Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-21
PRACTICE CRUISE
 FOR U. s. CIVILIANS Volunteers WiIT Get Close Contact With Naval Life and Duties.

With Naval Life and Duties.
 Washington, D. C., July 2O-En- roIlment of civilians for the forthcom- ing cruise on United States warships is proceeding with indications that the experiment is popular and there is no doubt that the full quota of two thousand citizens, ranging all the way from g to 45 years of age, will be ready to carry their dunnage bags aboard the practice fleet on August Is. The men will board the ships at the ports nearest their homes, and in the months duration of the cruise will be given experience in almost every form of naval life from swabbing the decks to firing big guns. The en- rOIIment thus far shows men of all trades and professions, many prOmi- nent and wealthy, who are enthusiastic over thlS new plan of naval prepared ness. Assistant Secretary Roosevelt, of the Navy Department, expects to spend at least some of the month as one of the citizen blue jackets.
 Rear Admiral J. NL Helm who is at present in charge of the Naval Militia Cruise, will be cOmmander-in-c chief of the civilian cruise also, and will use the same Warships The vessels. and the ports from which they will sail are, the Virginia, from Portland, Me; the KearsaTge, from Boston, Mass; the
 
 lucky and Maine, from New York city; the Rhode Island and Alabama. from Philadelphia; the Louisiana. from Norfolk. Va; and the New Jersey from Charleston, s. c.
 The cruise will end September 12 and during it's last week will be held a mobilization and training cruise of yachts and motor boats. From August 15 until August 20, the citizen sailors will be proceeding to the training ren- d. a+ 7~rfr, apeake Bay, the gunnery practice ground of the Atlantic fleet. Target practice will be hId by the training fleet from August 27 to September i
 The object of the cruise is official ly described by Secretary Daniels as follows:
 For training volunteers to afford to civilians an opportunity to gain by close contact with naval life and nav al duties, some experience and under standing which will help them to per ceiVe the way they may best fit them selves in the navy in time of need
 At the end of the cruise each vol unteer will be given a certificate by Rear Admiral Helm specifying the duties he performed, efficiency dis played and the naval rating he is best qualified to fill. Volunteers also will announce whether they will volunteer for naval service in case of war with in the next four years.
 Each volunteer is depOsiting but S3O for the privilege of the months cruise the navy supplying uniforms and other naval clothing. The volunteers will be given substantially the same training as midshipmen from the Naval Acad- enny during their training periods They will sleep in hammocks, canvas bags will be their substitutes for chif- foniers at home; they will help clean ship, polish brassWOrk assist in the engine room and generally go through the rigorous duties of any Jack Tar.
 Mixed with the work, however. will be much recreation and instruction. When conditions permit, the men will be allowed to go swimming twice daily, and hold rowing and sailing races, and inter-ship baseball games Lectures and private instruction will be given daily by navy officers, in ad- dition to the practical experience af- forded.
 The volunteers are to be organized, massed and berthed separate from the regulars aboard ship and will not be required to pass coal, work in the mass room, stoke boilers or do ex- treme1y Iaborious work which might too severely strain men of sedentary life, although all will be required to pass a physical examination before em- barking.
 From daybreak until g p. m. a reg u1ar program of duties awaits the ci- williams with almost every minute f1lI- ed. Before breakfast two and half hours work will be the daily program of the citizen sailors. During the cruise they will be drilled and in structed in the 8 and inch guns of the ships, in signaling, boating of all kinds, fire control, torpedo defense, quartermaster's duties, marine and l electrical machinery, including radio | work. Emergency drills, such as fire 1 quarters collision, "man overboard,'' | and general quarters are also sched- Block Island