Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-03

THE SUMNER CRUISE.
Why the Trip On the Prairie Was
Given Up.

| SHVISE.
Why the Trip on the Prairie Was
Given I'D.
| Interesting correspondence has passed be-
tween officers of the District militia and
Assistant Secretary Hackett OF the Navy
| Department in reference to the Naval Bat
| tallion Of the District.
Under date Of June 81. 1900 James NJ.
| Love. ad1utant general of the District mill
tia, forwarded the following communication
addressed to him by Commander Robert T
Hams. commanding the Naval Battalion:
| Commander Hams Views.
June %. 1890
Adjutant General d. c. NJ
Sir: Replying TO your communication of
the 18th instant requesting my views on
| the relative value OF the instruction gained
i by a cruise on the L. S. s. Prairie under
i the direction Of naval officers. and like
| cruise on the L. s. s. Fern. under the COM
mand of the Naval Battalion officers L
| have the honor to state as follows:
NO doubt is entertained in my mind as to
| the value OF instructions derived from ex-
perience and under the guidance Of COM
| petent naval officers. provided an effort is
made on the part of such officers to place
i responsibilities and commands teunora rJlv
| on the militia officers. but the cruise on The
| L. 5. $. Prairie. as L am Informed from the
| experience OF last summer is in the naturs
| vi al eAdiIllHdtlon rather than Instruction.
III Is true that the enlisted men are given
opportunities for target practice under the
| direction OF their own officers; and while
| the value of such practice cannot be over
| estimated, yet the officers themselves are
| often In great need OF individual in.truc-
| lions In such exercises. also in the yari-
Gus branches relating to duties OF naval Of
| ncers' as. Tor instance, the control OF the
| deck, navigation. etc. From the cruise of
1 last summer, as l am informed the militia
| Officers have had no fair opportunity of
handling the ship as deck officers nor have
they been given instruction in navigation.
| ordnance and boats. 1t is true | am also
| INFORMED, that they were called upon 10
| work out the ships position daily by the
usual time sights and meridian attitudes,
l but az to the manner and most approved
| form of doing this they were not Instructed
In the proper sense of that term.
| More Benefit From Cruise on Fern,
am not unmindful of the great benefits
| to be derived to the militia officers by con-
| tact with their duties aboard ship under
| the guidance Of competent naval officers,
| yet l am of the opinion that under the
| practice as at present carried out that the
| militia officers gain very little, IL any, use
| full Information Under these conditions II
| is clear to my mind that a proper cruise on
| the Z. s. 8. Fern, where the militia Off
GERS will be called upon to stand regular
watches as deck ofiicers. to perform duties
| OF navigator and executive officers and to
| take entire charge Of all matters pertain
| ing to the handling and safety of the ship
| under their charge, they will derive far
nnrad Inv t its ing aS oenen's man can De Sc
| forded them on the U. g. 6. Prairie
1t is my opinion that for the short time
| in which the officers are aboard shin during
/ the cruise thew should be given entire com,
mand and control Of all matters pertaining
- ~ .he naval oiIicer ouIes, Al the same
and canacttiss IN tbssa met,srs .,o,,is ~
| had TO the end that the safety of the ship
and the lives intrusted to their care may
pe secured PIaced upon their own re-
in INV oninion 6sveion N. ro,litio otsonr.
| far more nv a cruise On the r g q Eern
/ than on the nronosed crr,,se on the r
Prairie under The conditions WHICH M.
/ derstand are imposed
|
Sonoiion OF the oneioa-
In expressing my opinion on this matter,
/ / take the liberty also Of calling your At
tention TO the present condition Of the O. 8.
S. Oneida. which has been loaned to the
Naval Battalion of the District OF Column
nia, and also to note the policy OF the Navy
1np;de 1r th AZ rorsr M aor,i,, tne
| As the Oneida stands TODAY she is onita
| useless to the Naval Battalion, and It
| would require considerable labor and the
| expenditure OF some FUNDS TO place her In
| proper repair. 1t has occurred to me,
| therefore, that short cruise on the U. 8.
| ). Fern might yet lesve sumcient funds
| aVallaple 10 place the oneida, II not IN the
best, at least In serviceable condition,
| fact thar cannot be accomplished II the pre-
| scrlped cruise on the U. ;; 3 Prairie were
| carried out. very RESPECTFULLY,
tsieneo) hoBEhL L; HAiNS'
COMMANDER N. b., ID. Z. M
Navy Department Notified.
This comrun,ca+ ,on mas ,naorsaa nv Al
| -, -, -
| JuIane Senerai Love as 1oiiows:
WASHINGTON, June SO. 1900
Respectfully forwarded by the command
| inc general 10 the sacratarv q, the Nav
| ~. ~,.,
| me necessities Oh the naval oa1taiion are
such as to compel the commanding general
| to notify the department that the battalion
| cannot take the cruise on the U. 8. 8.
| Prairie. The limited funds at his disposal
| will permit practice cruise on the U. S. 8.
Fern, and, later, there will probably be am
/ other cruise for one division on the U. g. 8,
/ Oneida, as soon as the latter ship is fitted
for active service.
NJ u,L.. c.u. c.
r' >ssio
| The correspondence closed with the fol-
| lowing caustic letter from the assistant
| saor.,arv a, the navy 10 the commanding
| -. n,.. -,,,,,
| general OF tne Dlstrict inihua'