Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-15
~ .
<rRr YoULD you like to take a
$>\X ten.day trip on the At
M lantic ocean during the
" warm days of July, with
a SfOn Of a day or two at


ten-day trip on the At
M lantic ocean during the
warm days of July, with
II stop of a day or two at
Newport. r. IL" is being asked. "If you
would then you had better enlist right
away as a member of the Naval Bat
TALON. Down at the fine armory at the
foot of Water and O streets southwest
they are looking for the best men of the
city to enlist and learn little about the
naval service. so as to be prepared in the
event Of war"
The enlistment period covers three
years, and is open to men and boys from
eighteen to fortyrfive years of age They
are three years Of work, mingled with
pleasure. Besides the annual trip OH
United States battleship, which this year
will be the Ala bama, there will be cruises
on the historic Potomac river There is
a motor launch locked at the armory
which will be used BY the men, and two
whaieboats which may be used either for
sailing or rowing. The men are taught to
handle them.
The Naval Battalion of the District
requires only one evening week, possi-
bly, two. of its members. OF course,
those who are picked to attend the Off
GERS schools are required also to attend
regularly Monday. The men who make
up these schools are the embryo officers
of the Naval Battalion and are selected
because of their knowledge of the man.
ner of handling men.
The converted yacht Wasp is. expected
here about July ]. This Is the vessel
which the Navy Depaskment has assigned
for the use of the District Naval Battalion.
II Is one Of the finest yachts in the naval
militia service, and Commander Dempf
intends to, make good use of her when
she arrives Cruises will be taken on the
Potomac and the men. will be laugh. nav
igation. engineering and the method of
handling lifeboats in case of collision, as
well as other things.
There is no pecuniary loss to men en-
listing in the naval militia service They
are furnished uniforms and other equip
ment and are in-every way wards of the
Navy Department but, unlike the regu-
lars, they do not have to give up their
chosen occupations in civil life in order to
satisfy their natural laundering for sea
training. Besides. while on the annual
cruise the men are given free tranSporta
ton, are fed and receive pay for each
day they, are away.
The local Naval Battalion has Il new
armory on the water front, and large
dock. The social side is encouraged. and
monthly dances are given by the men,
music being furnished by the Naval Bat
talon Band. There are also other social
features, something new being introduced
by the officers at every one of these gath
erings.
The training received in one enlistmen.
in the Naval Battalion will be valuable to
any man all during his life. 1t is what
might be called a postgraduate course
in "handineSS'
Every effort is being made by the off
GERS to recruit the battalion up to as
near its full strength as possible before
going on the annual cruise.
There was large attendance at the
band concert last Sunday at the Naval
Battalion Armory. These concerts will be
continued every Sunday at ) o'clock until
the time of the cruise, and will be re-
sumed when the battalion returns.
The number of students in the officers
schools Monday nights is growing Much
of the period last Monday night was de-
voted to the manual Of arms and to in
fantry drill The sailors must know this
Sam is frequently called up to send the
sailors ashore where 1t would be impos-
sible to get troops quick enough.
The schools will be closing soon in or
der to allow the embryo officers to get
ready for the cruise. But the institution
viii not remain closed during the sum-
mer season. 1t has been deemed desir-
able not to let the course drift Just be-
cause; the weather is warm. So, when the
men return from the cruise about the
middle of July they will get right to work
on their books again.
e
Lieut.. Joseph B. Dalton. acting execu-
tive officer, has been "pining'' at Piney
Point during the past week-that Is pin
ing, to get back to Washington and work
for the uplift of the Naval Battalion
When Commander Dempf suddenly dis
covered the first part of the week that
his executive officer had disappeared from
the ship he made inquiries and found
that he was On the lower Potomac. 1t
was one of those chilly days when the
commander made his discovery. When his
executive officer did not return the COM
mander said he was thinking seriously
of sending out an ice cutter to break the
ice around Piney point.
:. = Z
Ensign and Mrs. Paul V. Thompson en-
tertained the officers of the Naval Bat
talon at their home Thursday evening.
Commander Dempf, although known as a
good fighter also demonstrated that he
could be good Splinter. He and Ensigns
Thompson and Frederick l.. Nudge did
about fifty yards in nothing fiat Tuesday
of the race the commander. seemed to be
in the best form.
:; *
Orders have gone out from the captain $
Office that neither of the newly acquired
whaleboats of the Naval Battalion shall
IL ave the dock unless fully manned and
properly equipped.
:. :: * x
Ensign Frederick L. Nudge, command
ing the 18th Division. the engineering
force. is flashing s. O. s signals for a
yeonian to do his clerical work. The work
IS piling up SO fast in his division that
if help does not soon come somebody is
liable to take the paper pile for the coal
pile and shovel it into the fire boxes.
While this officer is past master at
handling marine engines with their bulky
machinery. he absolutely rebels at using
such "a delicate Instrument as type
writer. Applicants for the job must come
veil recommended. must have obtained