Evening star., 1914-07-19
BattIeship Rhode Island Brings
Jackies Back From 1000
Mile Cruise.
THEY WILL BE BACK HERE
EARLY TUESDAY MORNING
Dirty Job of Coaling Ship Will End
Their Service-Good Records
Made in Target Practice.
Special From a STAR Correspondent.

Special From STAFF Correspondent
HAMPTON ROADS, Va. July 1s.-
Having covered more than 1000 miles on
the Atlantic ocean aboard the battleship
Rhode Island, one of Uncle Sans largest
dreadnoughts. the officers and enlisted
men of the Naval Battalion, N. G. D. c.,
will disembark shortly after breakfast
Monday morning. sunbrowned with the
tropical sun, heavy with muscle and full
Of training for war.
Their cruise ended today, when the big
battle wagon the third in gunnery eff
cheney in the Atlantic fleet, dropped her
anchor in Hampton roads after six
hour run from Tangier sound, where the
District sailors manned the ship and her
guns for target practice.
Dirty Job for Sunday.
While the cruising period ended today.
the District boys tomorrow will partici-
pate in one of the most important of ship
drills, coaling. 1t Is one of the hard jobs
and. needless to say. dirty one. But
the District naval militiamen feel equal
to their task.
big lighters, loaded with coal. were Sc
cured alongside the ship. The coaling
will begin early tomorrow morning. The
greatest part of the day will be taken up
in coaling. Then the dirt will have to
be cleaned up.
The District sailors enjoyed their voy-
age to Bermuda, despite the hard work
Nevertheless. all seem anxious to get
back to the Capital city, with their rela-
tives. wives and sweethearts.
1t was an eager crowd of sailors VINO
surrounded the mail orderly when he
returned with bags of mail shortly after
the ship anchored. Some received many
letters from home" Others received
none. and to them fell disappointment.
1t was the first word from home since
the boys left Washington. What was
best of all. letters that had been ad-
dressed to the ship at Bermuda were
held up by the wise postmasters and
turned toward Old Point.
Letters From Home.
When the jackies set foot on the
dock at Old Point this afternoon it was
the first time they had put their feet
on soil since early last Saturday even
ing. Then the last liberty party re-
turned to the Rhode fsland from Hamil-
ton, Bermuda They have been con-
fined to the ship for one week, seven
days of drill principally at manning the
At the target practice the District
boys did well. They saw that the targets
were well punctured. Each & OF the four our
two gun crews. Besides. the division
officers were required to show their
powers at the guns.
The third division, youngest of the
battalion. and with many newly enlisted
men. made the most hits, although their
time was not the quickest. In the off,
GERS string of shots Junior Lieut..
liam j. Wheatley made the most hits.
The third division had been well coached
in gunnery by Ensign Goodwin, U. S. N.
During the firing. which took half
igated the ship. Commander Joseph A.
Dempf, commanding the local naval
militia. commanded the Rhode Island.
The firing was carried on in fine shape
sort.
Excellent Showing Made.
Considering the short time the
naval militiamen had to train for prac-
tice, Ensign William r. Hoefer. ordi-
nance officer of the battalion. declared
they did fine shooting. The District
naval gunners are now only sorry that
they couldn't continue the firing all
day and make every shot telling
one.
Before night the customs officers had
come aboard the ship and looked over
the purchases Of the sailor lads. The
boys are full Of souvenirs for their
friends and relatives. principally coral
formations bought in Bermuda.
The boys are anxious to be through
with the big job of coaling. and then
to get into clean uniforms for the
start home, which will be made Mon
day evening. Arriving in Washington
early Tuesday morning, they will
march to their armory. a few blocks
from the wharf. where they will turn
in their property and be dismissed.
While the return voyage was a little
rough the newly enlisted sailor boys
had gotten their sea legs and enjoyed
the fine salt air. When not at drill or
standing watches in various parts of
the ship. from the Took out" down be-
low the water line to the firerooms
and ammunition magazines, they were
out on the open decks watching the
heavy seas break over the bow in
volumes OF water that can be esti-
mated only in tons.
Monday will be the big day for the
local jackies. 1t marks the time of
| their efhbarkation for home. While
they will be given liberty at Old Point,
after they disembark from the Rhode
Island, there will undoubtedly be no
| stragglers when the time comes in the
| evening to march aboard the passen-
ger steamer with the homeward- bound
, pennant flying to a full breeze.