The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-04-17
She is in Gulf Of Mexico Beginning
Annual Cruise.
Maine Men Will Cruise
About September 1st.
Something About the Way the
Cruise is Conducted.

The u. s. s. Prairie Commander II.
X. h Maotenzie, u. 8. N, Commanding
has been detailed az a training ship for
the Naval Militia Of the Unitsd States
and has gone 10 the Gulf Of Mexico to
begin her annual oruise. She will arrive
at New Orleans April Esd, and will sail
from there with the Naval Militia Of
Louisiana on board April S0th
Then she will go to Florida on May 8.
arriving ct Pensacola on that date and
cruise about Florida. calling at various
ports until May 10Th. She will then visit
Brunswick, Ga, Charleston, 3. U, and
Southport, N. G., taking the Naval
Militia from those states to sea for
week each, arrives at Norfolk, Va,
June 9Th, sails with the Virginia re-
serves on June 18th and returns with
them on June Goth, In this way the
Prairie will work up tho Atlantic coast,
taking out the naval reserves OF Mary
land for o week. the Pennsylvnnia, New
Jerrey ana New York reserves In two
sections for week each, the reserves OF
Connscticut and Massachusetts, and
Rhode Island, and will probably reach
Maine about the last week In August or
the first week in September. She will
take from here the First Division OF
Naval Reserves to sea for week.
The cruise Of the Maine Naval Reserves
will come at about the right time OF year
for the men in this part OF the stats.
BY the first week In September the sum.
mer business IL at an end. and 1t 10 too
early for the fall business to begin. 30
that the Maine men will all be able to
get away for the cruise without much
difficulty. The First Division, which Is
located In Portland, 0 onfists Of only 40
men and three officers. Maine should
have ct least four divisions Of Naval Re
serves, and II the naval reserves now
under way In Portland prove SUCCESS,
doubtless the state will authorize the
other organizations,
The Prairie 10 ons Of tbs best eq uippsd
auxiliary ships In the Navy. and Is adj
mirably fitted for this service. She is
commanded by an officer Of wide ex-
pericnoe and with reputation as an
instructor which has brought to him this
important command. The ship carries
full complement OF regular officers and
full crew. The Naval Militia when on
board the ship become at once part OF
the regular establishment. 4 hough they
mess by themselves and swing their ham
mooks In q diff ereut part Of the chip
from the regular blue jackets. they have
the same duties 10 perform, and for the
time being are part Of the ships com.
pany. The Prairie carr les an armament
Of eight six inch and six six FOUNDER
rapid fire guns. With these the Naval
Militia have target practice aud ara
given thorough instruction In gunnery.
The government does not provide SUBJ
sistenos for the Naval Militia, but this 10
provided by the state, and the naval
militia officers are responsible for the
messing aud subsistence OF the men.
The Naval Militia Of Maine has not
been organized very long, but during the
TINA they have been together have been
making good progress. 1t takes long
time to thoroughly equip division As 1t
should be equipped ana to bring this
equipment up to the proper condition the
state authorities ana the officers OF the
Naval Militia are now laboring. While
ut Tea on the annual cruise the men Of
the Naval Militia are paid at the same
rate as are the infantry companies Of the
National Guard.
A great deal Of interest has been mani
tested In Portland in the organization
here, and 1t seems to be the desire Of the
people of this section of the state TO have
this first division of naval reserves to be
organized here make q creditabls show
ing.
The regular drill OF the naval reserves
comes on Wednesday evening, and at this
drill there should be no sbeentees.