Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-09
DISTRICT NAVY HOME
,MiIjtjamen Had a Good Time
and Learned Lots.
ENTHUSIASM OVER TRIP
Experiences on Battleships Enjoyed
by All the Men.
GOT BACK TO TOWN YESTERDAY
Prairie Brings Battalion to Alex
andria-Lightered Over to Capt.
tai and Dismissed.
ENTHUSIASM OVER TRIP
3OT BACK TO TOWN YESTERDAY

Tanned by sun and salt air. and with
the rolling gait of regular old tars, mem.
bers of the Naval Battalion of the Dis
trict. fresh from their annual cruise. re-
sumed their usual civil occupations this
morning.
During the day. and especially at the
noon hour. they RECALLED their stay-at-
home companions with tales of their
cruise on board the battleships Of the
United States Navy. in which they par
ticipated in target practice, battle drill,
night attacks. laying of mines and tor
pedoes, as we'll as in the usual diversions
of jolly sailors life.
1T was the best and most instructive
cruise we have ever had. We had fine
time and learned a great deal about sea
fighting and none of our men were sick.
was the general statement of the MEM
bers of the battalion as they arrived in
Washington yesterday afternoon.
Prairie Brought Them Home.
With the members of the Pennsylvania
and New Jersey battalons, the District
naval miltiamen were transferred to the
auxiliary cruiser Prairie, which landed
them at Alexandria at noon yesterday.
They were then taken on board naval
gun factory lighter and towed up the river
to Washington by the naval tug Triton.
They reported at once on board the
steamship Puritan After putting away
their hammocks, bags and other personal
equipment they were dismissed In rev
minutes every man was making straight
for home after an absence of ten days.
Officers and men are enthusiastic over
the trip. 1t is said in National Guard
circles that no organization of the Dis
trict troops has ever returned from an
annual encampment or an annual cruise
more satisfied with the progress made
than are the Jackies of the Naval Bat
TALON
Enthusiasm Over Cruise.
They say the cruise was enjoyable in
every respect, and that all the men OBJ
tanned an excellent practice in the duties
of their respective grades. in the man
ming Of a modern battleship, under con-
ltions as closely akin to actual war
fare as it is possible to obtain in times
of peace.
In addition to getting a good insight
into the life of the regular tar, the
District men were also thrown into close
contact with the Naval Reserves of Penn
sylvania and New Jersey. with whom
they discussed problems of particular in
terest to Naval National Guardsmen.
Commander Stratton Talks.
Speaking Of the cruise of the Naval Bat
TALON, Commander Stratton said today:
1T was by far the most successful cruise
that the Naval Battalion has ever had
from several different standpoints. The
men were given the kind of experience
they could never have had in any other
way, and they demonstrated that they
had learned. through previous cruises,
sufficient to be able to make use of the
particular advantages offered them with
out being a hindrance to the regular
crews.
1.-The cruise was in every way a great
success. Within twenty minutes after the
battalion arrived on board the battle
ships they were assigned to duty, ac-
cording to their various ratings, and were
lost in the crew.
1.-The men were especially particular Ill
their behavior, and not q single man was
disciplined on the entire trip. The regu-
lar officers spoke very highly of the
spirit shown by the District men and of
their desire to learn. In all the transfers
from the railroad to the Prairie, to the
battleships and to the lighters, there was
not single hitch. The men knew they
were on trial and did all in their power to
be credit to the District
Il cannot speak too highly of the attitude
of the regular officers and men who did
everything to facilitate the instruction OF
the miltiamen. The men got along fam
ously and the most friendly spirit existed
between the regulars and our men,.