
gulf states, and that the Navy Department
has arranged what it considers the most
feasible plan for giving each state and ter
ritory having such an organization an equal
amount of practical experience at sea.
The plan contemplates having the Prairie
off Piney Point in the Potomac river by or
before June 26, upon which date the Dis
trict of Columbia Naval Militia will en-
bark for drill period of eight days, at the
end of which time the organization will be
disembarked off Piney Point. 1t is expect
ed that the organization will be conveyed
to and from Piney Point on the T. s. s.
Fern, recently assigned to the use of the
Naval Battalion.
Gen. Harries was informed that as the
Navy Department has no appropriation for
such a purpose, the District of Columbia
will be expected to bear the expenses of
subsistence of the organization while on
board ship and to see that the members
are supplied with proper bedding and an
individual mess outfit. He was also in
formed that hereafter the allotment of the
appropriation for arming and equipping the
Naval Militia will be based on the number
of properly uniformed petty officers and
enlisted men of each state and territory
who perform the annual tour of duty pre-
scrfbed.
Eight Days of Naval Drill.
The District Naval Battalion is expected
to be ready to go on board the Prairie on
Il la
allowed off Piney Point for the organiza-
tion, berthng, messing, stationing, &C.. of
the crew at the end of which time the ves-
sci is to go to sea and remain for seven
days. the first four of which will be de-
voted to instructions and man-ofwar rou-
tine duties, with particular reference to
aiming, drill and subcaliber practice. The
following two days will be devoted to active
target practice.
The watch duties of the vessel will be
performed by the officers of the District
Naval Battalion, under the supervision of
the regular naval officers stationed on
board. Such watch officers will. as far as
practicable. be instructed in all that per
tains to the handling, navigating and fight
ing of the vessel. At the end of the tour
of duty the commanding officer of the
Prairie will make detailed report to the
Navy Department, in which he will state
the qualifications of the officers for the
petty officers and enlisted men for naval
service at sea. The commanding officer of
the Prairie has been instructed to COM
municate with Gen. Harries in regard to
the coming cruise, in sufficient time to
arrange all the necessary details.
Prnirie's Itinerary UnaitcrabIe.
Acting Secretary Allen has informed Gen.
Harries that under the present circum-
stances and conditions of the service the
cruise indicated for this summer will be
the only opportunity which can be afforded
the naval militia of the coast service for
sea service and practical drill during the
present year. Ample time has been af-
fcrded in all cases for preparation, and all
organizations will be expected to be fully
prepared to embar rk according to the itin-
erary prepared at the Navy Department
1t is stated most emphaticaily that the
itinerary of the Prairie has been made for
all atlantic and gulf coast states having
naval militia organizations and cannot be
changed. In consequence. Gen. Harries has
been notified that it is necessary that the
Navy Department shall be informed at once
If the District Naval Battalion is unable
to meet the requirements.