Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-15
THE PRAIRIE.

id-fire gun, making forty-eight aboard the
Prairie; fifty rounds each for the six
Founders, making 300 in all, and subcaliber
ammunition in the discretion of the COM
manding officer-which means practically
without stint. The Pacific coast organiza-
tons will be allowed six rounds for each
OF the Badgers 5-inch guns, fifty rounds
for each of her three-pounders and the
same mniilH'f:j supply for subcaliber prac-
tice. The michigan has the same allot-
ment for her heavy guns and for her SUBJ
caliber practice.
The weeks gun work is thus set out in
the oiiiclal program from the department:
Routine of a Week.
First day-9:30 to 1918 muster and sta
lions at guns; instructions about training
eievating and sighting. 1O:45 to l1:45. aim
ing drill; 1:30 to 2:30 taking apart breech
mechanism; instruction concerning parts;
cleaning and returning same $50 after
1inlSning above continue aiming drill till
each man has made q TARGET
Second day-9:30 to 1O:15. having sent
men who were at six-inch to the six-pound-
ers ana vice versa, carry out exactly the
same routine as first day
Third day-9:3O muster at statiope. S,,b
Gambler practice; crews drilled as If firing
regularly, out each gun acts independently:
each man fires ten shots, then shift sta
ti9ns. 80, same as forenoon.
Fourth day-9:30 to 1918 muster at sta
tons; subcaliber practice: first and second
gun captains fire; commence firing and
cease firing by bugle, as in regular diyfs-
lonal drill. 10:45, aiming drill 30 to 80.
same as forenoon; after completing gun
practice finish aiming drill, each man max
ing q target.
Fifth day-Muster at stations; each gun
us SIX ROUNDS at target; guns fire in sue
cessloh. i 80, continue morning work.
sixth day-930 muster at stations: COM
pete work of fifth day and when complet-
ed the naval militia will be examined in all
Drills, signals etc. 80, continue forenoon
work till finished.
Duties of n Sailor
In addition to these exercises, which will
put the militiamen through a very radical
course of instruction, they are given les
sons in seamanship and all the other rou-
tine duties of a regular man-o -war's-man.
In the middle of the night they are called
to quarters for fire drill: they man the
pcats; aid in the fire and engine rooms !.
scrub decks and polish bright work ana 90
through the complete rounds of a Iacty ?
work till they are earger indeed for tbe
wholesome fare of the mess.
me instruction OF the officers goes along
with that of the seaman save where their
duties differ and they are held IN IN the
same requirements of department and dis
clpilne that are exacted of a regular off,
Ger. IL Is a serious matter treated seri-
ously, and the returning militiamen are fun
and their growing attachments
Creditabie Rivalry.
AS the allotments from the appropristions
for the militia will be based by the depart-
ment upon the number of men making the
cruise, the organizations are vieing with
one another in taking out the largest num-
Der of officers and men.
with the single exception of the Michigan
the ships engaged in this work are singu-
larry Wen htted for the accommodation of
large bodies of militiamen. having been fine
merchant craft before the war, and lend
themselves beautifully to the work set
them. The organizations on the lakes will
soon be better accommodated
The naval militia has come to stay- and
the men that remain in the organization
after second cruise are of that stuff upon
whlch every reliance can be placed in the
hour of stress. They have proved not only
their fondness, but their fitness for naval
life, Its sunshine and it's storms.