The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-07-26
NAVAL BATTALION'S CRUISE.

NAVAL BATTALlON'S CRUISE.
Under the direction of Commander e
G. Reynolds of New Haven the three
divisions of the Connecticut Naval Bat
talon from Hartford New Haven and
bridgeport will participate in the am
nual cruiser on eight days on the Unit
ed states auxiliary cruiser Prairie leaV-
ing New Haven on the 18th of August.
The Prairie was formerly the Nor
gan line steamship Ell Sol. She was
purchased by the government during
the late war and was used for various
purposes. After the war the Prairie
was assigned by the government for
the use of the Naval Militia organiza-
lions for practice cruises.
The naval militiamen had no prac-
tiee cruise last year save the tour of
duty at Charlestown navy yard
Other members of the Naval Militia
enlisted at Boston and had an oppor-
tunity of getting near the base of oper-
ations by trip on the old Boston
ferryboat Governor Russell, which was
sent south. These members of the
Naval Militia who went on the ferry
boat will long remember their expert
ences on the craft The ferryboat was
tossed and buffeted about like cookie
shell off the Atlantic coast while bound
for a southern port.
The officers of the local battalion
have been notified that the course of
instruction aboard the Prairie for the
week will be-
First day-MuSter and station at
gun instructions about training, ele-
waiting and sighting; aiming drill; taxi
ing apart breech mechanism instruc-
ton concerning parts; clearing and re-
turning same.
Continue aiming drill till each man
has made target.
Second day-Havng sent the men
who were at six-inch to the six-pound
guns and vice versa, carry out exactly
the same routine as first day.
Third day--Muster at stations; sub
calbre practice; crews drilled as II
firing regularly, but each gun indie
pendently; each man fire ten shots then
"change staions."
Fourth day-Muster at stations; sub
calibre practice; first and second gun
captains fire; commence firing and
cease firing by bugle as in regular di-
visional drill; after completing each |
gun drill. finish aiming drill, each man
making a target.
Fifth day-Muster at stations; each |
gun fire at target; guns fired in quick
succession,
Sixth day-Muster at stations; COM
plete work of fifth day, and when COM
pleted the Naval Militia will be ex-
amined in all drills, signals, etc.
The cruise will probably be to Gardi'
ner's Bay, and in the vicinity of the
eastern end of Long Island Sound. 1t is
probable that Captain Mackenzie Of the
Prairie will take the naval militiamen
some distance out to sea for the pur-
pose of target practice.
The drills will begin at half-past
each morning, and continue until
} clock in the afternoon. AT night the
militiamen will take up the regular
watch, wheel and lookout duties of the
ships crew and continue them until
A. m. the following morning.
The Prairie has a skeleton crew or
sixty seamen, five commissioned officers
md fifteen men. A number of the reg
liar crew of the auxiliary cruiser will
De encamped near Gardeners Bay dur
ug the week that the naval militia
men are having their practice, in order
hat there will be comfortable accom-
nodations aboard the Prairie for the
militia.