Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-21
armory. Platforms Will be built for those

armory. Platforms will be built for those
during the next week, and when these
are placed the school will be organized.
Commander Dempf is very anxious TO
get into the battalion any young men of
good character who are desirous OF
learning about marine engines. He ex-
poets to have a large student class in
the school, and under the/head of Lieut..
Smithson they will get much valuable
instruction in this line of naval work.
Young men who take this course are
eligible for higher ratings, such as ma
chinist, first and second class. and chief
machinist mate. There are numerous va
cancies in the petty officer grade in the
battalion, and there is a chance now for
young men to reach the higher grades
more quickly than later. when Comman-
der Dempf expects to have the personnel
of the battalion recruited up to its fuli
strength.
The schools for deck hands were start
ed last Thursday night. Following the
roll call, the men were turned over 70
petty officers and were instructed in
signaling while in the drill hall, and
later were taken aboard the ship to be
instructed in the various duties there.
X x X
Commander Dempf has set about to
raise the efficiency of the battalion TO as
near regular service conditions as 1t IS
possible Following out this determine
ton, he has in mind a plan which he
proposes to carry into effect at some
later date. He proposes to transfer some
of the engineer officers temporarily to
the deck, so that they may become IA
| miliar with the navigation end. as also
with the propelling end. The deck Off
GERS will be compelled to study the
fundamental principles of engineering, SO
that they could take command or the
engine room in case of emergency.
In other words, he will insist that his
officers be able to take part In running
the ship, wherever they may be as
rTv1.:n xr,tJy In
to act with intelligence on boards OF In
quiry. which it might be necessary to
appoint from time to time to examine
| into various things. Knowing the various
Commander Dempf intends they shall:
they will be much more valuable than II
| they know only of one part OF the yes
| sel-either engineering or navigation.
X =
The comb is again going through the
| battalion, and this time 1t Is again In
the hands of Commander Dempf. He Is
| going over the personnel again, taxing
/, much more care than he did when he
took command and eliminated all OF the
wharf rats who made their presence
| only at the annual cruising time. This
! time he is going through in an attempt
! to find out If any slipped by the first
! time The commander is insistent that
the general character of the battalion
| shall be kept at very high standard.
|
| listed men addicted to drink. The odor
| OF liquor on a mans breath during any
of the drill periods of the battalion Will
| be sufficient to warrant an immediate
discharge, according to Commander
| Dempf.
The commander wants to encourage
| the best class of boys Of the city to en-
| list in the battalion. He declares that he
| realizes that 1t cannot be done IL he has
| any questionable characters in the per-
| sonnet Commander Dempf believes that
| he has gotten rid of all of the undesir-
1 ables, but he is going to make sure.
| Therefore. the combing process for the
! second time.
The monthly entertainments and
dances given by the battalion have
! reached the standard now where the
enlisted personnel bring their families
to the armory, and this has been a
| further spur to the commander in in
| sisting that only the best should be
present. He intends to look after the
| welfare Of the personnel under him as
| well as their families.
/ The manner in which the battalion
| got down to business and carried on it's
drills last Thursday night has brought
| forth much favorable comment. Ensign
w. w. Guss, executive officer of the
| battalion. was early on the job. His
| orders for the night were issued with
| dispatch and were carried out with
/ precision. Much of the heavy detail
work was taken OF the shoulders Of
: Commander Dempf by Ensign Guss,