The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-05
TIE NAVAL BATTALION
Preparations for the Practice
Cruise in August.
Great Gun and Boat DrfII-Landina
Parties Acting Under Signals From
shiphoard-singIe stick and Cut.
lass observation-disclosures in Naviga.
tion-Mnking the Fern Ready

Camp ordway being thing of the past
and drill in the brigade having been suss
pended until September. the greatest activ-
ity in National Guard circles is in connec-
ton with the naval battalion Of the Dis
trict, which viii leave Washington on iti
annual practice cruise about the end Of
August.
Last year was the first time in the his
tory of the battalion that regular cruise
was taken. The Fern carried the men
down to the bay and the Prairie out to
sea.
This year the entire cruise will be taken
on the Fern, which now lies at the Navy
Yard Inasmuch as there are in the neigh
borhood of 200 men in the battalion it will
be necessary to make two trips, so that
the Fern may not be too much crowded.
Each of these trips will be of about five
days duration. The route will be down
the Potomac and the bay to Old Point
Comfort and to Norfolk. and thence out
to sea. No sailors except those Of the
naval battalion will GO on the cruise.
During the summer months number Of
trips have been made on the Fern down
the river with crew of about sixty men
and officers. These cruises have generally
lasted from Saturday over Sunday and have
given the men considerable experience on
shipboard in addition to providing /. pleas
ant outing.
The Fern has been newly painted. the
masts scraped. and the ship generally over
hauled.
Requisition has been made for number
0f hat ha Ill,
but the boat will viii DC ready for service By
the last of August
The commissary is looked after by a
committee consisting of the paymaster and
certain of the officers both commissioned
and petty. This method when tried hereto
fore has. it is said. always given salts
faction. Everything on board will be ship
shape and the daily routine will be the
same as that on battleship.
The watch quarter and station bill has
been already made out. This is a sheet
upon which the name of each officer and
sailor appears and opposite his duties in
every drill or maneuvre.
The men will be obliged to turn out daily
at 6 a. II. Scrubbing the decks and clsan-
ing the ship viii occupy the time till
breakfast at s o'clock. Cleaning ship is
kept up after breakfast. General quar-
ters'' is beaten at 10 O'Clock. If at sea,
target practice VIII Oe IN Oruey, CT III IN
the bay, single stick or cutlass exercise
will occupy the time till 1880. Dinner is
piped at u O'Clock. and then the msn are
at liberty to dc as they please till $50.
Decks are cleaned at that time, and drill
follows till recall is heaten at o'clock
Recreation is the rule untn supper time,
and then comes evening quarters fer
inspection. No duties are scheduled after
that. and taps are sounded at $3.50.
Classes in navigation will be held daily
under the instruction of Commardsf
Hams. When at sea, all with boats and
guns will be held frequently. Landing
parties will be sent to shore and their
movements directed by signals on the
ship.
All the commissioned officers of Tho
battalion will command the Fern on both
cruises. Following is the staff:
Commander, r. p. Hams; Lieutenant
Commander, A. J. Hopkins; Chief En-
gineer. Thomas Power; Navigating
Officer, Lieut.. II. b. Brummett: Pay
master Lieut.. Sidney Biebsr; Assistant
Paymaster, Ensign Howard Flske; Sur
geon. 5. Clifford Cox; Lieut.. A. p. L3Tg.
commanding first division; Ensigns Barry
and Demph, commanding seCo-d division.