Evening star., 1913-12-07
x|EE}'t&&!@'|'sS'
m INCE the institution of court
martial proceedings against
members of the Naval Battal-
ion, y. 6. d. c., who do not
attend regularly to their mill

t2FN uulleS. the attendance mas SHOWN d
great Improvement" said Commands
Joseph y. Dempf, commanding the bat
TALON. yesterday. After we returned
from the summer cruise the attendance
was not what il should have been. and
determined that if the men who were en-
listed did not come of their own accord
would order them before summary
court.
Not a man who misses one drill with
out proper excuse will be allowed to es-
cape tie court-martial. j intend to show
the men who are lax in their attendance
that militia work is child's play, and
that they cannot stay away whenever
they want to. OF course. / am disposed
to be as Ienient as possible with the men
and where the case seems TO call for 1t
1 will grant excuse. But this staying
away from drills whenever a man feels
so disposed has got To stop. and every
man ~ no does so stay away may expect
court martial. If he has good rea-
son Ter staying away, of course, that can
De brought out in the evidence at the
trial and the summary court officer will
act accordingly
In accordance with Commander Dempf' S
policy three men We're tried Thursday
night. and more cases Will be tried next
Thursday. Most OF thes. specific cases
of dbsenteeism We're on the night the
Commissioners of the District of Column
bia visited the battalion.
Several of the fleet of the small boats
which the Naval Battalion has al it's dis
posal will be hauled up on the dock
next Sunday to protect them from dam
age by any Ice which may form on the
river during the winter months. The
whaleboats will be hauled out first. but
IL Is expected that the steam launch and
the two motor boats will be left in the
water for longer period in order that
the men may get in some winter prdc-
uce work.
1t is planned to send out two or three
Of the power boats on practice trips to-
day. These will be taken out to teach
the men the rules of the road and other
points in navigating and handling small
boats.
Ensign Harold Crawford. with a crew
OF seamen, will spend this morning in
putting up the tackle with which the
boats may be drawn out of the water.
= x =
The construction work on the United
States ship Sylvia. now undergoing re-
pairs at the Washington navy yard, is
progressing rapidly and those in a posi-
ton TO know declare that il the engineer
ing work is completed the vessel will be
returned to the battalion before next
Sunday.
asst Thursday night was busy one for
the members of the battalion. After a
drill in the manual of arms, the men
were turned over to their divisional Of
ncers for instruction in various branches
The engineers division was instructed in
the handling of marine engines and the
oech divisions were taught seamanship.
< x :: =
The urgent need of additional ships
for use in training the naval militia IS
pointed out in the annual report OF Rear
Admiral Victor Pine chief nf ha
of navigation, in his report to Secretary
Daniels He explains that practically
ali OF the vessels in use are DID,
and many have to be withdrawn entirely
each year on account OF the excessive
cost of repair. He says this about the
militia:
:. The past fiscal year has witnessed a
substantial increase in the number of
persons in the organized naval militia.
Eight new divisions, representing 4JU
officers and men. have been added. max
ing the total strength of all organiza-
tions on January !, 1913, 6lS officers and
cps petty officers and enlisted men.
Much practical experience has been
gained by officers and men of the naval
militia by the use of naval vessels loaned
10 the several states Twenty mine naval
vesSe are now in use. the average cruise
for which is thirty days each year. There
is need, however, for more ships. the
present number available for naval mi
litia being Inadequate. and for this rea-
go without cruising ships Practically
all o. the vessels now in use by naval
militia organizations are old. and many
are withdrawn Zach year on account of
age and excessive cost OF repair. The
bureau believes that a type of ship of a
size most suited to the naval militia con-
ditioas should be constructed to replace
the vessels withdrawn.
In urging the formation of a naval re-
serve, the report declares that the naval
militia would help considerably in the
formation Of this reserve. but the report
declares they fall far short in numbers
The plan of the naval reserve is to have
men who have served in the regular
service to send their names to the de-
partment as members of the naval re-
serve and be ready in time of need.
Commander Dempf. OF the District
Naval Militia IS making every effort to
increase the strength of his battalion
up 70 that required by law. While each
drill night sees few recruits sworn in.
they are not coming as rapidly as Com
JnandeT DemDf would desire.
He IS holding out every opportunity
possible TO the best class of young men
of the city in an effort TO increase the
strength of his command. In addition
To getting training which viii b. useful
10 them in time OF war. they are permit
ted TO any of the feet of small boats
at the battalion as soon as they have
shown themselves capable of handling
such craft, and in addition may enjoy
trips down the Potomac river on the
L. ). 5. Sylvia, the naval vessel assigned
to the local naval militia.
There schools at the battalion COW
erinS all branches of the naval service
engineering, navigation, seamanship, etc
X <
Secretary Daniels of the navy, in his
annual report. says that the naval re-
Sc YES should have every encouragement
possible. The formation OF the nava
militia lines similar to those under
which the land militia Is organized Is
necessary he says The department
appreciates the usefulness of this volun-
teer aid to the regular navy, and hopes
that Congress viii take steps to increase
its usefulness. Likewise every encour-
agempnt should be given TO the naval re
serve. made up of those whose experience
makes them force Immediately avail
able when needed.
The passage of the international fee
through the Panama canal i'll April. 1915
declared Secretary Daniels will result, i
Is hoped in the greatest naval parade
ever seen i'll the history Of the world. anG
Will be fitting honor to mark the com
pletion OF that great waterway created
by American genius.
This IS of particular interest to the of
fcerS and enlisted personnel of the nava
militia of the District as well as othel
naval militia organizations, as il is plan
ned :, take them on the trip 1t ha.
been proposed that the department enliS
the members of the various organization:
in the regular service for the period GOV
erinG the cruise. as Ii did for the granC
battlcship review at New York last year
Officers and members of the local nava
militia are already talking of the trip
pCh - ar1lU l. f1..r,