The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-07-24
BOAT DRILL
FOR naval
RESERVES
Blue Jackets Sorry That Camp
Is So Nearly Ended-ArtlI.
|sry Practice With HotchkisS

So pleasantly has the last DAYS
OF stae camp Of the Rhode
Island Naval Battalion been pass
ing that all will be sorry when the
manding officer will be sorry when the
tents come down and the boats push of
for the armores again.
Yesterday the battalion had It's first
chance since Monday TO get good chance
al the oars. and the ceremony of guard
mount, the four divisions with Com
mander Sims and his staff embarked in
three cutters. two whale boats and the
steam cutter. The work was almost en-
tirely individual boat drill. although the
steam cutter few the pennant OF the flag
ship and exercised q general supervision
over all the boats. The wind and water
were so stiff that IL was deemed best not
10 step the masts In the cutters or at
tempt TO make sail. but 10 avoid all pos
siblity, Of accident TO either boats or men
by sticking 10 the oars. Practice In wig
wagging from boat 10 boat and the quar-
termasters In reading the same was given.
The boats pulled down river some two
miles and back. each boat practicing diff
ferent manoeuvres at the discretion OF
It's commanding officer.
Another sham battle was in order In the
afternoon which proved interesting and
showed the disadvantage of the white
working suits for fghting with dark
background.
Commander Sims has hit on q couple of
ingenious expedients TO operate at the
camp ground in the matter OF under
drainage which has already been COM
mented upon. He would have a force OF
good behavior" and short term prisoners
sent from Cranston TO Quoneet Point dur
ing the month of August. These men
could be housed in the guard house and
other outlying buildings. They could.
says Mr. Sims, enjoy the fresh country air
and be fed on the vegetables grown on the
grounds and he put 70 work under
draining the grounds, as they have nat
ural qualities for such work, Have the
men put 4n six-iHeA drain pipes in two or
three sections OF the camp and dig catch
basins. Let two carpenters from the
squad be detailed TO inspect and repair
every window. door and fastening. put
ting in necessary weather strips. They
could also mend broken stools, floors and
other articles OF camp furniture which
might otherwise be replaced.
The water for the camp r. at present
furnished by a pumping station, the run
ming OF which is necessarily a consider
able item. and he suggests the state build
a 12-foot steel wheel windmill at an ap-
proxfmate expense. with piping not to
exceed $3.50 Then shift the pumping on
the windmill and save coal. The wind
Is adequate for the purpose on an average
OF eight hours In "A.
Today the battalion got an early start
10 engage in an extended feet drill. The
afternoon was taken up by a sham battle.
The officers believe that such work com
bines In one drill period the greatest pos
sible number OF details calculated TO
train the men. The two Hotch-
kiss one Founders will be used this after
noon for target practice, shooting from
the shore at floating mark.
Adjutant General Sackett went down TO
the camp today and was an interested
spectator at the manoeuvres. His visit
was not an official one, but he has not
missed visiting camp for many years.