Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-05
NAVAL M|L|TIAMEN
GET TARGET WORK
Sail From Newport, R. l..
Aboard the u. S. S. Alabama
for GARDENERS Bay.
HIGH PRAISE ACCORDED
TO DISTRICT RESERVES
Rear Admiral Badger and Com
mander Preston Laud Work and
Appearance of Men.
al From a Star Correspondent

Specis! From STAFF Correspondent.
NEWPORT, r. l.. July 5.-The good
ship Alabama. with the District Naval
Battalion aboard. Is now steaming for
GARDENERS bay. Long Island There the
local boys will try their hands at the big
guns on the Alabama and will undoubted-
ly prove to the regular naval officers that
they could make II hot for an enemy IN
time OF war.
GARDENERS bay will be reached this aft
ernoon, according to schedule. Tomorrow
being Sunday and an off day, the vessel
will remain at anchor. Monday. however,
the real work will begin. There will be
one days shooting at the moving tar
gets under various conditions. also there
will be searchlight displays in which the
officers and men of the naval reserve viii
be given chance to show how they
would defend the ship against torpedo at
tack.
The Alabama will then remain at an
Choir until about Wednesday, when she
will put out for Baltimore. which. accord
Ing to the present schedule. Will be reacn-
ed Friday morning.
Weighs Anchor at 8 O'Clock.
At 1880 this morning the last boat
left shore bringing the last Of the lib
erty parties to the ship. Shortly after
the Alabama weighed anchor and got
under way.
After almost two days ashore the
militia jackies are now anxious to
work at the big guns and display their
prowess. The buglers' call for battle
stations and clear ship for action can
not come too quickly for them.
The officers and men of the District
naval militia spent practically al Of
yesterday in Newport and at the rari-
Gus amusement resorts in the vicinity.
thoroughly enjoying their liberty.
They have earned all the liberty they
have received, for the work on bat
tleship is hard. and even harder for
those who only get a taste OF X Tor
short period each year. But the DIS
trict boys don't mind. They come from
the engine and fire rooms with faces
blackened and muscles hardened. but
through the smut and CRIME on their
faces a smile can always be seen
Change in Watches Necessary.
Shortage of men has made il neces-
sary to change the watches in the engi-
neer division. Heretofore the men
have been working four hours on and
twelve off, but now they will have to
work four hours on and only eight on.
But they even greeted this with
more experience.
Commander Dempf is proud of the
way his men are coming up 10 his ex-
pectations, and he is well pleased, as
mander Preston. in talking to The
Stars correspondent, praised Com
mander Dempf as an executive officer,
and also lauded the men for the eff
cfent manner in which they have
worked while aboard ship.
nd rti r. Y
anxious about the food his men, as Well
as the naval militiamen, get. and he
even asks them how they are getting fed.
He is doing so much to help mis- men
that in every part of the vessel they
speak Of him in the highest terms.
Admiral Badger Voices Praise.
The condition in which the District S
Naval Reserves. together with the skele-
ton crew of regulars. had kept the Ala
bama on her trip northward has been the
source of a glowing compliment by. Rear
Admiral Badger to Commander Preston.
Admiral Badger made it known in no un-
certain terms that he appreciated the
work of the reserves. He uttered his
statement after he had made an inspec-
ton OF all parts of the ship
Yesterday was one of official calls and
honors aboard all the ships in the harbor.
There was Admiral Badgers flagship the
dreadnaught Wyoming the mine layer
San Francisco, the cruiser Dixie. the We
suvius. Montgomery and number Of 9TH
er naval craft, including the little torpedo
boats All the vessels dressed al morning
colors and the sight of the yari-colored
flags flying from the rigging was an i'm
posing one.
When Admiral Badger was p!ped over
the starboard gangway there were six
side Loys and the bugler sounded his call
Commander Preston was the first 10 greet
the admiral, and Commander Dempf
skipper of the District Naval Battalion.
who is now executive officer of the Ala
bama, was next. Then the other regular
and militia officers greeted the admiral
Newport Ablast With Explosives.
While Washington was enjoying a safe
and sane Fourth, Newport was literally
ablast with explosives. The firing OF