The morning journal-courier., 1908-05-25
NAVAL MANEUYERS
Dates. Have Been Changed to
August SIT, Two Days
Longer,
2 YACHTS FOR CONNECTICUT
Boat Races and Competitive Target
Practice In Gardeners
Bay.

Bliss of the Rhode Island battalion
from Acting Secretary Truman II.
Newberry Of the Navy department, the
date of the Joint maneuvers of the
naval militia bactalions of the New
England states and of New York, the
tour of duty to be held in Gardeners
bay, Long Island sound, has been set
definitely for August Sill This is two
days longer than the time allotted UNI
der the original project, The commun-
ioation containing the information that
Commander Charles c. Marsh. U. S.
~, would command the squadron at
Gardeners bay and that he was at
present at work upon the program of
the tour OF duty, which differs widely
from the maneuvers In former years,
as we'll as comprising interesting de-
tails impossible to obtain under the
single battalion cruise on one vessel,
as has been the plan In previous years.
Besides the converted yachts and
other vessels owned by the naval mill
tia of all the states represented in the
manoeuvres except Rhode Island and
Maine, the Yankee and Prairie of the
governments auxiliary cruiser fleet
and the torpedo flotilla with parent
ship will participate. The Rhode ISL
and battalion will probably be accom-
modated on either the Prairie or the
Yankee, and these two vessels will
probably be utilized in a small part
by the overflow detachments from 9TH
or state naval militia commands which
cannot be wholly accommodated on
their own craft
Commander Bliss believes that the
/ plan proposed for this years man
euvers has many advantages over
those In vogue in previous years, mas
much as It will afford an opportunity
for the men to observe and get ac-
| quainted with the men of the naval
militia of all the other Northern states
| participant in the tour of duty. The
plan will, he expects produce much
that Is good In the way Of uniformity,
besides tending to knowledge of va
rious ideas in other battalions which
might be Incorporated In the facilitat-
ing Of training of the Rhode sland conf
inand.
There will be two converted yachts,
owned by the Massachusetts naval mill
tia at Gardeners bay two from New
York state one containing the Jersey
City battalion of the New Jersey Ma
val reserves, and two from Connect
cut, In addition to the vessels of the
regular navy. Much interest in the
coming maneuvers Is evinced by the
Rhode Island naval mllitiamen. espe-
cially because Of the fact that, for the
frset time, the program will be carried
out for squadron, instead of on board
a single ship, as heretofore
At Gardeners bay there will be boat
races and competitive target practice
by the crews OF the various state com.
mands, with maneuvers of various
kinds both day and, night The entire
tour Of duty will not be spent in thc
harbor at Gardeners bay. ON the con.
trary, portion Of the program It Is
said, will comprise sea duty. though
There will also be an opportunity fol
the studying OF torpedo boat WORKS, al
entirely new feature Of the annual toui
of duty of the reserves.
Acting Secretary of the Navy New
berry's letter which was sent to Fred
erick NJ. Sackett, Adjutant General o
the state Of Rhode Island, and by hin
communicated to Commander Bliss II
the usual course, Is as follows:
referring TO the matter of the sum
mer manoeuvres to be held at Gardi
ners bay, the time for the same ha
been fixed for Aug, Sill, and II Is OK
pected that in addition to the sovera
ships assigned to naval militia, tn
! Yankee. the Prairie and the TORPEDO
notilla, with parent ship, will partci
pate.
Commander Charles C. Marsh, L
S. n, has been designated to common
the squadron, and has been authorize,
to communicate with the commandin
officers Of the naval mflitias In regar
to the detail, The plan Of maneuver
; will be forwarded to you when com
pleted."