The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-02-19
NAVAL MILITIA OF CONNECTICUT
 HIGHLY PRAISED
Especial Commentator is Given To Men Who
 Handled the Guns.

The report of the navy department on the practice cruise of the United States Steamship Kentucky, Aug. IT, 29, which was participated in by the Connecticut Naval Militia, gives the sailors of this state a great deal of praise The commanding officer of the Kentucky was Commander D. B. Dismukes. and 15 officers and 27O en- listed men of the Connecticut Naval Militia took part in working the ship. Of the local sailors, thereport says:
 Connecticut organization was we'll neer division and fairly well organ ized pay division. The Maine militia had neither a regular assigned engi- neer or pay division. The Rhode Isl- and militia, though they had a vessel assigned to them, had no organized engineer division.
 Especial praise was given to the work and the efficiency of the officers of the Connecticut sailors. With the exception of a good proportion of the Connecticut Naval Militia, it continues none of the officers has the slightest Knowledge of navigation. An order was issued that all watch officers would be required at sea to take a sight daily for line of position, and an azimuth for compass error on the ships heading. With the exception of the Connecticut officers mentioned above, none of the officers could do this task. Some of them tried hard to master the difficulties of dead reck- oning. but with poor results owing to the fact that the ship had no regular ofhff1cer to spare for this instruction. Something should be done by the va rious organizations to qualify all their line officers, at least on dead reckon ing navigation, and to qualify at least one officer, in addition to the com q off iTa i1oI navigation.
 A very favorable report was made of the efficiency of the Connecticut en- listed men. The enlisted men of the deck force showed some Knowledge of the duties of their ratings and were in general, fairly well disciplined. The engineer force was very good and worked well and efficiently. The fire men were not well enough disciplined to withstand the extreme heat. This, however would be overcome in actual service after a few weeks training. The men in both deck and engineer force were willing to learn and show ed great improvement at, the end of the cruise. With experience this or ganization would be of value to the service.
 The Connecticut men received much praise from the executive officer, IAeu- etnant Commander R. s. Reyes: The
 
 of training and work. The officers as a, whole are good, though needing ex- perience. The officers as a whole showed more knowledge of navigation than other organizations that have cruised on this ship, due no doubt, to the fact that the commanding officer is an enthusiastic navigator. The en- listed mon were willing and kept part of the ship clean. Knowledge of ser vice customs was naturally lacking, but the men adapted themselves to conditions very we'll. The petty of ficers were good to excellent, some of them being qualified to perform the duties of their ratings in the regular service. The organization as a. whole is good and capable of rendering good service.
 The engineer officer. Lieutenant F. M. Robinson, commented favorably on the work of the engineering force of