Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-08
GOOD SHOTS MADE
BY NAVAL MILITIA
District Gunners Punch Tar
gets Full of Holes in
GARDENERS Bay.
WORK is COMMENDED
BY REGULAR OFFICERS
Battalion Expects to Return to
Washington Thursday-Street
Parade in Program.
Staff Correspondent.

Parade in Program.
Special From a STAFF Correspondent.
ABOARD L. s. s. ALABAMA. July s.
The efficiency Of the officers and enlisted
men of the Naval Battalion of the Dis
trict of Columbia at target practice has
been demonstrated to the regular officers
of the American navy. Soon after the
local boys entered GARDENERS bay late Sat
urday afternoon boats were launched and
the work of setting up the targets was
begun.
The District boys were soon at their
battle stations. and their officers were In
the fighting tops finding the ranges and
transmitting them to the gun pointers
many feet below. There were but few
shells that did not have a tale to tell.
flash, boom, a shiver OF the ship, and a
three-inch shell went whistling through
the air. Then, through the target, the
water could be seen.
The canvas targets. appearing to those
on the ship like mere rowboats fighting
the waves. were literally riddled by the
guns. There were four runs made past
the targets, and two three-inch guns
spoke their death dealing messages on
each run.
The sea was smooth. Following each
| run the Alabama was run almost up to
| the targets. so that those on board could
get an idea of the damage that was done,
| and when they saw the big rips in the
canvas they were enthusiastic at the
| showing. Many of the naval militia boys
| had their first training at the guns, and
this made the scores even more favorable.
and brought forth praises from Com
| mander G. F. Preston of the Alabama and
the other regular officers aboard the
vessel.
Guns Manned by Militia Crews.
The guns were manned entirely by
naval militia crews, and the officers in
the fighting tops did their range-finding
remarkably well. according to regulars
who acted as umpires for the target
practice. There is every reason to be
proud of the showing. 1t indicates that
the American boy in the naval militia will
be a credit to his country in time of war
and it is these young men with the naval
training they receive who will in large
part fill up the reserve vessels to a point
where they can be placed in full COM
mission.
with Capt Preston during the firing. At
the crack of each shot up flew the binoc-
uiars to his eyes, and as a smile broke
out" on his face 1T seemed to indicate
to make an efficient organization out of
the District Naval Battalion had not
been in vain.
He will come back to Washington as
the mighty conqueror and with the as
surance that the District boys could give
an account Of themselves in any war
which may come in the future.
All hands who could be spared were al
lowed on the decks while the gun play
was going on. They evidently enjoyed
the gun work Of the naval militiamen as
though they were taking a part in 1t
themselves
Announced by Siren.
AS the ship entered the target range
the steam siren would screech it's an
nouncement. and the bugler's "call to
battle stations hustled the boys to the
guns. 1T was but a few seconds after
the vessel entered the range that the
guns began pumping. and they pumped
and punched holes until the siren again
announced that the range markers had
been passed
When the bugler sounded his first call
the boys on the decks who were not en-
gagged In manning the guns could be seen
stepping on their toes to relieve them
selves OF the jar. many sticking their
fingers in their ears to deaden the noise,
for though the three-inchers are small,
comparatively, they are loud, as well as
efficient.
bama and only those whom it was nee
essary to keep at work remained on duty.
The boys spent the time in talking and
lounging about the decks, ready to make
the start for Baltimore early Monday
morning.
Though the trip seems to have been
delightful one. the boys are apparently
anxious for a sight Of Washington again.
The trip southwark will be easier than
was the northbOund voyage for the rea-
son that Commander Preston has decided
to proceed to Baltimore leisurely, and
will make only about ten knots an hour.
He has plenty of time. he says.
Anchor will be weighed early Monday
morning. and If present plans are carried
out the Alabama will anchor off the naval
militia dock at Baltimore, Md. some time
Wednesday afternoon, but the boys will
remain aboard until Thursday morning
when they will disembark, and proceed
direct to Washington on the w. b. & A.
electric line.
The Alabama will weigh anchor on the
same date and will proceed direct to New
York to take aboard the New York Naval
Militia for trip to Bermuda
Have the "Navy Fever"
No shore liberty was allowed while
the vessel lay in GARDENERS bay, but the
men were contented and enjoyed them
selves just as we'll about the decks of
the vessel, catching up on the sleep lost
at Newport Many of the local boys have
got the navy fever already. They have
supplied themselves with short-stem
pipes, and whenever leisure time permits
they make an attempt to look as much
like regular sailorman as possible
And they succeed. too.
There is going 10 &c another parade
when the Washington ba ,lalion returns
to town-just like that by the veterans
of the wars. They will march down the
Avenue with all the pomp and ceremony
that characterized their departure from
the city. And, of course. there will be
greetings galore at the railway station.
and Commander Dempf. with his tender
heart and chivalrous nature. will permit
the boys the welcoming before he as
sembles the battalion for the march to
the armOry.
The chief master-at-arms of the Dis
trist contingent is the hardest worked
man on the boat He says he is a stu
dent Of the Italian language, not by Sc
lection, but by force. He has been try
ing for seven days to make the band un-
derstand that they have got to have
clean, white uniforms when they march
down the Avenue He can't speak Ital-
ian. and ne doesn't like to go to the
skipper and tell him that the band won't
work He has taken one Of the band MEM
hers in charge, and Is trying to get him to
teach him (the master at-arms) Italian
enough to say, you've got to wash
| clothes" Connors. the master-at- arms,
saws he isn't a bad student, and expects
| to get the twist and rattle to his tongue
4