Evening star., 1923-07-21
NAVAL RESERVES
DELAYED At BASE
Itinerary of Cruise of U. S. S.
Eagle Sc Changed After
Loss of Day.
speciar Dispatch to The Star.

opecl5i 'ispatcn 10 Inc STAR.
YORKTOWN, Va, July 21.-After
: week filled with navy drills, in
Guiding target practice, during which
they made excellent scores. the Off
GERS and men of the United States
Naval Reserve of the District of CO.
lumbia arrived here late yesterday
aboard the U. S. S. Eagle. No. Sc
their training ship. Like those on
the previous voyages of the vessel.
the officers and men on this trip are
doing much to cement friendship be-
tween the island people of the Chesa
peake Bay and those on the eastern
shore with those in the District.
Capt John Balch Blood, U. S. N.
r. F., commanding the ship. has
= changed the itinerary a little from
the frs two voyages. The vessel
left the naval operating base at
Hampton Roads. Va, a day late ow
ing to difficulty in obtaining oil, and
proceeded to Tangier sound. On the
way UP the bay, the voyage was de-
!ayed by Capt. Blood to permit Lieut.
+. b. Smith to Swing ship" which
is the sea term for taking bearings
on the sun TO determine the exact
error Of the comra&ses.
score wen at Targets.
Another halt was made to engage
In target practice off the wrecks of
the old battleships San Marcos and
Alabama Lieut.. Smith bore sighted
the guns, target was cast over
the side, after which the crew was
sent to battle stations by sounding
of the general alarm. They evidenced
the value of their few days of train
ing by ponding promptly and fir
ing accurately at ranges given from
the central battle station. under the
direction of Lieut.. Smith, sunnery
officer.
After entering Tangier sound, Capt.
Blood directed that the vessel pro-
ceed to point off Crisfield. where
1t was anchored. Very few naval
vessels ever get into that port. which
Is reached by a shallow channel, and
the Eagle attracted considerable at
tention. Capt. Blood and his officers
and men We're hosts of the Rotary
Club of Cristeld and explained the
work and duties aboard a man-o'
Warsman. Liberty parties were sent
ashore there and they were cordially
entertained at vaudeville and dane
ing.
Given Much Liberty.
During the day the men were given
boat drills. both under oars and sails.
chief BoatSwain'S Mate Rhodes di-
rected much of this work and ex-
plained the methods of handling
DOalS under all kinds of conditions
to the recruits.
Considerable liberty was allowed
the men by Capt. Bgeod, as they
have worked untirngly on the way
to get the most out of their two
weeks of training 1t was. with re-
sret that they saw the anchor hoisted
Friday morning for the trip to York
town, but all of them look forward
with great deal of interest to see
ing the sights here including the
field which t'nrpwa1liS
dered to Washington, the naval mine
and oil bases.
The vessel will lie at the dock here
until Monday morning, when the voy-
age up the bay and the PatuXent river
to Solomon's Island will be started
' 1t Will arrive there early in the after
noon, and Will leave Thursday morn
ing, steaming down the PatuXent and
the Chesapeake bay and up the Poto-
mac river to QuanticO, where it will
dock. A landing party will be sent
ashore there to engage in rife prac-
tice on the Marine Corps range. To
make it Interesting for the men.
silver loving cup has been provided
and will be awarded to the man max
ing the best score. Ensign Moore,
athletics officer of the ship, has pur-
chased the cup and il will be award
ed Immediately upon completion of
the firing.
Praise for Vessel.
The vessel is due at its dock at the
foot of Water and O streets Wash
ington, early Saturday morning, when
the officers and men will be placed
on the inactive list for another year
There will be one more cruise, at
which time the vessel will be COM
manded by Commander John A. Scho-
field. 1t will leave two weeks after
the return of the vessel from this
voyage.
Both officers and men are high in
their praise of the conditions in
which the vessel was turned over to
them by Chief BoatSwain j. z. Judge,
in charge of the vessel while she is
not cruising. In between trips, Boat
swain Judge has fixed many things
for the comfort of the officers and
men, and they spoke particularly of
the new ice-box which he had built
aboard the vessel for it's summer
duty. 1t was used for the first time
on this trip.