Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-04
Commander Davis Says Its
Efficiency Is Increasing.
TARGET PRACTICE GOOD
Lieut.. Commander .Farris Makes Re-
port on Last Summers Cruise of
District Organization.

According to Commander A. II. Davis
of the navy, the naval militia of the
United States made considerable advance
in efficiency during the last year and in
creased in numbers by more than 40
officers and enlisted men. The attendance
at the summer exercises was good. Com
mander Davis says that the great draw
back to successful summer work is the
difficulty Of getting the organizations out
for uniform and sufficiently long period.
For some organizations the period has
been only one week. the limit Of time the
men could get away from their work.
In his opinion, in cases Of organizations
having ships, the training period should
be at least two weeks. in order to carry
out individual and combined drills. ma
neuvers and target practice. 1t was ow-
ing to lack of time, he says. that only
three Organizations were able to have
target practice during the rendezvous at
GARDENERS bay last summer
Commander Davis says the target prar-
tice was satisfactory and reflected credit
on the naval militia. He adds that the
value of assigning naval officers to naval
militia vessels for the annual summer
exercises has been proved. While aboard
the ships the naval officers act as ad-
viserS and instructors. This. he says, has
resulted in a better understanding by
naval militia officers Of their relations
with the navy.
More Uniformity in Training.
Greater uniformity in training the
naval militia is reported by Commander
Davis. who says that the more modern
equipment furnished by the department
and the clearer knowledge of record
kaonsno col,
Of the naval militia have resulted in
greater ease in supplying the wants of
the organizations
The naval militia Of the District of
Columbia made a practice cruise at sea
last July on the battleship Virginia, and
the men were put through the regular
routine service. Capt. j. H. Glennon,
commanding the battleship, in his re-
port of the cruise, says that the Vir-
ginia cruised 1,340 miles. while the Dis
trict naval militia was on board. Their
good. and their experiences. including
coaling ship. must have been Of con-
siderable benefit to Them
Referring to the cruise. Lieut. Com
mander r. l.. Farris of the District
naval militia, in his report to the Navy
Department, said, in part:
1.-The cruise was both interesting and
instructive to all officers and men of the
battalion present. The arrangement OF
having one of the regular ships COM
Of the battalion to receive individual
attention and instruction in the special
duties Of his rank or rating. and the
readiness and willingness with which
the instruction was given, was quite
gratifying and encouraging.
Maneuvers OFF Block Island.
THE combined fleet maneuver off
Block Island and the west entrance to
Vineyard sound were Of special i'm
portance in affording us the opportunity
of actually seeing an opposing feet in
a position it might occupy in actual
warfare. and also the actual appearance
of torpedo destroyers in night attack
The health of the battalion was good
during the cruise, the men kept their
clothes in good condition, and made
first-class appearance at inspection"