The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-08-24
NAVAL RESERVE
BEGINS CRUISE
ON SATURDAY

The Rhode Island Naval Battalion to-
morrow will start on its summer practice
cruise. for which the United States cruiser
Columbia has been placed at the states
service for eight days. The Bristol. Provi-
dence and East Providence divisions OF
the battalion will be taken by navy tug
from Providence to Newport. where the
Columbia will be boarded.
Commander Bowyer will proceed imme-
diately TO sea and steam slowly down the
coast TO the southern cruising grounds
off the capes OF the Chesapeake.
The vessel will be at sea during the
entire period OF the cruise with the ex-
ception OF calling for mail at Fortress
Monroe. Va, on Aug. 2s Mail for the
members OF the Naval Militia reaching
Fortress Monroe before Aug. 2S will be
delivered on board.
The government tender will take the de-
tail from headquarters and the local d.
visions will he on the west side OF the
Providence line dock at O'Clock tomor-
row morning.
After taking the reserves aboard the
tender will then proceed to Bristol to the
India Rubber company'S dock for the
first division. thence TO Newport
The second division at Newport will
proceed at once to the Columbia I'm
launches and 1t is expected that the entire
battalion will be embarked at 10 a. m.
The L.. S. s. Columbia is a protected
cruiser OF 1875 tons displacement. built OF
steel, OF 1860 horse power, with triple
screws, and an armament OF II guns She
is designed for scouting work and as "A
commerce destroyer and is one OF the
fastest ships OF the navy with a maxi
mum speed OF nearly % knots The quar-
ters for officers and men are very COM
Portable. and the vessel is ideally adapted
for training work.
There is every indication that the com
ing cruise will be the most largely at
tended OF any I'm the history OF the bat
TALON. even though last years figures
were in excess OF those OF previous years
The fact that the Columbia Is the same
vessel that was assigned to Rhode Island
last year. and that the local battalion
has so many friends OF last year among
the officers and men OF the ship. has in
creased considerably the Interest in the
coming tour OF duty.
The Columbia Is commanded by Com
mander John NJ. Bowyer. L. S. N, who
last year devised a general plan or
scheme for the instruction OF the naval
militia, which was to assign to each Of
ficer and man OF the naval militia the
station and duties OF officers and men OF
like rank OF the regular ships company,
each officer and man being assigned TO
duty with a partner" from the ships
company, whose duties and work he OBJ
served and assisted I'm during the first
few days, and thereafter gradually as
sumed and carried on for himself the
work Of such office or rank, under the
supervision OF the regular officer or man.
until at the close OF the tour OF duty the
naval militia were carrying on the work
OF the ship so far as their numbers would
permit
The battalion will be I'm command OF
Commander William c. Bliss, with Lieu
tenant Commander Charles ~. Lawton as
executive officer. Staff officers will be
Lieut.. Charles f. Peckham. surgeon. and
Lieut. Charles A. Walsh, paymaster.
The four divisions will be commanded
as follows First Division, Bristol, Lieut..
Edward p. Gladding; Second Division.
Lieut.. Charles f. Lawton; Third
Division, Providence. Lieut.. S. Rowland
Pitman Fourth Division, East Providence,
Lieut.. George NJ. Bliss.