The Washington times., 1914-07-08
DISTRICT TARS NOW
SAILING OCEAN BLUE
BattIeship Rhode Island Begins
Second Leg of Cruise to
Bermuda.

LEwES. Del, July ION board bat
tleEhIp Rhode Island 1.-The first leg OF
che cruise to Bermuda is ended and
not = recruit-seaman is uncertain about
tho enjoyment he will have before the
two weeks trip is over. The members
OF the Naval Battalion of the District
OF Columbia, are not veteran sailers hy
any means. but the 165 miles from
Hampton Roads to Lewes were covered
IN manner that convinced their ship
mates that the trip down the oPtomac
Sun1ay night from Washington was
enough to put them securely on their
ses legs.
The District Reserves are already into
the thick Of the work and fun on board
ship. Led by Commander Joseph A.
Dempf, the militiamen made I'D their
minds when they left the Seventh
street wharf to be regular tars from
the getaway. and thus far not q one
has draped himself over the side and
facused his attention on the cruel wat
era beneath. Commander Dempf has
been mumbline strange nautical-sound-
ing phrases to his men since Sunday,
and they seem to understand what it's
all about. With the regulars on board
the Rhode Island this familiarity with
The language of the deep has made q
citizen-sailors, thereby, are expected
TO be called upon to do much of the
really difficult work on the cruise to
Bermuda. while the North Carolina.
New Jersey, and Pennsylvania reserves
will be called upon to devote their time
admirins the seamanship of the Capital
tars, and doing the less scientific tasks.
such as securing the brass and scrub
bling the deck of the huge ship.
In Charge of Engines.
The engineers division OF the Dis
trict Militia. forty-six in number. has
taken charge of the engines of the
Rhode Island and with the aid Of
members of the New Jersey engineer
reserves. the Washington sailors ex-
pect to have charge OF the below
deck activities the entire trip. The
work In the engine rooms is not new
I" the District men. as most Of them
engines used on the Rhode Island at
tue Washington Navy Yard. Some
OF the more energetic members of the
battalion are stokers par-eXcellence.
while there isn't an oil-cup on the
giant power machines that hasn't got
ten acquainted with at least one
member of the engineers division.
The acquaintance of several guns has
already been made by members of the
District battalion's gunners, and the
regulars In charge the instructinS the
District men in the mechanism of the
death implements, preparatory to the
practice OF Tangier Sound later in the
week.
The Navy Department has put I'D q
trophy for the best target work done
bv the naval militia organizations on
the cruise, and the District gunners are
anxious to win the prize.
Of On Shore Leave.
The Pennsylvania and New Jersey re-
serves came aboard here yesterday. and
900 regulars left the Rhode Island at
the same time to enjoy two weeks shore
leave. There remains enough real SAIL
ors TO see that the reserves act ac-
cordins to all the rules Of seamanship,
but the regulars will divide their time
in bossing the militiamen and then
soothing the possible sore spots by en-
tertainment at night.
Before the Rhode Island steamed out
Of here last night, the regulars were
planning a program Of vaudeville. NOV
ing pictures and athletic stunts to keep
the embryo-sailors out OF mischief on
their first real test Of their sea-legs
on the broad bosom of the Atlantic.
The departure from here was taken at
40 o'clock. The next stop is Bermuda.
where the Rhode Island Is expected to
anchor on Saturday.