Evening star., 1923-06-26
MEN ON EAGLE &c
CRUISE ARE FETED
Maryland and Virginia Towns
Cordial to D. c. Citizen
Sailor TraineeS.
Special Dispatch TO The Star.


ABOARD L. S. S. EAGLE 80,
MOORED PATUXENT RIVER. OFF
SOLOMON'S ISLAND, Md. June 26.-
Plenty of opportunities for a good
time to offset the hard work of train
ing as man-o'- -warsmen is being fur
nished the citizen sailors of the
United States naval reserves of the
District, now on their annual train
ing cruise aboard the l. S. S.
Eagle 56.
Capt. p. d. Johnston. commanding
the Eagle. has set a fast pace for
his officers and men in their training,
which is being carried out under the
direction Of his executive officer.
Lieut.. Stinemetz, but the crew says
the vessel is home" which is a
sailors way of telling that he is at
tached to a happy ship.
Members of the crew have been en-
tertalned by the island people OF the
stcn has taken them for liberty. and
IN turn the newly organized Patrol
Boat Quartet has been we'll received
IN fact, in demand, at entertainments
on the island
Fishing Is Popular.
Fishing anu grabbing parties have
been formed among the crew, and
nave clednpu OUT Iangler
Sonud of fish and crabs, If their
catches give any sign, for the ships
company has had many messes from
them.
Soon after anchoring off Tangier
island Capt. Johnston sent an eX-
ploring party ashore to look the
island over, many of the crew having
read stories of Queerly dressed in
habitantS and a town built on stills
they found the town of TanEier
just like any Maryland town and
were pleased with it Following the
report of the exploring party, Capt.
Johnston permitted liberty parties
to go ashore there after the day S
drills were over.
After a day spent near Tang er
Island in boat and signal drills. tar
get practice and abandoned ship, the
vessel moved up Tangier Sound a few
miles to Deal Island. There the lib
erty party found a lawn fete and
helped the cause by furnishing music
and little sea comedy.
Invited by Girls.
They made such a good impression
on the populace. that the young
women invited them ashore the next
night to an impromptu seaside musi-
cal, at which the Patrol Boat Quartz t
from the Eagle again took off the
honors. 1t was with much regret
that the crew returned to the ship
to make ready for the voyage to
Yorktown, Va, where, too, they were
well received by the commandant of
the Naval mine base on the York river
above Yorktown. There they were
the guests of the navy men on duty.
Much entertainment is being pro-
vided here also for the crew of the
Eagle, and they are taking advantage
of 1t. Liberty parties are sent ashore
every evening, and those who must
remain abroad indulge in fishing,
swimming and grabbing over the
ships side.
The cruise has been a most profit
able one in the way of training and
every minute of the daylight is given
over to the many drills through
which sailor in the Navy must go
aboard the fighting feet in time of
war. They will return to Washing
ton better sailormeD and ready to re-
sumo drills for the next year.
Return Next Saturday.
The vessel will leave here Friday
morning, steam down the Patuxent
river and Chesapeake bay and up
the Potomac, homeward bound.
Anchoring in the Potomac near
Washington Friday night, the ves-
sci will come up to the dock early
Saturday morning, bringing the
cruise to an end.
The Eagle will remain here for
two weeks, when it will make a
officers and men. This time the ves-
sci will be in command of Lieut..
Commander j. B. Blood, and will
cover the same itinerary. Recruits
are now being taken into the organi-
zation for this cruise.