The Washington times., 1904-05-29
ONEIDA SAILS ON
PRACTICE CRUISE
Picked Crew Of Naval Bat
talon Aboard!
HARD WORK ON BRIEF TRIP
No Suitable Site Found for a Rifle
Range-Suggested Place
Rejected.
HARD WORK ON BRIEF TRIP

The Naval Battalion Of the District
Militia. lifted anchor on the United
States steamship Oneida at an early
hour this morning. aid set sail on their
FIRST cruise OF the SEASON.
The battalion. under command Of
Lieutenant Commander r. B. Brum-
nett. viii be away from Washington
until late Monday evening or early Tues
day morning. No destination has been
announced. but it is expected the Oneida
viii anchor somewhere in the vicinity Of
Colonial Beach or farther down the Po-
tomac about noon today.
All men in the battalion were not able
to take IN" the trip. Consequently, only
one of The battalions boats. the Oneida.
was called into service by Commander
Brummett.
Picked Crew Aboard.
Thirty men. picked from the two d.
visions of the battalion. are aboard. The
lockers were well stocked with provls-
ions.
The cruise will cover Sunday. Mon
day, and the early hours of Tuesday
morning. With Monday a holiday the
boys have made arrangements with their
labors on Tuesday in case they do not
arrive I'm time or get insufficient rest to
enable them to toll on that day.
Ample opportunity will be afforded
for drill with the boats. The volun-
teer tars win be given an opportunity
TO familiarize themselves with sailors
duties. Lieutenant Commander Brum-
met viii give all thorough trying out
and a chance TO show just how much
they know about handling a boat.
Hard Work in Sight.
While on the trip the men will have
to scour the decks. polish up the brass
ratings and guns; clean out the hunks.
and do other KINGS OF hard work which
regular sailors have to do. Down where
the river widens the battalion will be
put through some rigid target practice.
When 1t was first agreed that the
trip should be taken on the day prior
TO Decoration Day the men were in
formed that it was not to be a pleasure
trip. but genuine sea voyage with lots
Of hard work and a series OF lessons
In actual seamanship. There are several
hundred rounds OF ammunition in the
chests Of the Oneida. and practice with
the floating targets will be INDUCED in
probably all day Monday. The trip
home will begin about dusk on Monday.
Another Practice Cruise.
Some time IN June another practice
cruise down beyond Colonial Beach will
be taken 4 new crew will be selected
Tor this voyage. 1t Is Lieutenant Com
mander Brummett's intention TO ac-
quaint all his men with the duties they
VIII be called upon 10 perform through
out the ten days during the latter part
OF july or the first Of August while the
command is on its annIaI cruise.
During those ten days the battalion
Will prowl all about Chesapeake Bav
and go far out from shore to practice
Win Win the targets. The life boats will
also be manned during the cruise.
Summer Work Suspended.
Owing to the lack Of a rifle range the
summer work Of the guard has been
suspended until the beginning Of active
preparations for the Coming encamp-
ment- Rife practice has been hitherto
the program at this season OF the yea
IL Will not be. however, for some seasons
TO come, unless greater Roadway Is made
in obtaining a site suitable for an out
door iunRe.
Captain King and Major Neumeyer
nave reported that all sites they looked
over are hl-htted for use as ranges.
Having visited all places suggested thev,
are now looking for other sites.
Tomorrow afternoon two teams rom.
posed Of six men each will hold a rias
competition at Sandy Spring. Nd. The
distance is to be 200 yards. The men
will be picked from several compan.ss
in the guard.
Sandy Spring is the home OF George
ti,-' SYO Ems tne greatest rifle shot the Ma
uonal Guard OF the District, and Of the
United States. has ever produced 10
mas not appeared in the competitions IN
Ihe District Guard for almost a wear
PriEate Cook will, however, particulars
u the competition tomorrow. Il is eSe
pected.
To Enter Competitions.
Notwithstanding that the Guardsmen
are at present without a practice range.
the District militia will have represeu-
tatlves al the army competition at Fort
riley IN August, and at Sea Grit and
CreeoInoors as well
Changes in the Guard.
The following changes in the National
Guard hive been announced:
Transfers Private Samuel Soloman
Company 3. First Regiment, to the
First Battery. Field Artillery: Private
Joseph Street. Company d. Second Regf-
ment. TO the First Battery. Field Ar
tnlery.
Honorably Observation-Disclosures Robert
T. Chatterton, Ambulance Corps: Pri-
Nate William Z. Philes. Ambulance
Corps; Priyates Robert b. Johnson and
John r. Presnell. Company c, Second
Regiment; Private Arose NJ. Raymond.
Company @. Second Regiment; Prfvates
Josiah II. Holland and Lucien 3. Read.
Company I. Second Regiment
Lieut. 0unior gradel Lewis p. Gle
phane. First division Naval battalion
has been elected lieutenant
Ensign Edward E.. Jones, First dlvis-
ION, mas been elected lieutenant, junior
grade.
Walter E Burtt has been elected en-
sign, Second division. Naval Battalion
9ir Burtt Is an eX-member Of the Penn
sylvania naval militia