The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-02-29
MAINE NAVAL MILITIA.
Good Reports of Their Cruise on the
L. =. : Nebraska.

The annual report of the operations
of the Naval Militia for the year 1911
has just been issued from the United
States navy department and contains
the following references to the cruise
of the Maine Naval Militia on the l.
S. S. Nebraska in July, 1911.
Capt. J. p. Parker, United States
navy, commanding, says: Line Off
GERS were assigned as follows: Com
manding officer of militia with execu-
tive officer, three line officers with
gun divisions. Surgeon and paymas
ter were assigned with the like Off
Gel of this ship The men were diyid-
ed proportionately among the gun di-
visions and signal force For muster
they formed a division Of their own.
They worked and drilled with the di-
visions to which they W re assigned.
They were messed in separate messes
from the ships company. The tenta-
tive routine as given in chiefs letter,
No 1874. of June 20. 1911, was strictly
followed and all men had an opportun-
ity for instruction with the different
calibers of guns.
Il recommend as follows: That the
period of instruction be increased to
not less than 10 days. That during
most of this time instruction be given
in ships acting singly. In my opinion
the men would get more practical ex-
perienee than they now receive, espe-
cially in steering, heaving the lead,
handling boats, etc, and generally in
the exercises they are unable to carry
on with their own resources when not
embarked on regular vessels of the
navy. Ii would seem especially de-
sirable to have those ships act singly
that take on board Naval Militia that
have no naval vessel for their own
drill purposes
Lieut. Commander R. X. Dyer, com
lmanding the Maine Naval Militia, says.
Each day during the cruise the Re-
serve was given the benefit of special
instruction in ordnance in addition to
the regular routine drill including the
three-inch rapid-fire gun, the siX-inch,
the eight and 12-inch turrets and the
torpedo tubes. The chief boatswain
also gave the enlisted men of the Or
ganization very valuable instruction in
seamanship.
The cruise of 1911 proved to be one
of the most instructive for the Maine
Reserves since the inception of the or
ganization, inasmuch as they were able
to observe the tactical maneuvers of
fleet for the first time since 1903
and to witness the control of battle
ship under conditions similar to those
which obtain in actual battle practice.
1While the Maine Reserve derived
great benefit from its experience on
the. late cruise, and its assignment to
battleship greatly EXCHANGED its OPP
portunity 10 learn, it is a source of
much regret that the period of in
struction could not have been more
extended. The total time aboard ship
was barely six days, and at the eX-
piration OF that time the men had only
! Just begun To appreciate the signifi-
canoe of the daily routine. Having be
come familiar With their surroundings
and the ships administration, another
six days would have been vastly more
valuable than the first six. 1t is,
therefore, respectfully recommended
that for future tours of duty IL days
at least, be designated as the actual
period of instruction aboard ship.
"Inasmuch as the Maine Reserves is
now familiar with the construction oil
the Nebraska, and the regular and re-
serve officers on basis of effective
cooperation it is further respectfully
recommended that the Maine Reserves
be assigned to the same ship for the
tour of duty of 1912"