WITH THE NAVAL RESERVE

Mr Hayden writes that his company has just been put on police and guard duty and therefore off routine schedule. With a Princeton man he is assigned to a police beat on twenty-four hour shifts. Dartmouth is now as well represented numerically at the station as any college.

The United States Naval Reserve Force is a branch of the navy entirely separate from the regular navy or fleet. Recruiting is carried on separately here at Newport. On an island just off the shore of Narragansett Bay is the Newport Naval Training School and the War College. Previous to April twenty-fourth, both regular rookies and reserves were enrolled and drilled out there., but when the recruiting of regulars assumed such large proportions the reserves were transferred into town, and our headquarters are now at the armory in Newport. In the Reserve force here there are now well over a thousand men on active duty, of whom probably eighty-five per cent at least are college men. The number of Dartmouth men on active duty here is now about one hundred and fifty. To give a clear idea of what "we are doing I will describe the process of enrollment and the average daily routine of the Reserve as at present in force.

A man, desiring to enlist, goes to the recruiting office where he first seeks an interview with the ensign who is to give him his provisional rating. This officer asks him various questions as to his knowledge of tying knots, signalling by semaphore and by the wig-wag and blinker, buoys, lights of all types of vessels, compass, rules of the road, navigation, previous military and naval experience, and knowledge of guns. On the man's intelligence in regard to any or all of these subjects depends his rating. Entire ignorance or slight knowledge gives a man the rating of seaman second class, while a knowledge of all the above, backed by some experience, qualifies him for rating as quartermaster, first, second, or third class. Men with a varying degree of familiarity with engines and machinery in general may qualify as machinists' mates of the different classes. Thus the recruit receives his provisional rating, and is so enrolled. Examinations at some future time will determine whether or not his rating will be confirmed. He receives, however, the standard U. S. Navy pay for that particular rating, and his pay begins the day he starts active duty. After enrollment the recruit receives a physical examination, is vaccinated against smallpox, inoculated against typhoid fever, and then is sworn into the service of the United States for four years, or until the end of the war if that end be ten years distant or more. The understanding is that he will be released from active duty as soon as hostilities cease. In time of peace, under the new Reserve Act a man may resign at any time. The recruit is then told when and where to report for active duty, and dismissed. So far men have been given active duty upon enlistment unless they ask for a few days in which to settle their affairs.

Training of the Reserves to date has been steady but not strenuous. The men have been divided into companies of about seventy-five men each. The company commanders, guides, and tile closers were picked from men with previous military experience at Plattsburg and elsewhere. This arrangement has been made simply for infantry drilling, and without regard to the usual rating of the men. Reserve officers, lieutenants and ensigns, have charge of the entire force, and plan the daily work. They are, to a great extent, men who have been officers in State naval and military organizations previously. We report every morning at seven forty-five at the armory. At eight o'clock comes "Colors", roll call, and then the individual companies are marched down to Wellington Park where infantry drill is held, including skirmish formations, and also battalion formation. At ten-thirty we are marched back to the center of the town to Lafayette Hall' where we receive a lecture on naval etiquette, or seamanship, or whatever the topic for the morning may be. Lunch period is from eleven forty-five to one-fifteen. In the afternoon drill is continued, or if the weather is especially inclement the time is spent in the lecture hall or in the armory with gun drill and signal practice. At different times we have had practical instruction in the handling, dissembling, and firing of the Springfield rifle, one and three pounders and machine guns. Also practice in rope splicing, knot tying, cooking, and a great many of the various things a sailor must know. The machinists have regular classes in the machine room where gasoline and steam engines of various types are set up and taken apart and operated by the men. They also receive actual experience in the repair gangs keeping the patrol boats in action. Thus the day is passed in steady and serious work, until at about four o'clock the men are dismissed for the day. That is the daily schedule for companies on routine work.

Several companies, however, have been detailed for special duties. One is stationed on Goat Island as a guard for the torpedo station and factories there. Another is doing similar guard duty on Rose Island where high explosives are stored. A third has been detailed for police duty in town. Sailors cannot be arrested by local police, hence the need for this sort of a patrol squad. And still a fourth is doing orderly duty individually for various officers. These men get a great deal of good experience and familiarity with the mechanism "which keeps the Reserve Force running smoothly.

A baseball team has been organized among the reserves, of which B. O. Gerrish '17 has been appointed acting captain. The present line-up is as follows :

p.—Egan (Dartmouth) Ross (Dartmouth) Keddie (Dartmouth) Barrette (Cornell)

c.—Salmonsen (Dartmouth) Phillips (Dartmouth)

1st b.—John Schuler (Cornell)

2nd b.—Gerrish (Dartmouth) s. s.—Armstrong (Yale)

3rd. b.—Luth (Annapolis) Cochrane, (Georgetown, Fordham, Athletics)

r. f.—Armour (Yale)

c. f.—Holden (Yale)

1. f.—Chuck Schuler (Cornell Early (Yale)

I have outlined truly the organization and work of the Naval Reserve Force as it is carried on here in the Second Naval District. The men are being thoroughly trained in the fundamentals of naval regime. All are taking hold in real earnest endeavor, and are rapidly acquiring the knowledge which will make them efficient sailors when they are sent to the boats and ships in the near future. No complaints of visions dashed to the ground are heard. The men respond enthusiastically to their orders, whatever they may be. Whether they should be ordered out for cutter drill on the bay or to coal ship at the docks they cheerfully do as they are told, though none of the Reserves have as yet been set shovelling coal. A fine determined set of fellows the Reserves are for the most part. Their hearts are in their work.

First Day in the Trenches

Preparing Entanglements

Captain Chase and Captain Keene