Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-18
CRUISE ON WARSH|P
FOR NAVAL MILITIA
Battalion From District to Go
to Bermuda on the Rhode
Island.
JULY 6 TO 20 is DATE
SET FOR THE TRIP
Start to Be Made From Hampton
Roads-Bluejackets From Other
States to Join.

The Naval Battalion of the National
Guard of the District of Columbia will
have it's annual cruise this year on the
frst-class battleship Rhode Island of the
Atlantic fleet. The dates today were set
by the Navy Department for July to 20
and the objective point of the cruise will
be to the Bermuda Islands. The local
jackies will board the ship. according to
the order issued, at Hampton roads on
the morning Of July. 8.
The changing of the point of embarka-
ton from Baltimore. Md, to Hampton
roads will necessitate the local naval
militia leaving Washington July for
Norfolk, instead of July 6. The naval
militia of North Carolina also will board
the Rhode Island at Hampton roads ON
the same date. When both these -organl-
cations are aboard the Rhode Island will
weigh anchor ano will proceed to l1eWes'
Del, where the naval militia of Pennsyl-
yania, and the I'd Battalion OF the naval
militia of New Jersey, stationed al cam
den will board the Rhode Island. Also al
this point such of the supernumerarN
regulars will be put ashore, making the
cruise this year a strictly naval mltla
cruise on a vessel of the active Atlantic
fleet 1t will be manned almost entirely
by naval militia officers and enlisted men.
Three Days at Bermuda.
After the Pennsylvania and New Jer-
sey naval militia are embarked tne
Rhode Island will proceed, according
TO present plans. for the Bermuda IS
lands, where about three days shore
liberty will be given to the men to
look over the islands. The District naval
militia will disembark at Hampton
roads July 20. and will return to Wash
ington the following day.
The cruise of the naval militia this
year will be the first under the terms
of the naval militia act adopted by
quires the naval militia organization
to meet a regular navy standard set by
the Navy Department. The officers and
men who cruise on the Rhode Island
masts during target practice. which
probably will be held on the southern
drill grounds on the return trip. The
marks made at this target practice will
determine the winners of the gunnery
trophy to be awarded to the naval
militia gun crew which makes the best
scores. and the winning naval militia
men will be permitted to wear the
white letter e. for efficiency in gum
merry on their uniforms for one year.
Members Are Enthusiastic.
Members of the local Naval Battalion
two divisions of which are this morning
on the Congress Heights rifle range of the
National Guard firing their small arms
scores, when informed Of the orders Of
the Navy Department were enthusiastic.
Lieut.. Frank W. Sigourney, commanding
the Sd Division of the local naval mi
litia now on the rifle range, declared that
it was one of the best cruises which the
local naval militia had ever had.
'Of course" said Lieut. Sigourney, we
thought we were going to Bar Harbor,
and only for ten days, but the new de-
cision of the Navy Department permitting
US to go to Bermuda. and for fifteen days,
is considerably better. There will be more
chance for active drill work than hereto
FORE because the Rhode Islands crew,
after she leaves Lewes, will be practi-
cally a full naval militia complement.
l believe it will be one of the most sue
cessful cruises of any naval militia of the
country. and it shows just what the new
naval militia law is doing to build up the
fighting citizen-sailors for immediate use
in case of trouble"