Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-19

Wednesday night of President
Wilson. The flag decorations in
the armory have been completed and
bright and early this morning several
small boats will shove off from the Naval
Battalion dock at Water and o streets
southwest on expeditions along the river
in the quest of small cedar trees. These
will be used largely in the decorative
scheme which has been mapped out by
Commander Dempf.
The motor boat D. C. M, the power
boat Nameless and the steam launch with
two large cutters in tow will leave early.
The various parties will be in charge OF
the officers of the battalion, and while
one force goes up the river to obtain the
trees the others will remain at the dock
and assist in setting them up when they
arrive 1t possibly will take all of the
morning hours to cut enough trees. These
trees will be used both in the armory
and also will serve as posts for stringing
a guard rope around the dock and for
hanging the festoons of electric lights.
Scouting parties went out last week
and definitely located the trees along the
river banks, so that the boats may pro-
coed to the spot this morning.
The officers and men of the battalion
have had their last drill period before the
inspection. 1t has been determined, for
various reasons. to dispense with the pa
rade and review, and to have the Presi-
dent inspect the organization while 1T is
lined up in the arInory. Ensign waiter
Guss took the organization in hand
Thursday night and instructed the men
in their duties upon the occasion of an
official visit. Ensign Guss is one of the
most efficient officers now attached to the
battalion, and the direct and simple man
ner in which he explained to the officers
and men their duties next Wednesday
night was a source OF comment.
When the President arrives according
to present plans, he viii be met by Com
mander Dempf as soon as ne comes up
the stairway, or lover the side" as they
say in real naval language When the
President is sighted the shrill calls OF
the boatswain's mates whistle will be
heard and will continue until the PreSi-
uent is up the gangway. Then the trum-
peter will sound the presidential honors,
and the sideboys will guard the rails.
This formal ceremony OF reception over,
the President will be escorted immedi-
ately to Commander Dempfs cabin,
where he will meet the officers. Then
he is expected to view the line and to
deliver a shoit talk to the militiamen.
1t is probable that the President will
remain at the armory only a short time.
An unusually large crowd Is expected to
attend at this function, and for that rea-
son 1t was found necessary to limit the
number of those having cards OF admis-
sion. These cards were distributed Thurs
ray night three to each man. The cards
issued to the officers bear the seal OF
the battalion and admit the bearer to
reserved seats while the President Is at
the armOry.
In connection with this event Com
mander Dempf has issued a sort of ulti-
matum to his men in an effort to I'M
press upon them the Importance of being
present 1t says: Every man must be
in uniform or he will not be permitted
to enter the building at any time. The
formation of the battalion will be at 1850,
and men coming late will not be permit
ted to enter ranks after the formation
is completed. No man will be excused.
Recruits are coming into the battalion
in numbers, and it is expected that when
the time comes for the formation We'd
nesday night the ranks of the naval
militia of the District will have been well
heightened.
Stems looking toward the establishment
of a well equipped machine shop at the
battalion headquarters are being taken
by Lieut. Charles NJ. Smithson,' chief en-
gineer officer on the staff OF Commander
Dempf Mr. Smithson appreciates more
than any one else the need OF such equip
ment at the armory, and is most ener-
eetic in his efforts to improve the bat
TALON He has been planning during the
very short time he has been in the Or
gan;zation and if the future keeps pace
with the past he will have one of the
most efficient engineering forces of which
the battalion has ever Doasted. Since
Lieut. Smithson took charge there has
been a noticeable Improvement in this
branch of the battalion. and he prom
ises that in the future it will be one of
work. Work, however, will give the
young men of the battalion much valua-
bic training
Lieut. Smithson is now engaged in
yv,n g 1n
For the battalion for Commander
pernpf's approval He says that the
battalion had been in possession of
we'll equipped machine shop 1T would
not have been necessary to send the
L. S. S. Sylvia around to the navy
ward for repairs. The work could very
easily have been done by the officers
and men of the engineering division.
However this is probably the last time
the Sylvia will have to go to the navy
ward for repairs, as it is likely that
the machine shop will only be a matter
of a month or so, judging from the
way the plans are moving at this
time.
Although navy yard tug came
around from the navy yard bright and
early last Monday morning and took
the Sylvia from the Naval Battalion !
dock to the yard for repairs. it was
Saturday before the work really start
the ship which will have to be re-
newed, the decks will have to be re-
calked and there is some repairing to
be done on the engines. However, 1T
was declared yesterday by those in a
position to know that this work should
not take more than two weeks at the
most and could be finished sooner than
this If the work is expedited, it is
said, the ship should be back at her
station in two weeks.
When the vessel returns from the |
navy yard it will inaugurate Thursday
night trips for the purpose Of training
the battalion members. The vessel will
not go very far down the river but |
will go far enough that the men in
the various divisions will be able to |
get much valuable experience. Chief |
Engineer Smithson said that it only |
takes a short while to get up steam |
on the vessel, as she burns very little !
coal. and he approved most heartily the !
proposal that the vessel should make |
these short training cruises. 4
Fourteen enllsSed men of the Naval |
Battalion will 60 on the coming cruise