New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-21
NAVAL MIUT|AMEN ARE
MASTERS Of BATTLESH|P
Second Battalion, Back from
Its Bermuda Cruise on the
Alabama, Wins LaureIS.
FIT FOR ACTIVE SERVICE
Every Detail Well Done by
Citizen Sailors, Who Also
Make acknowledgement
Is Called Great Success.

When SO officers and men Of the I'd
Battalion, Naval Militia. returned yes
erday from a weeks cruise TO Bermuda
on the Dattlcship Alabama word came
with them that the efficiency Of tho naval
militia had been fully demonstrated. Ac-
cordinr TO Captain Preston Of the Ala
aama, the ID battalion could take a first
class battleship into action without as
sistancc on two weeks notice.
Tronzed. strong and saying they never
felt better IN their lives, the militiamcn
d'sembarkcd yesterday morning from the
Alabama as the snip lay i'm tho Hudson
River of 9tth street Instead OF showing
tho effects Of their experience both the
officers and men declared that they were
FIT" and only regretted that their cruise
had not been longer.
The cruise. which was = variation from
tho annual sea drill of the ID Battalion.
had been taken nj the imitation Of Cap
tain Preston. II vas with the purpose Of
trying the sea legs Of the amateur sailors
in practical way and to give an oppor-
tunity. through the cooperation Of the
Navy Department. to test the practical
quality OF naval militia training
The Alabama, classified in tho FIRST
reserve" list Of the COGntryS sea power,
had practically ali its normal stores on
loard. but only oue-fourth Of its war
time crew. Tho I'd Battalion. with l2j Off
fnII
from buffalo and Duukirk brought the
force .embarking on the bat,lcship to 80,
. 'rd with This combined crew the Alabama
II left New York a week ago yesterday.
Act Like Veterans.
The citizen sailors. under the command
OF Commander Kingslcy J.. Martin went
or board the hattcshp i'm Just fifteen
minutes after the order was given 10 60
on the tugs. In advance each man was
assigned his station on the ship. and
within the fifteen minutes each man had
his hammock and "ditty box slowed
away and was in his proper location.
From the time the Alabama lifted an
chor the ship was manned. governed and
executed by the nlilitiamen. While the
regular officers. from Captain Preston
down. could not be relieved Of their re-
sronsbility. the navy officers acted only
in an advisory capacity. Tho navigation
or tho ship and control Of its machinery
vas handled BY the officers and men OF
the militia.
Every operation necessary to tho ma
nruvrlng Of a. ship in war time was gone
through. The mon put into practice the
theories they had learned about fire con-
trol. gun drills were followed through IN
tine same manner practised by the enlist
ed navy men and. because the Alabama
lacked its full complement, One-half the
fremen stocking the boilers were militia
men. The latter. in spite Of the severe
strain Of firing a battleship, suffered no
ill effects.
First OF the records to be hung up by
the Cd Battalion men was that OF the
engine crew. Captain Preston desired TO
arrive in Bermuda on Tuesday while u
was still daylight hut the normal speed
Of the Alabama was only u knots. His
orders for Full speed brought a run Of
1916 knots. which. il was stated. was the
greatest speed the Alabama had MADE
since Il had been in commission.
The "cal for action" a drill requiring
constant alertness and full knowledge Of
each mans duties, produced another rec
ord. In pa minutes after the signal the
enemy had been sighted" the decks were
cleared. ammunition HOSTS and gun crews
were ready and from the fire control sta
ton came the range for the guns. the last
having been obtained by the use OF an in
nocent tramp steamship as the enemy
During this drill the forward turret was
purposeiy fouled. The crew Of eIectri-
clans and machinists had the turret IN
working order again within three min
utes.