Evening star., 1923-07-27
D. c. NAVY ANCHORS
OFF QUANT|C0, VA.
Two. Divisions Sent Ashore
for Day of Practice on
Rifle Range.
Special Dispatch to The star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
ABOARD U. s. S. EAGLE NO. Sc.
anchored in Potomac river off Guam
tico, Va.-After a day of maneuVer-
ing in Chesapeake bay and the
lower Potomac river. the U. ). >.
Eagle No. Sc, hoIneward bound from
a two-week training cruise. with OF
ficers and men Of the United States
naval reserve Of the District OF CO.
lumbia aboard. dropped her mud hook
off the Marine Corps dock at guam
tico. A number of barges unloading
supplies here prevented the ship get
ting into the dock.
Shrill notes of the bugler's reveille,
followed by the whiStling OF the poat-
swain's pipes and deep-throated caliS
of the boatswain's mate. Up all
hands" turned more than half a nun
dred sailors out on deck early toaay.
Hot coffee and quick WASH 90" II
for decks. then breakfast, and they
took up their landing force equip
ment.
spend Day on RibIe Range.
There was the rattle of rifles ana
accouterments as they lined up at the
ships armory for the equipment, ana
long before Washington was awake tue
ships boats left her side with Two
divisions heading for the Marine IN
der the direction of Capt. John baich
Blood commanding; Lieut. Fihney
B. Smith, executive officer. and the
division commanders. the men were
put through rifle practice at dr rari1us
ranges. Putting ashore a landins
force is an important drill for the
Navy, for the officers and men must
be prepared at all times to go on the
beach for land fighting and holo
points until the arrival of the Army.
Medical Unit With Landing Force.
With the landing force was de-
tachment of the Medical Corps un9er
the command of Lieut. Commander
Albert 2. Tibbetts, chief surgeon or
the ship, ready to render first aid in
the event of any casualties. Com
mander Tibbets also gave instruction
in the application of first aid. T.
While anchored off Solomons IS
land, in the PatuXent river, the ofl-
GERS and men were kept constantly
busy in drills. Detailed instructions
were given in the operation or a
landing force, the handling OF small
arms. nomenclature of the rifle. use
of the sights and target marking.
Yesterday Ensigns Fewell and Moore
junior officers. were directed by capt.
Blood to get the ship under way and
bring it to anchor; They also were
the bay and swing for the determi-
nation of the compass error. Upon
returning to the anchorage the small
boats were lowered and maneuvered
by direction from flag hoist signals
on the ship. In the evening the men
were sent ashore to attend a dance.
Shore Leave to BE Granted.
Upon return of the landing force to
the ship this afternoon. following
completion of the target practice.
liberty will be allowed for short
time tonight Preparations viii be
made to get underway at o'clock to-
morrow morning, and Capt. Blood
said he plans to reach the dock. at
the foot of Water and O streets
southwest, about 10 o'clock tomorrow
morning, completing the cruise.
Soon after the vessel docks. prepa-
rations will be made for the fourth
and last cruise of the season, to start
in two weeks, when the vessel will
be in command of Commander John
A. Schofield. who commands the local
battalion. Recruits now are being ac-
cepted for this cruise, and Commander
Schofield expressed the hope that he
would be able to get her full COM
plement for this trip.